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Ford Fiesta vs Renault Clio: which is the better used buy?

On DVSA MOT records the Ford Fiesta does better at its MOT: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 9.2 percentage points ahead of the Renault Clio on first-time MOT passes. That comparison covers 175,620 real tests across every generation on the road, not a survey. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure. The MOT checks safety and emissions items, not the engine, clutch or gearbox, so this is one measure of how each car holds up rather than a full reliability verdict; the common faults below cover the rest.

Quick answer

On the MOT measure the Ford Fiesta comes out 9.2 percentage points further above the national rate for cars of its age than the Renault Clio.

  • Both are small cars first and family cars second. The Fiesta is the easiest used car in the country to find and compare; the Clio is the one to look at for fuel economy and, in the newer Mk5, a more modern package.
  • On fuel, our guides quote up to 63 mpg for the Clio’s 1.5 dCi diesel against up to 54 mpg for the Fiesta’s 1.0 EcoBoost mild hybrid; road tax is in the running-cost answer below.
  • Reliability is not one number. The MOT table below is one measure; the "What goes wrong" cards give the specific check for each car.
Ford Fiesta and Renault Clio side by side
At a glanceFiestaClio
First-time MOT pass rateagainst the national rate for cars of the same age72.3%-2.6 points62.7%-11.8 points
Cars licensed in the UKend of June 2026, all generations (DfT/DVLA)1,259,187326,654
Typical asking price on Autozamiddle 80% and median£5,499–£12,985, median £7,850Ford Fiesta cars registered 2017–2023; 29 October 2026£3,995–£10,495, median £6,495Renault Clio cars registered from 2012; 29 October 2026
Best yearsfrom our model guides2022, 20232021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Cars licensed for the road in the UK at the end of June 2026, every generation, counting cars taxed or exempt and not those declared off the road (SORN). The MOT is one measure: it checks safety and emissions items and not the engine, clutch or gearbox. Asking prices are dealers’ asking prices, not sale prices.

Where the Fiesta stands out

  • The most traded used car in the UK in Q2 2026: 73,570 changed hands (SMMT), so there is always another to compare with.
  • Cheap parts and a huge independent-garage network, in the words of our guide; popular with first-time buyers.
  • The 2020 and later mild-hybrid EcoBoost is the safer pick for the wet-belt check; best years 2022 and 2023.

Where the Clio stands out

  • Strong fuel economy: up to 63 mpg quoted for the 1.5 dCi, up to 54 mpg for the 1.0 TCe petrol (our guide).
  • The Mk5 (2019 on) is the more modern car, with a 1.0 TCe petrol and an optional E-Tech full hybrid.
  • Rated in our guide for city and suburban driving and for young drivers on a budget; best years 2021 to 2024.

MOT first-time pass rate

Counted from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test records. “vs age-matched” compares each model against what the national fleet scores at the same age — the only fair better-or-worse number, because an older fleet fails more whatever its build quality.

Ford Fiesta
Pass rate72.3%
Age-matched national74.9%
Difference-2.6
Tests143,495
Renault Clio
Pass rate62.7%
Age-matched national74.5%
Difference-11.8
Tests32,125

These figures count every generation still on the road, not only the one described below: mostly Ford Fiestas registered 2001–2022 and Renault Clios registered 2002–2022.

Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0). National first-time pass rate 77.3%. Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a first-time pass; DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. The difference is worked out before rounding, so it can be 0.1 away from the two rounded figures beside it.

Ford Fiesta

Mk8 (2017–2023) · A supermini / small hatchback and one of the UK's most common used cars, competing with the Vauxhall Corsa, VW Polo, SEAT Ibiza and Peugeot 208.

The Ford Fiesta Mk8 (2017–2023) is a generally dependable used supermini. The key check on a 1.0 EcoBoost is its timing system: early cars (launch into 2018/2019) have the original wet cam belt, which can shed debris and destroy the engine, while mild hybrids use a chain-driven camshaft. Confirm by engine code. Best buy: 2022–2023. Worst: 2017.

