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Renault Clio vs Skoda Fabia: which is the better used buy?

On DVSA MOT records the Skoda Fabia does better at its MOT: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 11.6 percentage points ahead of the Renault Clio on first-time MOT passes. That comparison covers 56,182 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.

Renault Clio
Pass rate62.7%
Age-matched national74.5%
Difference-11.8
Tests32,125
Skoda Fabia
Pass rate75.6%
Age-matched national75.8%
Difference-0.2
Tests24,057

These figures count every generation still on the road, not only the one described below: mostly Renault Clios registered 2002–2022 and Skoda Fabias registered 2003–2022.

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.

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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Skoda Fabia

Mk3/NJ3 (2014–2021) and Mk4/PJ (2021–2025) · Supermini / small hatchback (also sold as an estate on Mk3). The current Mk4 is built on the Volkswagen Group's MQB-A0 platform and is closely related to the SEAT Ibiza and Volkswagen Polo; the earlier Mk3 used the previous-generation PQ26 platform, a hybrid combining the older Polo-based PQ25 architecture with MQB components. UK rivals include the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa and Renault Clio.

The Skoda Fabia sold in the UK spans the Mk3 (2014–2021) and the MQB-A0 Mk4 (2021–2025). The key check on any car with the optional 7-speed DQ200 DSG is a cold-start drive for jerky or delayed gearchanges. Early Mk4 builds are covered by seat-backrest and airbag recalls, so check by registration. Best buy: 2019–2020 Mk3 or 2023+ Mk4.

What goes wrong

  • Safety recall R/2023/251recall
    On affected vehicles airbags have been fitted which may rupture when activated and may not function properly
    3,844 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 16 September 2021 and 16 June 2022
    Smaller recall — 3,844 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Safety recall R/2022/017recall
    The right- hand rear seat backrest frame has a reduced strength
    132 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 1 March 2021 and 4 March 2021
    Smaller recall — 132 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • DSG7 (DQ200) automatic gearboxmajor
    Jerky, hesitant, or delayed gearchanges — particularly pulling away from a stop or in slow traffic — juddering through the lower gears, and in more advanced cases a gearbox fault warning light with the car defaulting into a protective limp-home mode.
    Mk3 (2014–2021) and Mk4 (2021–2025) models fitted with the optional 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox; the large majority of documented failures are on higher-mileage Mk3 cars, which have now had longer in service. · Most commonly reported from around 40,000–60,000 miles onwards, though it can surface earlier or later depending on driving style and servicing. · A mechatronic unit repair (solenoids/pressure accumulator) at an independent specialist typically runs £250–£600; a full new or reconditioned mechatronic unit fitted by a dealer or specialist can cost £1,200–£2,500.
    Check: Test drive from cold and note any hesitation or jerkiness pulling away and shifting through 1st–3rd gear; VW Group schedules no gearbox oil service for the dry-clutch DQ200, so absent DSG fluid records are normal rather than a red flag (a voluntary mechatronic oil service, which some specialists suggest around 60,000 miles, is a plus); have a specialist read fault codes before buying, and check the free GOV.UK MOT history checker for any transmission-related advisories.
  • Carbon buildup on intake valves (TSI direct-injection engines)minor
    Rough or lumpy idle, hesitation or occasional misfire under load, a slight but noticeable drop in power, and sometimes the engine management light illuminating.
    1.0 TSI and 1.5 TSI direct-injection petrol engines across both Mk3 (2014–2021) and Mk4 (2021–2025); the naturally-aspirated port-injected 1.0 MPI is not affected. · Typically becomes noticeable from around 60,000 miles onwards, sometimes earlier on cars used mainly for short journeys that never fully reach operating temperature. · A walnut-blasting or chemical intake-valve clean at an independent specialist typically costs around £150–£350.
    Check: Ask about the car's typical use (short urban trips accelerate buildup); listen for a rough idle on cold start; check the service history for any intake cleaning already carried out.
Typical asking price:
£5,295–£13,495, median £8,495 (middle 80% and median, cars on Autoza on 29 October 2026)
Fuel economy:
1.0 MPI: 46–51 mpg. 1.0 TSI: 44–50 mpg. 1.2 TSI (Mk3 early): 42–47 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:
2019, 2020, 2023, 2024
Years to avoid:
2014, 2021
Used Skoda Fabias for saleFull Fabia fault guideUsed Skodas

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Which one suits you

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.

Skoda Fabia

Good for: Buyers wanting genuine VW Group build quality and the biggest boot in the class for the money. A manual-gearbox car avoids the DSG mechatronic risk entirely and is the simpler, cheaper-to-maintain choice.

Less good for: Anyone considering the DSG automatic without documented mechatronic/service history, or an early-build 2021 Mk4 without confirmed recall work completed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more reliable, the Renault Clio or the Skoda Fabia?
On the MOT measure, the Skoda Fabia: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 11.6 percentage points ahead of the Renault Clio on first-time MOT passes, across 56,182 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 Renault Clio and the Skoda Fabia compare?
62.7% of Renault Clios pass their MOT first time (32,125 tests in DVSA's records) and 75.6% of Skoda Fabias pass their MOT first time (24,057 tests). The national first-time rate is 77.3%, but cars of the Renault Clio's age average 74.5% and cars of the Skoda Fabia's age 75.8% — so the Renault Clio runs 11.8 points worse than its age group and the Skoda Fabia runs 0.2 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 Renault Clio and Skoda Fabia should I 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. Skoda Fabia: The earliest Mk3 cars (2014–2015) carry the highest concentration of DSG7 mechatronic and EGR/wastegate complaints reported on owner forums, reflecting a car early in its production run before running fixes were applied. 2021 is the highest-risk single year because it spans both the final months of Mk3 production and the very first months of Mk4 production, the latter directly affected by the seat-backrest-frame recall R/2022/017 (cars built 1–4 March 2021) and the start of the airbag-rupture recall window R/2023/251 (from 16 September 2021). The DVSA MOT table on this page rates 2015 registrations above all cars registered that year, so it is not named as a year to avoid.
Is the Renault Clio or the Skoda Fabia cheaper to run?
On fuel the Renault Clio has the edge: its most economical version returns up to 63 mpg, against up to 51 mpg for the Skoda Fabia, 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 Renault Clio or Skoda Fabia 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.