Price last updated: March 2026. Subject to change.

Price last updated: March 2026. Subject to change.

The Clio hybrid combines a 1.6 litre petrol engine with an electric motor for 145hp and up to 67.3mpg officially. In urban stop-start conditions it runs on electric power for meaningful stretches, and the automatic gearbox removes the manual effort of city driving entirely. The petrol only 1.0 litre delivers 90hp with a manual gearbox and up to 54.3mpg. The petrol engine is audibly harsh under load. Buyers who spend significant time at higher speeds will find the hybrid's composure more tolerable.

The Fabia offers four petrol engine variants with no hybrid or electric option. The 80hp naturally aspirated entry engine is genuinely underpowered and should be considered only on price. The 116hp 1.0 TSI with the 6-speed manual is the strongest all round choice, returning close to official economy figures in real world mixed driving. The 150hp 1.5 TSI is smooth and refined but difficult to justify at this price point.

The Clio petrol offers 391 litres, the largest boot in the small hatchback class, larger than the Volkswagen Polo at 351 litres, the Audi A1 at 335 litres, and the Peugeot 208 at 311 litres. The hybrid variant reduces to 301 litres due to battery placement, dropping to among the smallest in the segment. Buyers choosing the hybrid for its efficiency must accept a meaningful boot reduction. The boot lip is high and the bumper tall, making heavy or awkward items harder to load than the volume figure alone implies.

The Fabia's 380 litre boot is the second largest in the small hatchback class, beaten only by the Clio petrol at 391 litres. The adjustable boot floor that creates a flat loading surface when the rear seats fold is part of the optional Simply Clever Plus Package on SE trim. Without it there is a hump in the floor that complicates longer loads. Shopping hooks, tie down points, and a hidden smaller storage area are standard.

The Clio's rear seat space is the most consistent limitation noted by owners. Kneeroom is tight for adults, headroom is limited, and the narrow rear doors make access more awkward than in wider alternatives. Three adults in the back is uncomfortable. For families with young children or short journeys this is manageable. For any buyer who regularly carries adults in the rear seat, the Clio is a car designed primarily for two front occupants who occasionally carry rear passengers.

The Fabia is notably spacious for a small hatchback. Tall adults get decent head and legroom in the rear. Three ISOFIX mounts are standard, two in the rear outer seats and one in the front passenger seat, and they are easy to locate without fiddly removable covers. Three adults across the back is tight on shoulder room but manageable for shorter journeys. For families whose rear passengers are primarily children, the Fabia is the more practical answer than the Clio.

The Clio's interior is its strongest attribute relative to its price point. The sweeping dashboard, soft touch plastics on the dashboard and centre console, and metal effect details give it a feel that sits above its class. The infotainment software is basic and slow to respond, which contrasts with the quality of the physical environment. For a buyer moving from a basic hatchback and wanting a step up in perceived quality without a premium price, the Clio surprises.

Physical ventilation buttons are standard across the entire Fabia range, which means temperature, fan speed, and airflow are adjusted without any screen interaction. This is the Fabia's most consistent ergonomic advantage in daily use. The touchscreen handles infotainment and navigation but can be slow to respond; most owners use wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto as the primary interface. Materials are not as soft or premium feeling as the Clio's dashboard, but the physical controls make the Fabia more naturally usable in motion.

The Clio is a composed small hatchback that handles well for its class without being exciting. The firm suspension limits body lean in corners and the car has adequate grip. The light steering and tight turning circle make it easy in town. The firm suspension that benefits cornering imposes a cost in urban comfort, with bumps and expansion joints felt more directly than in the Volkswagen Polo. On a good road it rewards confident driving without engaging the driver the way a Ford Fiesta would.

The Fabia is comfortable and composed for a small hatchback. Urban bump absorption is strong and the car feels settled at low speeds. Real owners note that potholes and rough surfaces are transmitted more directly than expected on DSG variants with larger alloys. On the motorway it feels like a larger car than it is, with good sound insulation at a cruise. On a twisty road it is secure and predictable rather than engaging. The turbocharged 116hp engine has strong enough pull at most speeds to suit everyday driving without frustration.

The Clio is at its best in exactly this environment. At 4,053mm long it is among the more compact options at this price, the turning circle is tight, steering is light, and the hybrid's electric pull away at low speed is quiet and immediate. Parking sensors and a rear camera are available across the range. Rear visibility through the small rear windows and narrow rear windscreen is limited. The Clio is a car designed for urban life, and it serves that brief more completely than any other aspect of its specification.

The Fabia is also well suited to urban use. At 4,137mm it is only 84mm longer than the Clio and broadly similar in city manageability. Steering is light and accurate, and the turbocharged engines are responsive in gaps and junctions. Rear parking sensors are standard across the range. The Fabia's rear visibility is better than the Clio's through larger rear windows and a wider rear windscreen. The hidden umbrella in the driver's door is the kind of everyday detail that distinguishes the Fabia's design approach.

The Clio carries five stars from Euro NCAP and provides lane departure warning and assist, traffic sign recognition, cruise control with speed limiter, and active emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection as standard across the range. Adaptive cruise control and blind spot warning require the Esprit Alpine trim. The standard provision across all trims is strong for the price point.

The Fabia carries five stars from Euro NCAP's 2021 test and provides automatic emergency braking, lane assist, and an eCall emergency contact system as standard across all trims. Adaptive cruise with lane assist and traffic jam assist requires the optional Assisted Drive package, a reasonable additional cost for buyers covering regular motorway miles. The Fabia's standard safety provision is strong for its price point and the optional packages are clearly priced and logically structured.

Renault's warranty covers unlimited mileage in the first 24 months, then caps at 60,000 miles or three years total. This is below the standard maintained by Kia, Hyundai, and Toyota in the same market. Renault does not have a strong track record in reliability and satisfaction surveys. The hybrid system is mature technology derived from Renault's motorsport programme and has proven more dependable than the brand's conventional powertrain reputation might suggest.

The Fabia carries a standard three year, 60,000 mile warranty. This generation has had recalls for a passenger airbag issue and a rear seat backrest fault, both addressed by dealers. Skoda sits above the Volkswagen Group average in owner satisfaction surveys. For buyers concerned about long term reliability, the shared Volkswagen Group platform and the Polo's owner satisfaction data provide a reasonable confidence baseline where direct Fabia data is limited.

The Clio is one of the most affordable new hatchbacks in the UK market. The entry Generation petrol at £17,995, or £17,575.00 through MotorSource, places it well below the Volkswagen Polo and Skoda Fabia at equivalent specification. Insurance groups from 10E to 16E are among the lowest available in the hatchback class. The hybrid premium of approximately £3,500 over the petrol is unlikely to be recovered on fuel savings alone. Its value is in the automatic gearbox, the smoother urban character, and the lower company car BiK rate.

The Fabia starts at £21,055 (£18,165.25 through MotorSource), placing it above the Clio entry but below the Volkswagen Polo and SEAT Ibiza at comparable specifications. Insurance groups from 4E at entry level are lower than almost any competitor in the class and represent a meaningful annual saving for drivers in higher risk profiles. The 116hp manual is the lowest total cost ownership variant: straightforward to service, no DSG complexity, and consistently close to official economy figures in real world use.