Renault Clio Ireland 2026: Prices, Motor Tax and Buyer Checks

The Renault Clio has been a fixture on Irish roads for more than three decades, and the current fifth-generation car is the version most buyers will meet on the used market today. It is also one of the few remaining superminis that still offers a genuine choice between a straightforward petrol engine and a full hybrid, which makes the running-cost maths unusually interesting.

This guide sets out the verified Irish prices, the WLTP CO2 figures, the motor tax each version attracts, and one detail that trips up a lot of buyers: the registration year changes the tax bill, even when the CO2 number is identical.

Renault Clio Ireland buyer guide infographic with CO2, motor tax and Euro NCAP figures

Renault Clio in Ireland: what you are actually buying

The Clio V arrived in 2019 and was heavily facelifted in late 2023, when Renault used it to introduce the brand's current design language. That facelift kept the two familiar powertrains but sharpened the styling and lifted cabin quality, and it is the version currently sold new through Irish dealers.

Two powertrains are offered. The TCe 90 pairs a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine with a six-speed manual gearbox. The E-Tech 145 uses a 1.6-litre petrol engine, a clutchless six-speed automatic transmission and electrical assistance for a combined 145hp. Renault states the E-Tech can run on its electric motor up to 80 per cent of the time in urban driving.

Trim runs Evolution, Techno and Esprit Alpine. Even entry-level Evolution cars get 16-inch alloys, keyless entry and go, automatic air conditioning, full LED lighting, a seven-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a seven-inch digital driver display and rear parking sensors.

Renault Clio in red, front three-quarter view on a bridge — The Clio remains one of the best-selling superminis in Ireland. Photo: Renault (editorial use).

Renault Clio engine options and Irish prices

Version	Engine	CO2 (WLTP)	Fuel use	Irish price from
TCe 90 Evolution	1.2 turbo petrol, 6-speed manual	118 g/km	5.2 l/100km	EUR 24,845
TCe 90 Techno	1.2 turbo petrol, 6-speed manual	118 g/km	5.2 l/100km	EUR 26,545
TCe 90 Esprit Alpine	1.2 turbo petrol, 6-speed manual	118 g/km	5.2 l/100km	EUR 28,345
E-Tech 145 Evolution	1.6 petrol full hybrid, automatic	96 g/km	4.2 l/100km	EUR 30,545
E-Tech 145 Techno	1.6 petrol full hybrid, automatic	96 g/km	4.2 l/100km	EUR 32,245
E-Tech 145 Esprit Alpine	1.6 petrol full hybrid, automatic	96 g/km	4.2 l/100km	EUR 34,045

Renault Ireland currently lists the Clio E-Tech full hybrid from EUR 29,495, so it is worth checking the live price list and any running offer before you negotiate. Renault quotes up to 900km of range from a tank for the hybrid.

Why buyers like the Clio

Genuine hybrid choice in a supermini. Very few cars this size still offer a full hybrid without a plug, and 4.2 l/100km is a real-world useful figure for mixed Irish driving.
Cabin quality above class average. Renault removed leather entirely in the facelift, replacing it with a coated bio-sourced fabric, and lifted material quality throughout.
Strong standard equipment. Wireless smartphone mirroring, LED lighting and parking sensors are standard rather than optional extras.
Five-year warranty that transfers. Renault's cover runs five years, unlimited mileage for the first two and then up to 150,000km, and it passes to the next owner.
Low tax across the range. Even the petrol car sits comfortably under the EUR 200 mark for annual motor tax on a 2021-or-later registration.

Where the Clio falls short

The hybrid costs noticeably more up front. The gap between a TCe 90 and an equivalent E-Tech is around EUR 5,700 new, which takes a lot of fuel savings to recover on low annual mileage.
The TCe 90 is modestly powered. Ninety horsepower with a manual gearbox is adequate rather than brisk, particularly with a full car.
Rear space is typical supermini. Fine for children and occasional adults, tight for four adults on a long run.
Reported electronic niggles. Some Clio V owners have described intermittent instrument-panel glitches, including the speedometer briefly disappearing, which generally cleared themselves.

Renault Clio motor tax in Ireland: check the registration year first

This is where a lot of published figures go wrong. Ireland runs two separate CO2-based motor tax tables. Cars registered from 1 January 2021 onwards use the WLTP table. Cars registered between July 2008 and the end of December 2020 sit on an older table, and the amounts differ even when the CO2 number is the same.

Clio version	CO2	Registered 2021 or later	Registered 2008-2020
E-Tech 145 hybrid	96 g/km	EUR 170 (band 91-100)	EUR 180 (band A2, 81-100)
TCe 90 petrol	118 g/km	EUR 190 (band 111-120)	EUR 200 (band A4, 111-120)

The practical takeaway: a 2020-registered hybrid Clio and a 2021-registered hybrid Clio with identical emissions will not cost the same to tax. If you are looking at an import, the relevant date is the vehicle's first registration abroad, not the date it was registered in Ireland. Confirm the exact figure for a specific registration number on motortax.ie before you budget.

