2001 Renault Clio 172 review from UK and Ireland

I have had no real problems with the car except for the annoying air bag warning lights which come on whenever they feel like. The airbag lights are connected via wires under the driver and passenger seats so when you get in and out the wires work loose and the airbag warning lights come on. It's a pan in the ass and a common fault in clio 172's.

Front tyres seem to wear real quick. the 172 is only too happy to wheel spin. the interior quality is OK, but I've seen better. I had a 206 gti which probably had better quality interior, but a dodgy engine with no guts.anyway..if you want performance at a reasonable price I would pick a 172 over most other small hot hatches depending on what you are after. if you want quality go for a mini cooper s, but its goin to cost you. if you want performance then a clio will wipe the floor with most. eg. 106gti. saxo vts, mg zs180, mini cooper s, golf gti. etc. its not far behind honda civic type r, but again a clio is a lot cheaper!

Performance wise the standard 172 is very quick and can hold its own with most cars in its class. It is marginally slower than the 182 but you are talking 10ths of sec. not really much difference. anyway.. if you want performance at a reasonable price I would pick a 172 over most other small hot hatches depending on what you are after. If you want quality go for a mini cooper s, but its goinG to cost you. if you want performance then a clio will wipe the floor with most. eg. 106gti. saxo vts, mg zs180, mini cooper s, golf gti. etc. its not far behind honda civic type r, but again a clio is a lot cheaper!.

The 172 has lots of gadgets eg. on board computer which works out miles per gallon, average speed etc and how many miles left in tank (not very accurate at all). multi cd player air con,elect windows etc. It will do 35 mpg if you take it easy but that can soon whittle down to 27 or 28 as the car seems to do all it can to convince you to put your foot down.