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Renault Clio vs Toyota Yaris: which is the better used buy?

On DVSA MOT records the Toyota Yaris does better at its MOT: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 15.6 percentage points ahead of the Renault Clio on first-time MOT passes. That comparison covers 81,521 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
Toyota Yaris
Pass rate79.5%
Age-matched national75.7%
Difference+3.8
Tests49,396

These figures count every generation still on the road, not only the one described below: mostly Renault Clios registered 2002–2022 and Toyota Yaris registered 2000–2022.

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

Also compare:

Toyota Yaris

XP210, 2020+ · supermini hybrid hatch

The XP210 Toyota Yaris Hybrid (2020+) is among the most reliable cars sold in the UK. The hybrid system is solid; minor concerns are early-batch AC compressor failures, the 12V auxiliary battery on cars left unused, and brake squeak (cosmetic, common across all hybrids). The pre-2020 XP130 had rear-beam corrosion in coastal areas — XP210 unaffected. Best-buy: any year. Worst: none.

What goes wrong

  • Safety recall R/2022/055recall
    The initialization of the radar sensor may not have been completed correctly
    42,554 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 6 July 2020 and 21 June 2021
    Large recall — 42,554 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Safety recall R/2023/279recall
    On affected vehicles there is a possibility that the DCM may not complete the shutdown process within a specific period of time when the ignition is turned off causing the DCM to not restart at the next ignition cycle and making the e-Call function unavailable.
    27,327 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 30 June 2021 and 28 July 2023
    Large recall — 27,327 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • AC compressor (early-batch)moderate
    AC blows warm; clicking from compressor
    Early 2020 production · £650–£950 compressor + regas
    Check: Test AC during inspection — should be cold within 1 minute on a warm day.
  • 12V auxiliary battery (unused cars)minor
    Hybrid system won't wake; "READY" not appearing
    All XP210 · Battery age 4–5 years · £220–£350
    Check: Toyota battery health check at dealer (£20–£30).
Typical asking price:
£11,999–£28,990, median £15,499 (middle 80% and median, cars on Autoza on 29 October 2026)
Fuel economy:
58–69 mpg official WLTP combined for the 1.5 Hybrid (Toyota UK specification sheet).
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.
Best years:
2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Used Toyota Yaris for saleFull Yaris fault guideUsed Toyotas

Also compare:

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.

Toyota Yaris

Good for: Urban drivers, first-time buyers, anyone prioritising lowest running costs.

Less good for: Long-distance highway commuters wanting cabin space.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more reliable, the Renault Clio or the Toyota Yaris?
On the MOT measure, the Toyota Yaris: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 15.6 percentage points ahead of the Renault Clio on first-time MOT passes, across 81,521 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 Toyota Yaris compare?
62.7% of Renault Clios pass their MOT first time (32,125 tests in DVSA's records) and 79.5% of Toyota Yaris pass their MOT first time (49,396 tests). The national first-time rate is 77.3%, but cars of the Renault Clio's age average 74.5% and cars of the Toyota Yaris's age 75.7% — so the Renault Clio runs 11.8 points worse than its age group and the Toyota Yaris runs 3.8 points better 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 Toyota Yaris 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. Toyota Yaris: No standout bad year in XP210. Pre-2020 XP130 had documented rear-beam corrosion in coastal areas — that generation is the one to avoid.
Is the Renault Clio or the Toyota Yaris cheaper to run?
On fuel it depends on the engine. Renault Clio: 46–54 mpg (1.0 TCe petrol, real-world UK); 51–63 mpg (1.5 dCi diesel). Toyota Yaris: 58–69 mpg official WLTP combined for the 1.5 Hybrid (Toyota UK specification sheet). WLTP figures are official lab results; your own driving can return a different figure. 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 Toyota Yaris 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.