Used car guide · 2019–2024

Renault Clio Mk5: best and worst years, and what goes wrong

How each year of the Renault Clio Mk5 did at the MOTs done during 2023–2025, compared with other cars the same age, the weak spots that keep coming up, and what to check before you buy one. From 110,774 MOT tests.

2023best year: 93% pass first time, 1 points above all 2023 cars
2020weakest year: 84% pass first time, 3 points below all 2020 cars

Which Renault Clio Mk5 years are best and worst at their MOT?

First-time MOT pass rate for each year of the Renault Clio Mk5, against all cars registered the same year. Older cars fail more, so the comparison with cars the same age is what matters.

60%80%100%2019: 77% pass first time (all 2019 cars: 85%) 77% 2019*2020: 84% pass first time (all 2020 cars: 87%) 84% 20202021: 86% pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%) 86% 20212022: 88% pass first time (all 2022 cars: 89%) 88% 20222023: 93% pass first time (all 2023 cars: 92%) 93% 2023
This model, first-time pass rate All cars registered that year · * changeover year: some cars are the previous or next generation
YearPass first timeAll cars that yearStands outMOT tests
2019*77%85% -8Tyre condition 2× usual50,835
202084%87% -3Suspension arm bushes and joints 5.3× usual32,406
202186%87% -1Nothing unusual18,675
202288%89% -1Braking performance 4× usual8,306
202393%92% +1Nothing unusual552

What usually goes wrong with the Renault Clio Mk5?

From owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Not every car will have them.

  • Electrical faults on hybrids

    The E-Tech hybrid has drawn criticism for electrical problems that often needed dealer attention. The 1.0 TCe petrol has no known reliability concerns.

    Check: Check for warning lights and test the electrics.

    Source: What Car?: used Renault Clio (2019 on) reliability

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting each car's main test of the year (not retests). A weak spot needs at least 30 cars flagged and must stay 1.5× the usual rate even at the cautious end of a 95% confidence range. Generation years are approximate: cars registered in a changeover year (*) can be either generation. How we score

Looking at a Renault Clio?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots, and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.