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Peugeot 208 vs Renault Clio: which is the better used buy?

On DVSA MOT records the Peugeot 208 does better at its MOT: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 7.9 percentage points ahead of the Renault Clio on first-time MOT passes. That comparison covers 55,358 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.

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.

Peugeot 208
Pass rate76.0%
Age-matched national79.9%
Difference-3.9
Tests23,233
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 Peugeot 208s registered 2012–2022 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.

Peugeot 208

Mk2 (2019–present) · B-segment supermini. One of the most popular small cars in the UK, available with 1.2 PureTech petrol, 1.5 BlueHDi diesel, and fully electric e-208 (50kWh) variants.

The Peugeot 208 Mk2 is a stylish, well-specified supermini, but the 1.2 PureTech petrol runs a wet timing belt that owners report shedding debris and burning oil, so ask for a belt-change invoice on 2019–2020 cars. Some 1.5 BlueHDi diesels are covered by DVSA camshaft-chain recall R/2025/246. The electric e-208 has neither engine.

What goes wrong

  • Safety recall R/2026/231recall
    Peugeot 208 Horn sound volume
    41,085 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 1 September 2019 and 25 July 2022
    Large recall — 41,085 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Safety recall R/2023/140recall
    On affected vehicles the AC compressor stator wiring could develop a fault leading to current loss inside the AC compressor that could result in a vehicle powertrain shutdown when driving.
    29,537 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 3 July 2019 and 26 November 2022
    Large recall — 29,537 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • 1.2 PureTech wet timing belt and oil consumptioncritical
    Oil level dropping between services; engine warning light; rattle or whine on cold start; stalling; in severe cases sudden loss of oil pressure and engine failure
    Mk2 2019–2023 (1.2 PureTech 100 and 130 petrol) · Belt due at 6 years or 62,000 miles, whichever comes first · £450–£850 at a UK independent for the belt including cleaning the oil pick-up; £4,000+ once debris has starved the engine
    Check: This is the single most important check on any petrol 208. The timing belt runs inside the engine oil; as it ages it sheds rubber into the sump and that debris blocks the oil pick-up strainer, so the engine dies of oil starvation rather than the belt breaking. Ask for a belt-change invoice — Stellantis revised the interval down to 6 years or 62,000 miles with annual oil changes on the correct 5W-30 spec, which puts every 2019–2020 car at or past it. Pull the dipstick and treat a low level as a red flag rather than a top-up. Stellantis runs a UK compensation portal for qualifying wet-belt repairs paid between January 2022 and December 2024, plus a warranty extension of up to 10 years / 112,000 miles — check both before accepting any quote. The e-208 is electric and has no belt at all.
  • iCockpit i-Toggles touchscreen and digital dashboard freezeminor
    Centre touchscreen freezes mid-drive; digital instrument cluster goes blank; infotainment reboots spontaneously
    2019–2022 across all variants · Can occur from low mileage — software-related · £0–£350 (software update free at dealer; hardware replacement if control unit fails)
    Check: Test the touchscreen and digital dashboard during the test drive — do they respond immediately? Ask if the car has had the latest Peugeot Connect infotainment software update applied. Most iCockpit freeze issues are resolved by software updates which are free at any authorised Peugeot dealer.
Typical asking price:
£6,995–£14,995, median £9,495 (middle 80% and median, cars on Autoza on 29 October 2026)
Fuel economy:
44–51 mpg (1.2 PureTech real-world UK mixed); 59–71 mpg (1.5 BlueHDi); 3.5–4.1 mi/kWh (e-208 real-world)
Vehicle tax:
£200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025 (2026/27 rates). A car registered from April 2017 that listed at over £40,000 new (options included) also pays the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 — it is the price when new that counts, not what you pay for it used. Electric versions: one first registered from 1 April 2025 pays the £440/year supplement in years 2–6 only if it listed at over £50,000 new; one registered before then never does, whatever it cost.
Best years:
2022, 2023
Years to avoid:
2019, 2020
Used Peugeot 208s for saleFull 208 fault guideUsed Peugeots

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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

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Which one suits you

Peugeot 208

Good for: Urban and suburban commuters who want a stylish small car. Buyers who can verify the PureTech wet timing belt has been changed against the 6-year/62,000-mile interval. e-208 buyers whose daily driving sits well inside its real-world range.

Less good for: Buyers who cannot get a wet-belt change invoice for a 2019–2020 petrol car — the belt is past due and the failure mode is engine-destroying. High-mileage EAT8 automatic buyers without documented gearbox service. Buyers wanting a simple, low-maintenance petrol supermini should consider the Toyota Yaris Hybrid instead.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more reliable, the Peugeot 208 or the Renault Clio?
On the MOT measure, the Peugeot 208: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 7.9 percentage points ahead of the Renault Clio on first-time MOT passes, across 55,358 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 Peugeot 208 and the Renault Clio compare?
76.0% of Peugeot 208s pass their MOT first time (23,233 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 Peugeot 208's age average 79.9% and cars of the Renault Clio's age 74.5% — so the Peugeot 208 runs 3.9 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 Peugeot 208 and Renault Clio should I avoid?
Peugeot 208: 2019–2020 cars are now past the revised 6-year/62,000-mile wet-belt interval. The 1.2 PureTech runs its timing belt in engine oil; as the belt breaks down it sheds rubber into the sump, that debris blocks the oil pick-up strainer, and the engine is starved. Oil consumption and engine failure are both well documented on cars with no belt-change invoice. 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 Peugeot 208 or the Renault Clio cheaper to run?
On fuel it depends on the engine, and for a plug-in or electric version on whether you can charge at home. Peugeot 208: 44–51 mpg (1.2 PureTech real-world UK mixed); 59–71 mpg (1.5 BlueHDi); 3.5–4.1 mi/kWh (e-208 real-world). Renault Clio: 46–54 mpg (1.0 TCe petrol, real-world UK); 51–63 mpg (1.5 dCi diesel). 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. The electric versions (e-208) pay the same £200/year standard rate since 1 April 2025 (electric cars were exempt before then), with the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 only on one first registered from 1 April 2025 that listed at over £50,000 new. Any Peugeot 208 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.

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.