1990 Renault Clio review: Retro Road Test

Revealed at the 1990 Paris Motor Show, sales of the original Renault Clio started in the UK the following year.

That already seems like a lifetime ago (and for some readers, it is) – so we’ve gone back to the beginning to give an original Mk1 Clio the full Retro Road Test treatment.

What are its rivals?

A replacement for the Renault 5 (now making a comeback as a retro-styled EV), the Clio was France’s answer to the Rover Metro, Vauxhall Nova and Ford Fiesta.

We think the Clio looks rather chic and modern in this company, n’est ce pas?

Which engines does it use?

Clio buyers were given the choice of two petrol and two diesel engines. Unlike today, there was no hybrid version.

The car we tested here – borrowed from Renault UK’s heritage fleet – is the more powerful, fuel-injected 1.4-litre petrol, which musters a decidedly mild-not-wild 60hp.

What’s it like to drive?

Today, the original Renault Clio is a delight to drive. Honestly. Its cabin feels light and airy, with excellent visibility all-round. The engine, although asthmatic compared to the turbocharged motors powering modern superminis, is fine. Get it wound up and it’ll tick along with traffic without a fuss.

It’s surprising how refined the original Clio feels. This is an exceptionally good example, as you’d expect, but the engine can barely be heard at low revs. It gets a more vocal as you approach its rev limiter (there’s no rev counter), although not unpleasantly so.

Without power assistance, the steering is a bit heavy around town, but it’s easy enough to dart in and out of traffic once you’re used to it. On the open road, the Clio isn’t the most communicative car and it rolls a lot by today’s standards. Still, we enjoyed the experience.

Reliability and running costs

French cars of this era don’t have the best reputation for reliability, but not a great deal goes wrong with the original Clio. They’re brilliantly simple. Of course, if you’re planning on running a car of this vintage, it’s always worthwhile having breakdown cover. But we doubt the Renault is any more likely to leave you stranded than its peers.

It can be run on a budget, too. More than 40mpg is achievable on a day-to-day basis, and parts are affordable and readily available. Insurance is about as cheap as you can get.

Could I drive it every day?

Yeah, why not? Sure, you can’t expect much in the way of creature comforts (although there is a radio that, in our test car, could only find Classic FM), but cars are built to be driven.

That said, it’s probably wise to avoid crashing any supermini of this era. Remember the Rover 100 Euro NCAP test? We’d prefer to forget it…

How much should I pay?

Apart from the hot hatch versions, the original Clio is yet to reach full classic status, so prices are still in banger territory – while they’re also getting too old to command a young driver premium.

An Auto Trader search suggests you can pick one up for as little as £500, and we wouldn’t spend more than £1,500 on anything but the tidiest example.

What should I look out for?

It’s pretty standard stuff, really. Try to find a cared-for example, there must be many ‘one elderly owner from new’ cars out there. Avoid any that have been treated as cheap runarounds as they may have been maintained on a budget.

Rust isn’t a huge problem, but the wheelarches do suffer, so look out for bubbles. Automatic gearboxes can also go wrong, so make sure you go for a thorough test drive. We’d prefer a manual, but make sure the clutch doesn’t show any signs of slipping.

Should I buy one?

If you’re looking for a car that’s going to attract a crowd at a car show, this isn’t it. A Renault 5 or Citroen AX is more of a modern classic, but there’s a certain analogue and understated charm to the Clio.

If you find a good one, look after it. It’s only a matter of time before all the rest will have disappeared.

Pub fact

Named after the Formula 1 team, the limited edition Renault Clio Williams was powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and finished in a unique blue colour with distinctive gold alloys.

It’s one of the most desirable hot hatchbacks of the 1990s, with good examples worth upwards of £20,000 today.

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