What goes wrong

  • Safety recall R/2025/084recall
    Puma Fiesta Courier – Fuel line chafing
    26,004 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 22 December 2021 and 11 July 2023
    Large recall — 26,004 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Engine — 1.0 EcoBoost wet timing beltcritical
    Engine rattle or knocking noise, sudden loss of power, warning lights, or complete engine failure if the belt sheds material into the oil system and blocks oil galleries or the pickup strainer; metallic debris can also show up in the oil at a routine service.
    Broadly 2017 into 2018/2019: 1.0-litre EcoBoost non-hybrid Fiestas from this window most commonly have the original wet cam timing belt. Ford introduced a revised, chain-driven camshaft design during 2018–2019, which every 1.0 EcoBoost mild-hybrid (mHEV, 2020 on) version uses; these still have a separate, smaller wet belt driving the oil pump. The cut-over wasn't a clean model-year change, so confirm by engine code/VIN rather than assuming from year alone. Does not affect the naturally aspirated 1.1 Ti-VCT petrol. · For cars confirmed to have the original wet cam belt: Ford's original quoted interval was 10 years/150,000 miles (later tightened industry-wide to nearer 6 years/100,000 miles); independent specialists recommend replacement nearer 60,000–80,000 miles given how often belts have failed well inside those figures. · Roughly £600–£1,650 for a preventative belt replacement at an independent EcoBoost specialist (commonly £950–£1,200+VAT; significantly more at a main dealer); if the belt fails, a replacement or reconditioned engine typically runs £2,000–£4,000+, more in severe cases.
    Check: Confirm the engine variant by engine code or VIN check rather than assuming from registration year alone. For any car confirmed to have the original wet-belt engine, ask for a dated invoice proving wet-belt replacement (not just a general service stamp), and budget for the job immediately if there's no such record, regardless of the odometer reading. Even on revised chain-cam/mHEV cars, ask about the condition of the separate oil-pump belt.
  • Body sealing — door seals, boot and rear footwellsminor
    Damp carpets, a musty smell, water pooling in the boot floor or spare-wheel well, wet rear footwells, and — if left unresolved for a long time — electrical faults or corrosion from water sitting inside the car.
    2017–2023, reported across the generation · Not mileage-related; can appear on low-mileage cars if a seal, grommet or drain point has failed · Resealing a door seal, boot seal or roof-rail drain point is typically £50–£150 in parts and labour if caught early; ignoring it can lead to far costlier electrical or interior repairs
    Check: Lift the boot floor and spare-wheel cover and pull back the edges of the rear carpet to feel for damp or staining, sniff for a musty smell, and check the roof lining above the doors and around the rear pillars for water marks.
  • 1.5 TDCi diesel particulate filter (DPF)major
    Engine management light, limp mode or reduced power, poor fuel economy, black smoke under hard acceleration, and DPF-related MOT failures.
    2017–2023, 1.5 TDCi diesel variants only · Can occur well inside 60,000–80,000 miles on cars used mainly for short, low-speed journeys that never let the filter fully regenerate · A forced regeneration or DPF clean is roughly £100–£300; a full DPF replacement can run to £1,000–£1,500+
    Check: Ask how the car is normally driven (motorway runs vs. short urban trips), check the MOT history for DPF-related advisories or failures, and where possible take it on a drive long enough to let a regeneration complete during the test.
Typical asking price:
£5,499–£12,985, median £7,850 (middle 80% and median, cars on Autoza on 29 October 2026)
Fuel economy:
1.1 Ti-VCT: 47–52 mpg real-world. 1.0 EcoBoost 100/125: 45–50 mpg. 1.0 EcoBoost mHEV: 48–54 mpg. 1.5 EcoBoost ST: 34–39 mpg.
Vehicle tax:
£200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).
Best years:
2022, 2023
Years to avoid:
2017
Used Ford Fiestas for saleFull Fiesta fault guideUsed Fords

Also compare:

Renault Clio

Mk4 2012–2019, Mk5 2019+ · supermini hatchback

The Renault Clio is one of the UK's most popular superminis. The Mk4 (2012–2019) is reliable but has a known timing belt replacement requirement on 1.5 dCi diesel engines and documented EGR valve fouling. The Mk5 (2019+) with the 1.0 TCe turbopetrol and optional E-Tech full hybrid is significantly more modern and reliable overall. Key concerns: EDC dual-clutch gearbox reliability on Mk4, clutch wear on manual diesels, and infotainment updates needed on early Mk5. Best buy: 2021+ Mk5 1.0 TCe manual. Worst: Mk4 with high-mileage diesel and EDC auto.

What goes wrong

  • Safety recall R/2016/192recall
    Wipers may not perform as intended
    68,552 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 1 November 2012 and 31 July 2015
    Large recall — 68,552 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Safety recall R/2015/136recall
    Reduction in braking performance
    49,748 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 5 March 2013 and 2 April 2015
    Large recall — 49,748 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Timing belt — 1.5 dCi diesel (Mk4)critical
    No warning — belt fails without symptoms; catastrophic engine damage results
    Mk4 2012–2019 (1.5 dCi diesel) · Follow the service book; Dacia UK, whose Duster uses the same Renault 1.5 dCi family, says to change the belt if the car is more than 5 years old or has done over 70,000 miles · £400–£650 preventative kit; £2,000–£4,000 engine if belt snaps
    Check: Verify belt change in service history. The Renault 1.5 dCi is an interference engine. No record means budget for immediate replacement before buying.
  • EDC dual-clutch gearbox judder (Mk4)major
    Shudder from standstill; hesitant 1st-to-2nd change; jerky slow-speed behaviour
    Mk4 2012–2019 (EDC automatic) · Often from 25,000 miles on; worsens with age · £300–£800 re-learn and fluid change; £1,500–£2,800 mechatronic or replacement
    Check: Test at walking pace in traffic and from cold. The Mk4 EDC is the weakest part of the car. If buying automatic Mk4, only accept a price that reflects the gearbox risk. Mk4 manual is far more reliable.
Typical asking price:
£3,995–£10,495, median £6,495 (middle 80% and median, cars on Autoza on 29 October 2026)
Fuel economy:
46–54 mpg (1.0 TCe petrol, real-world UK); 51–63 mpg (1.5 dCi diesel)
Vehicle tax:
£200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).
Best years:
2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Years to avoid:
2013, 2014, 2015
Used Renault Clios for saleFull Clio fault guideUsed Renaults

Also compare:

Which one suits you

Ford Fiesta

Good for: First-time buyers and anyone prioritising low running costs — cheap parts, low insurance groups and a huge independent-garage network. The 2020+ mild-hybrid EcoBoost is the safer pick for the wet-belt risk.

