2020 Carbuyer Car of the Year - Renault Clio

• Price when new: £15,295 - £22,095 (at time of writing)
• Price now: £12,200 - £22,200

What we said at the time: “This is the best incarnation of the Clio yet - and there have been some brilliant ones over the years. It ticks all the boxes for today’s supermini buyers by blending chic style with the latest technology, excellent build quality and decent space, too. That it’s great to drive and efficient is icing on the Clio cake.”

It takes a special car to go head-to-head with the Fiesta at the top of the class but the new Renault Clio should certainly be on your supermini shortlist. UK buyers have never taken to the Clio in the same numbers as European customers, but those that did were probably swayed by its style. That’s why the new car looks so similar to the Mk4 Clio, even if it’s completely different inside. Material quality has taken a huge step forward and it comes with the sort of technology you’d reasonably expect to find in a much more expensive car. High-spec models get a very impressive 9.3-inch portrait touchscreen - not dissimilar to a Volvo XC90 - while the boot is class-leading; the 391 litres you get in petrol versions is bigger than a Volkswagen Golf from the class above. The Clio is now better to drive and all engines are economical - there’s even a hybrid model to take on the Toyota Yaris and Honda Jazz now too.

The entry-level Play specification comes with LED headlights, cruise control, Bluetooth and air con, but the button-heavy radio screen looks old-fashioned in such a stylish car. Iconic is likely to be a popular spec, with a seven-inch screen boasting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus parking sensors, alloy wheels and keyless entry. S Edition gets the headline-grabbing 9.3-inch screen, a rear-view camera, sat nav and a digital instrument cluster; RS Line adds sporty touches inside and out. Whichever model you pick, the Clio comes with a reassuring five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.

There are three petrol engines, one diesel and one petrol-electric hybrid. A naturally aspirated 1.0-litre engine is the cheapest, and offers low insurance, but it’s slow. The turbo 1.0-litre TCe engine is much better - both in terms of performance and economy - and there’s also a 1.3-litre petrol that offers warm-hatch thrills. The hybrid, meanwhile, offers the running costs of a diesel, some electric-only driving and plenty of punch.

Watch all our Car of the Year 2020 videos here, or check out great deals on used Renault Clio models on Buyacar.

Our other winners in 2020:

Read our preview of the 2021 Carbuyer Car Of The Year awards here, or check out our list of the best small cars and superminis.