Renault Clio 1.2 16v

This review is based on a 2004 Renault Clio 1.2 16v Dynamique.

After having an accident in my previous Clio (a 1.6 16v Dynamique) I set out looking for a new car, eventually I found myself (after much looking) the following car…

A 2004 Renault Clio 1.2 16v Dynamique in flame red, the colour I really wanted, my previous car had digital climate control and an electric sunroof so I purposefully found a car that also had these features.

Being the 2004 model it had the face lifted front end (MK2 PH3)

The car I found had the following specification:

Performance:

Engine - 1.2 16v 4cyl MPI (multipoint injection)
Power - 75bhp
Torque - 105Nm
0-60 - 12.6secs
Top Speed - 106mph
Gearbox - 5 speed manual

Interior:

Sports seats
Digital Climate Control
Electric Sunroof with sunblind
Electric windows (one touch on drivers)
Electrically Adjustable Heated Mirrors
Radio/CD Player with fingertip controls on steering wheel (with 6 speakers)
Leather Steering wheel and gear knob
Split folding rear seats
Auto dimming interior light
Trip computer
Aluminium door handles, handbrake button and gear stick insert
Speed sensitive PAS (power assisted steering)

Exterior:

Automatic headlights
Automatic wipers
Coloured front/rear bumpers
Colour coded mirrors
Colour coded rear spoiler
15" Alloy wheels
Fog lights
Heat reflective windscreen

Safety:

Euro NCAP 4 Stars
Driver and passenger airbags
Side airbags
ABS(antilock braking system)
EBD (electronic brake force distribution)
EBA (emergency brake assist)
Disk brakes on front
Drum brakes on rear

Environment & Costs:

Insurance Group 3
Tax Band C 142g/km
EUROIII Engine
Combined fuel economy 45mpg
Unleaded petrol
18,000miles servicing intervals

The car itself was a dream to drive, handles really well and for a 1.2 16v with only 75bhp was quite nippy, although it was rather slow if you were carrying any weight.

The power delivery of the engine is very smooth and gradual and the gearbox is also smooth although the clutch is very light, maybe a little too light.

As for the brakes, they are absolutely fantastic, not at all what you would expect on a 1.2 Clio!

For a car of such a small price it has lots of extras such as the Climate Control, Auto Lights, Auto wipers, features that you would only expect to find on large more expensive cars.

As standard the Clio's (2004 on) come with Michelin energy tyres fitted that are really good, I replaced the tyres on my Clio with Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 tyres that were far better than the standards but when they are getting more out the compound seems to degrade quite badly making them very un-trustable, so I'd recommend sticking with the energy's.

Inside the car is very comfortable for long and short journeys and is well laid out with all buttons within reach, the Climate control is particularly good at maintaining temperature and is exceptional in summer. The sports seats that are fitted are very supportive and are well complemented by the silver seatbelts which in my opinion add a nice little touch to the look of the inside.

Even though the standard stereo is excellent I did replace it with a Renault option stereo the Sony CDX-MP40 which worked with the Clio display and Steering wheel controls.

Despite all the technology and gadgets in the car I was always disappointed that there wasn't a light in the glove box despite the fact that the glove box was also air-conditioned.

On occasions the sports suspension fitted to the car as standard (being as it's a Dynamique model) did feel a little hard, but only really on bumpy roads, the stiffness of it did really help towards it's brilliant nimble handling.

The Clio also has twin rear foglights and twin reverse lights that lots of cars these days seem to be missing (i.e. only having one of each).

I bought the car with 42,000 miles on it and sold it 11 months later with 62,000 miles on and in that time it was totally reliable having never broken down or gone wrong, the only reason we sold the car was because we needed a larger car for the dogs (2003 Laguna DCi Estate)

In that time I had it serviced once which cost £150 from a Renault Dealer which I didn't think was too bad for dealer prices.

The only real complaints I'd have about the car would be about the sunroof, it did occasionally rattle and in heavy rain would leak, my previous Clio also had this problem which Renault tried to fix several times unsuccessfully so it would seem a common fault that Renault know about but don't yet have a cure for.

The bonnet catch problem (highlighted by BBC's watchdog program) never caused me any issues with either of my Clio's being as it was (as advised) regularly lubricated.

All in all I thought the Clio was a fantastic little car and would highly recommend it (as I have many times) to anyone that's looking for a small hatchback that's nippy and economical and also pretty good looking too! I would however advise going for the DCI 80 version which is just as quick but far more economical.

i hope this review is of help to anyone looking for a new car.

Al.