Less good for: Buyers wanting maximum rear legroom or boot space — this is a genuinely small car. A pre-2019 1.0 EcoBoost with no documented wet-belt history, given how expensive getting that wrong can be.

Renault Clio

Good for: First-time buyers and young drivers seeking low running costs. City and suburban driving. Buyers who want proven reliability on a small budget. Mk5 E-Tech hybrid for fuel economy.

Less good for: Buyers who need an automatic gearbox and want reliability — avoid the Mk4 EDC. Rural drivers who need more ground clearance. High-mileage diesel buyers doing short journeys.

Reliability, running costs and family use: what this page can say

Searches for this pair ask three things at once. Reliability: the MOT table above is the one measured statistic here, and the MOT does not cover the engine, clutch or gearbox, so use it together with the specific checks on each card: the Fiesta’s 1.0 EcoBoost belt history and the Clio’s Mk4 1.5 dCi timing belt and EDC automatic.

Running costs: fuel is the one cost our guides measure per model (figures above), tax follows the rules in the running-cost answer below, and insurance varies by driver, postcode and version. Insurance groups run from 1 to 50 and are set by an Association of British Insurers group rating panel using Thatcham Research data; they reflect the version and its price as well as the model, so we give no single group for a whole model. Get quotes for the exact car.

Family use: both are superminis. Our Fiesta guide says buyers who want the most rear legroom or boot space should look at a larger car, and we hold no measured interior figures for either, so look at the boot and rear seats of the car you are considering with a child seat fitted.

Sources for the figures in this section

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more reliable, the Ford Fiesta or the Renault Clio?
On the MOT measure, the Ford Fiesta: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 9.2 percentage points ahead of the Renault Clio on first-time MOT passes, across 175,620 DVSA-recorded tests covering every generation on the road. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure. The MOT checks safety and emissions items, not the engine, clutch or gearbox, so this is one measure of how each car holds up rather than a full reliability verdict.
How do the MOT pass rates of the Ford Fiesta and the Renault Clio compare?
72.3% of Ford Fiestas pass their MOT first time (143,495 tests in DVSA's records) and 62.7% of Renault Clios pass their MOT first time (32,125 tests). The national first-time rate is 77.3%, but cars of the Ford Fiesta's age average 74.9% and cars of the Renault Clio's age 74.5% — so the Ford Fiesta runs 2.6 points worse than its age group and the Renault Clio runs 11.8 points worse than its own. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.
Which years of the Ford Fiesta and Renault Clio should I avoid?
Ford Fiesta: Launch-era 2017–2018 cars are now the oldest Fiesta Mk8s on the used market and the most likely to still carry the original wet cam timing belt rather than Ford's later revised chain-driven design, so they're most likely to be nearing or past the belt's safe replacement point without full documented history. This window is also most associated with the early cracking-noise driveshaft complaint, and these cars are furthest removed from the 2022 facelift's refinements. The DVSA MOT table on this page rates 2018 registrations above all cars registered that year, so it is not named as a year to avoid. Renault Clio: Early Mk4 (2013–2015) UK examples suffer from EDC dual-clutch gearbox judder, EGR fouling on diesel, and 1.5 dCi timing belt neglect. These are the most problematic Clios to buy used.
Is the Ford Fiesta or the Renault Clio cheaper to run?
On fuel the Renault Clio has the edge: its most economical version returns up to 63 mpg, against up to 54 mpg for the Ford Fiesta, on the figures in our model guides. For cars registered from April 2017, vehicle tax works the same way for both: the £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included, plus the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 on a car that listed at over £40,000 new — the price when new, not what you pay for it used. Any Ford Fiesta or Renault Clio registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 pays a CO2 band instead, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates). Insurance differs mainly by driver and postcode rather than by model, so treat any model-level insurance figure with caution.
Which is better for a family, the Ford Fiesta or the Renault Clio?
Both are superminis, so neither is a roomy family car; our Fiesta guide says buyers who want the most rear legroom or boot space should look at a larger car. For occasional family use, choose on the car itself: boot and rear seat space with your child seat fitted, the service history, and the version. The Fiesta is the most traded used car in the UK (73,570 in Q2 2026, SMMT), so it is easy to compare, and the Clio’s quoted fuel economy is up to 63 mpg against up to 54 mpg for the Fiesta’s mild hybrid in our guides.

MOT figures are counted from DVSA records and are the only measured statistic here. Prices, economy and tax bands are indicative and vary by specification, condition and where the car has lived. Last reviewed: 2026-10-06 / 2026-10-06.