Renault Clio hatchback (2013-2019) - MPG, running costs & CO2

Despite being quite a bit bigger than before, the latest Renault Clio is remarkably efficient, even by the high standards set by other superminis. Because it’s around 100kg lighter than its predecessor and powered by small, frugal engines, it sets the benchmark for diesel-powered cars of this size.

The only fly in the ointment is that if you’re a private buyer, the Clio won’t hold onto its value as well as either the Volkswagen Polo or even cars like the Peugeot 208. When the time comes to sell it on, it'll likely have lost more of its value than you might expect.

Renault has a sister brand, Dacia, which is known for its lower prices, so the pressure is on dealers not to discount Renault cars as heavily as before. This means it might be easier to secure a big drop in price by going for a less up-to-date competitor.

Renault Clio MPG & CO2

Both of the Renault Clio engines feature stop-start technology, which automatically cuts the engine when the car is stationary in order to save fuel.

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The 1.5-litre dCi 90 diesel is the running costs champion of the range with CO2 emissions of between 104 and 107g/km depending on gearbox and wheel size, while both the manual and automatic versions return identical economy of between 56.5 and 57.6mpg under the new WLTP guidelines.

On paper, the tiny 0.9-litre TCe 90 turbocharged petrol engine is impressively efficient, returning 47.1mpg and emitting 113g/km of CO2. However, in practice this engine needs to be worked hard, particularly on the motorway and when travelling up steep hills, so you’re unlikely to get near the official figures when driving normally. While the lower-powered TCe 75 has virtually identical performance, economy and emissions figures it’s nearly 20% less powerful than the TCe 90 and feels sluggish on the road.

After the first year's CO2-based road tax (generally included in the on-the-road price), all Renault Clios cost £140 a year to tax.

Insurance

The pretty exterior is made from big plastic panels that are easy to fix and cheap to replace, and small engines mean the Clio sits in relatively low insurance groups compared to its rivals. All Clios fall into groups 7-10.

Warranty

The Renault Clio comes with a three-year/60,000 mile warranty with three years' roadside assistance.

Servicing

Service intervals are annual or at 12,500 miles (whichever comes first) and parts and labour should be relatively affordable. An EasyLIfe servicing pack can be added at the point of purchase, which costs £299 for three years and 30,000 miles or £499 for four years and 40,000 miles. An EasyLife servicing and extended warranty pack for four years and 60,000 miles can also be purchased and this costs £699.