Renault Clio Ireland motor tax, engine comparison and pre-purchase checklist infographic

Renault Clio reliability and what to check before you buy

The Clio V has not attracted the kind of headline mechanical failures that dogged some earlier generations, but the model line has history worth knowing. On the previous fourth-generation Clio, owners reported timing chain tensioner failures serious enough to damage the crankcase, head gasket problems on the 90 TCe unit, tyre pressure monitoring faults and power steering rack issues. None of those carry over automatically, but they are a reminder to insist on a documented service record.

Practical checks for any used Clio in Ireland:

Full service history, stamped and dated. Gaps in the timeline are a question for the seller, not something to overlook.
Cold-start the car and watch the screens. Cycle the infotainment and digital cluster through every menu before you drive.
Confirm remaining warranty. Renault's five-year cover is transferable, so ask for the first registration date and check what is left.
Test the hybrid in traffic, not just on open road. The E-Tech does its best work at low speed; a short motorway blast tells you very little.
Run a history check before money changes hands. Finance, write-off status and mileage discrepancies do not show up on a test drive. Our guide to checking car history in Ireland walks through the process.

Renault Clio in red driving through a city street — The hybrid Clio is designed to spend most urban driving on electric power. Photo: Renault (editorial use).

Renault service network and warranty in Ireland

Renault operates a nationwide dealer and authorised repairer network across Ireland, so parts and servicing are straightforward outside the major cities. The warranty package is one of the stronger arguments for buying a newer used Clio: five years of manufacturer cover, unlimited mileage for the first two years and up to 150,000km thereafter, plus five years of breakdown assistance, a twelve-year anti-corrosion warranty and a three-year paint warranty. Critically for a used buyer, the warranty transfers to subsequent owners.

What is coming: the sixth-generation Renault Clio

Renault has already revealed the next Clio, but Irish buyers face a wait. The new car does not arrive here until sometime in 2027, because Renault initially had not planned a right-hand-drive version and reversed that decision late. That matters if you are timing a purchase.

The new car moves to a 1.8-litre hybrid system producing 160hp with a 1.4kWh battery, rated at 89 g/km and 3.9 l/100km, which lands it in the 81-90 band at EUR 160 a year. The entry petrol becomes a 115hp 1.2 turbo at 114 g/km, or EUR 190 a year. Boot space is 391 litres for the petrol and 309 litres for the hybrid.

One point deserves careful reading. The sixth-generation Clio scored four stars in its 2025 Euro NCAP assessment, with 79 per cent for adult occupant protection, 82 per cent child occupant, 80 per cent vulnerable road users and 73 per cent safety assist. The outgoing Clio V scored five stars in 2019 with 96 per cent adult occupant protection. That is not evidence the new car is less safe. Euro NCAP tightens its protocol every few years, so a 2019 five-star result and a 2025 four-star result are not directly comparable. Compare within a test year, never across them.

Verdict: is the Renault Clio a good buy in Ireland?

Yes, with one caveat about which version. If you cover meaningful urban mileage, the E-Tech 145 hybrid is the one to have: 96 g/km, EUR 170 a year to tax on a 2021-or-later registration and genuinely low fuel consumption. If your annual mileage is modest and mostly rural, the TCe 90 saves a substantial sum up front and still only costs EUR 190 a year to tax, which is hard to argue with.

Either way, buy on documented history rather than on specification. A Techno with a complete service record beats an Esprit Alpine with gaps in the paperwork every time.

Renault Clio Ireland: frequently asked questions

How much is motor tax on a Renault Clio in Ireland?

For a Clio registered in 2021 or later, the E-Tech 145 hybrid at 96 g/km costs EUR 170 a year and the TCe 90 petrol at 118 g/km costs EUR 190 a year. Cars registered between 2008 and 2020 use an older table and pay EUR 180 and EUR 200 respectively for the same emissions.

Is the Renault Clio hybrid worth the extra money?

It depends on your mileage. The E-Tech costs roughly EUR 5,700 more than the equivalent TCe 90 new, and saves about 1.0 l/100km on the official cycle plus EUR 20 a year in tax. High-mileage urban drivers recover that gap; low-mileage rural drivers generally will not.

Does the Renault warranty transfer when I buy a used Clio?

Yes. Renault's five-year warranty transfers to subsequent owners. The first two years are unlimited mileage, after which cover runs to 150,000km. Ask the seller for the original registration date to work out what remains.

When does the new Renault Clio arrive in Ireland?

Sometime in 2027. The delay is down to a late decision by Renault to build a right-hand-drive version, which pushed Irish and UK deliveries more than a year behind left-hand-drive markets.

Should I worry that the new Clio only scored four Euro NCAP stars?

Not on its own. Euro NCAP raises the bar periodically, so a four-star result under the 2025 protocol is not comparable with a five-star result under the 2019 protocol. Compare cars tested in the same year.

Buying or selling a Renault Clio? Use Ecosteer

Ecosteer is an Irish car marketplace built to make buying and selling straightforward.

Browse Renault listings on Ecosteer across all 32 counties.
Place an ad - private listings under EUR 3,000 are completely free, with no commission.
Find a dealer near you.
Considering the hybrid or an EV? Read our EV and hybrid battery health check guide.
Before you pay a deposit, run a full car history check.

External sources

Vehicle photography courtesy of Renault, used for editorial purposes.