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Photo: Overlaet, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Used Renault Clio IV: the buying guide

City car · 2012–2019 · Petrol, Diesel

✓ 29 sources cited · updated on 13 October 2026

Buy with care
Reliability
3.0/5
Estimated monthly cost
€357/month
Indicative prices
€6,900 – €10,800

4 known faults

Photo: Overlaet, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo 1 of 4

Renault Clio IV, front three-quarter view

Photo: Overlaet, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Verdict

Buy with care

Supermini rated 5 stars by Euro NCAP in 2012, with a 300 L boot (443 L in the Estate). The 1.2 TCe 120 is to be avoided because of its oil overconsumption, and the EDC gearbox of this version attracts many complaints. The 0.9 TCe 90 can leak at the thermostat housing: a coolant check is essential.

Reliability
3.0/5
Indicative prices
€6,900 – €10,800
Monthly cost
€357
Euro NCAP
5/5

Which version to choose

Versions to favour: 1.5 dCi 90, 1.5 dCi 110.

  • 1.2 16V 75

    Petrol · Manual · 75 hp · 5.5 L/100 km · Crit'Air 1

    Four-cylinder 1.2 naturally aspirated with 107 Nm, 5-speed manual gearbox, announced at 5.5 L/100 km according to Caradisiac. Judged not very versatile by Fiches-auto.

  • 0.9 TCe 90

    Petrol · Manual · 90 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Three-cylinder 0.9 turbo with 135 Nm, 5-speed manual gearbox only. The most common petrol engine; watch the cooling circuit.

    Engine: Renault 0.9 TCe (H4Bt)

    Verdict on this engine: Good choice, check first

  • 1.2 TCe 120 EDC

    Petrol · Automatic · 120 hp · Crit'Air 1

    1.2 direct-injection turbo, first sold only with the EDC dual-clutch gearbox (a manual gearbox came later). Engine exposed to oil overconsumption.

    Engine: Renault-Nissan 1.2 TCe / DIG-T (H5Ft, HRA2DDT)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • 1.5 dCi 75

    Diesel · Manual · 75 hp · Crit'Air 2

    1.5 dCi with a 5-speed manual gearbox.

    Engine: Renault 1.5 dCi / Blue dCi (K9K)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • 1.5 dCi 90

    ✓ Recommended

    Diesel · Manual · 90 hp · 5.0 L/100 km · Crit'Air 2

    1.5 dCi with 5-speed manual or 6-speed EDC gearbox. Same standard consumption as the 75 hp dCi, with better acceleration according to La Revue Automobile.

    Engine: Renault 1.5 dCi / Blue dCi (K9K)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • 1.5 dCi 110

    ✓ Recommended

    Diesel · Manual · 110 hp · Crit'Air 2

    1.5 dCi with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

    Engine: Renault 1.5 dCi / Blue dCi (K9K)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • 1.6 TCe 200 RS EDC

    Petrol · Automatic · 200 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Renault Sport sports version: 1.6 turbo with 200 hp and 240 Nm, sold only with the EDC dual-clutch gearbox.

  • 1.6 TCe 220 RS Trophy EDC

    Petrol · Automatic · 220 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Trophy version of the 1.6 turbo: 220 hp and 280 Nm, 0 to 100 km/h in 6.6 s according to Motor1, still with EDC gearbox.

Market prices

€6,900 – €10,800

Indicative range: 2014 to 2019, yearly medians of 99 online listings collected by iAutos (years with at least 3 listings).

Collected on 20 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.

Known faults

Oil overconsumption and engine failure on the 1.2 TCe 120

Severity 3/3 · Serious

H5 series 1.2 TCe engines built between 2012 and 2016 can have a manufacturing fault that first shows up as oil overconsumption; Que Choisir cites the Clio 4 among the affected models. Warning signs are the oil warning light, blue smoke from the exhaust and abnormal engine noises. Fiches-auto states that the Clio 4's 1.2 TCe 120 is mainly affected by this problem, and owners report engine replacements.

Versions
1.2 TCe 120 EDC
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

EDC gearbox: jerks, neutral drops and clutch needing replacement

Severity 2/3 · Costly

The EDC dual-clutch gearbox can cause jerks, drops into neutral, loss of reverse or the message “gearbox to be checked”; a drift in calibration, pressure or of a clutch can even immobilise the car. Owners of Clio 4 TCe 120 EDC describe faults appearing when the gearbox is hot, a clutch diagnosed as faulty, and repairs that do not always solve the problem.

Versions
1.2 TCe 120 EDC
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Thermostat housing leak on the 0.9 TCe

Severity 2/3 · Costly

The 0.9 TCe can leak at the thermostat housing or the water pump; an undetected drop in coolant can lead to overheating and a cylinder head gasket failure. Of 14 Clio IV 0.9 TCe examined by a garage partnered with Car Verif, 7 showed a leak at the thermostat gasket, with no serious engine failure.

