Volkswagen Polo vs Renault Clio
Figures updated
The Volkswagen Polo and Renault Clio are two of the UK's most popular superminis. We compare the Polo Mk6 (2017–) and the Clio V (2019–) on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 911,046 real MOT tests.
The short answer
Pick the Volkswagen Polo for the better MOT record and more performance, or the Renault Clio for the lower price, the bigger boot and lower fuel costs.
- The Renault Clio is the cheapest to buy new: from £20,995, £1,315 less than the Volkswagen Polo.
- The Renault Clio has the biggest boot: 391 litres, 40 more than the Volkswagen Polo.
- The Volkswagen Polo has the better MOT record. Like for like on age and mileage, the Renault Clio fails its MOT about 23% more often.
- The Renault Clio is the cheapest to fuel: comparing petrol versions, about £165 a year less than the Volkswagen Polo at 7,500 miles a year.
- Watch the steering on a Volkswagen Polo: it fails on them 1.6 times as often as the average car.
- Watch the steering on a Renault Clio: it fails on them 2.9 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Volkswagen PoloPolo Mk6 (2017–), 5-door hatchback | Renault ClioClio V (2019–), 5-door hatchback |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £22,310 to £28,920October 2026 price list | £20,995 to £24,995July 2026 price list (best) |
| Body | 5-door hatchback | 5-door hatchback |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 351 litres | 391 litres / 1,069 (best) |
| Length | 4,074mm | 4,053mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,751mm | – |
| Height | 1,451mm | 1,439mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 80–207 PS (best) | 90–145 PS |
| 0–62mph | 6.5–15.5 sec (best) | 9.3–12.2 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2017) | ★★★★★ (2019) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Diesel, Petrol | Diesel, Hybrid, Petrol |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 43.5–76.3 mpg | 52.3–67.3 mpg |
| CO2 | 97–148 g/km | 95–121 g/km |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.4p a litre, today's UK average | £1,096 (53.3 mpg) | £931 (62.8 mpg) (best) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | £910 (74.3 mpg) (best) | £1,005 (67.3 mpg) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £910 (diesel) | £931 (petrol) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200 | £200 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 87Below average (best) | 71Well below average |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 32.9% (best) | 42.9% |
| Failed at 3 years old | 11.8% (best) | 13.8% |
| Failed at 5 years old | 19.9% (best) | 24.5% |
| Failed at 10 years old | 34.3% (best) | 45.3% |
| Most common MOT fault | Pins and bushes (3.1% of tests) | Ball joint (8.1% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Steering (1.6×), Body and structure (1.5×) | Steering (2.9×), Seat belts and airbags (2.0×) |
| MOT tests analysed | 600,518 | 310,528 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Supermini | Supermini |
| Owners' average miles a year | 6,700 | 6,700 |
| On sale | 2017 on | 2019 on |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the Volkswagen Polo or the Renault Clio more reliable?
The Volkswagen Polo. Like for like on age and mileage, the Renault Clio fails its MOT about 23% more often (reliability scores 87 and 71, where 100 is average). 32.9% of Volkswagen Polos and 42.9% of Renault Clios failed first time in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Volkswagen Polo or the Renault Clio?
The Volkswagen Polo is 21mm longer (4,074mm against 4,053mm). The Renault Clio has the bigger boot: 391 litres against 351.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Volkswagen Polo or the Renault Clio?
The Renault Clio: new prices start at £20,995, £1,315 less than the Volkswagen Polo (from £22,310). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Volkswagen Polo or the Renault Clio?
Comparing petrol versions, the Renault Clio costs about £165 a year less to fuel at 7,500 miles (£931 against £1,096), using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Volkswagen Polo or the Renault Clio?
Euro NCAP gave the Volkswagen Polo 5 stars (2017) and the Renault Clio 5 stars (2019). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Volkswagen Polo or the Renault Clio?
Pick the Volkswagen Polo for the better MOT record and more performance, or the Renault Clio for the lower price, the bigger boot and lower fuel costs. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.