RENAULT TWINGO HATCHBACK FULL REVIEW

Renault Twingo Hatchback full 9 point review

Performance

3 out of 5 stars

The Twingo comes with two petrol engine options, a 74bhp 1.2 and a 131bhp 1.6 in the Renaultsport version. The 1.2 will be enough for many buyers – it gives reasonable pace in most situations and doesn’t feel completely out of its depth on the motorway. The Renaultsport demands plenty of revs to keep it on the boil, but delivers the pace of a junior hot hatch when you oblige.
Ride & Handling

3 out of 5 stars

The Twingo rides quite well, and even the firmer suspension of the sportier models is still reasonably supple. The basic models aren’t as grippy as some rivals, and with plenty of body lean in bends, they’re not as sporty. The Renaultsport model, on the other hand, is a very accomplished junior hot hatch, especially when specified with the optional Cup chassis.
Refinement

3 out of 5 stars

Wind- and road noise aren't too tiring at speed and, although the engines are vocal when worked hard, they don't become too raucous. That all mean the Twingo seems fairly hushed in isolation, but it’s not as refined as rivals like the VW Up.

Buying & Owning

2 out of 5 stars

The Twingo sits at the pricier end of the city car spectrum, and residual values are only so-so for the class. Most rivals offer more economical engines, too – the 1.2’s combined figure of 55mpg is pretty unremarkable by the class standards. That said, it's generally an affordable ownership proposition.
Quality & Reliability

2 out of 5 stars

The Twingo's cabin isn't big on flair and there's a lot of hard grey plastic, but it feels solid throughout. The controls and finish are sturdy, and much of the switchgear is shared with more expensive Renaults. Renault's reliability record is patchy, but the previous-generation Clio, whose chassis is the basis for the Twingo, had a reasonable reliability record.
Safety & Security

3 out of 5 stars

Renault is famed for the safety of its cars, but the Twingo doesn’t do much to enhance that reputation. Sure, it comes with sophisticated brakes and front and side airbags as standard, but curtain airbags cost extra on both models. Only the Renaultsport version comes with standard stability control, too.

Behind The Wheel

3 out of 5 stars

Despite height-only steering wheel adjustment and a driver's seat that's high even at its lowest setting, most people should be able to make themselves comfortable in the Twingo, and all-round visibility is good. However, the central digital display isn't to all tastes and the stereo buttons are annoyingly small.
Space & Practicality

3 out of 5 stars

The Twingo is small, but cleverly packaged. There's lots of head- and legroom in the front seats and the two rear seats individually slide, fold and recline. With the rear seats in their rearmost position, there's ample legroom even for tall adults, but headroom isn't as generous. In this position, the boot is tiny, but you can push the seats forward to create more luggage space, or fold and tumble the seats forward.
Equipment

4 out of 5 stars

All versions of the Twingo come well equipped. The base-level Dynamique car comes with luxuries like air-conditioning, alloys, electric front windows, remote locking, cruise control and electrically adjusting mirrors, while Renaultsport models add a host of sporty styling touches. There are lots of personalisation options, too, and if you go for the Renaultsport model, we’d recommend adding the Cup chassis.