Versions
0.9 TCe 90
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Brake hoses worn by wheel-arch liners (recall)

Manufacturer recall

Incorrect factory fitting of the front wheel-arch liners could make them rub against the brake hoses and reduce braking efficiency. Renault recalled more than 150,000 Clio IV in September 2014, then a further 85,632 built from 5 March 2013 to 10 September 2014 in Bursa (Turkey) in July 2015. According to Renault, the hoses only had to be replaced on 0.5% of cars.

Fixed free of charge by a dealer and not counted in the reliability score: ask for proof the work was done (invoice, or a VIN check at a dealer).

Versions
1.2 16V 75, 0.9 TCe 90, 1.2 TCe 120 EDC, 1.5 dCi 75, 1.5 dCi 90, 1.5 dCi 110, 1.6 TCe 200 RS EDC, 1.6 TCe 220 RS Trophy EDC
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

All faults by version and mileage →

Manufacturer recalls

See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “Renault Clio”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.

Real monthly cost

Fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, excluding finance. Move the slider to match your mileage. How it is calculated

Monthly cost by item
Fuel or electricity€135
Insurance€105
Maintenance€26
Depreciation€91
Total per month€357

⚠ Estimates to treat with caution

  • Consumption taken from a published range (depends on trim and tyres).
  • Maintenance: published servicing price plus an estimated allowance for tyres and brakes.
  • Depreciation estimated at 12% of the median price a year, as no year-by-year valuation is usable.
Calculation details (12,000 km a year)
Fuel (diesel)€135

1.5 dCi 90 version: combined consumption of 5 L/100 km, increased by 15% for real-world driving, at 2.347 €/L, for 1,000 km a month.

5 × 1.15 × 2.347 € × 10 = €135

Diesel price: French national average on 7 October 2026.

Insurance€105

Average monthly premium published for this model by insurance comparison sites (comprehensive cover when stated). Your premium depends on your profile.

Maintenance€26

Servicing and wear parts (tyres, brakes) for 12,000 km a year, per month.

Depreciation€91

Value lost in a year by a typical example, from the valuation gap between two years, per month.

Inspection checklist

Things to check

  • 1.2 TCe 120: check the oil level, the absence of blue smoke from the exhaust and the build date (engines from 2012 to 2016 affected).
  • EDC gearbox: long test drive until the gearbox is hot, in town and in reverse, watching for jerks and the “gearbox to be checked” message.
  • 0.9 TCe: check the coolant level and the absence of leak traces around the thermostat housing.
  • Have a Renault dealer, using the serial number, confirm that the recall on the wheel-arch liners and brake hoses has been carried out.
  • Check the service book and invoices, which are essential for any goodwill repair on the 1.2 TCe.

Questions to ask the seller

  • How much oil does the engine use between oil changes?
  • Has the EDC gearbox or the clutch already been repaired or replaced?
  • Have the thermostat or the water pump already been changed?

Test-drive tip: read the fault codes

A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.

See OBD2 scanners on Amazon → (new tab)Partner link

Electric or hybrid equivalent

No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost

Alternatives

Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de

Renault Clio

V · since 2019

Good choice
Price
€10,994 – €14,990
Reliability
4/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid

Photo: MoCars, CC0

Peugeot 208

II · since 2019

Buy with care
Price
€8,900 – €18,000
Reliability
3/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0

Volkswagen Polo

VI · since 2017

Good choice, check first
Price
€10,000 – €20,300
Reliability
4.5/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel

Photo: crash71100, CC0

Dacia Sandero

III · since 2020

Good choice, check first
Price
€10,500 – €15,600
Reliability
4.5/5
Fuel types
Petrol

Before you buy: check and equip

Check the history

Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.

Read fault codes

An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.

Parts and maintenance

Compare prices of parts for the Renault Clio IV (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.

Insure the car

Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.

Frequently asked questions

Which engine should I choose on a used Clio 4?

Avoid the 1.2 TCe 120, which is affected by oil overconsumption on engines built from 2012 to 2016 according to Que Choisir. The 0.9 TCe 90 is suitable if you monitor its cooling circuit; the 1.5 dCi 90 and 110 diesels suit high-mileage drivers.

Is the Clio 4 safe?

It scored 5 stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests in 2012, with 88% for adult protection and 89% for child protection. Check that the brake hose recall has been carried out.

What is the boot capacity of the Clio 4?

300 litres for the hatchback according to L'argus and Caradisiac, and 443 litres for the Clio Estate according to La Tribune Auto.

Found a listing?

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