If you like your cars boxy, find yourself a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/panda/hatchback/used-review/n865">Fiat Panda</a>. While the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/used-review/n323">Fiat 500</a> (upon which the Panda is based) is all about its cute styling, the Panda is more practical. The 1.2-litre petrol is refined, but the 0.9-litre two-cylinder engine is more characterful.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/smart/forfour-hatchback/hatchback/review/n94">Smart Forfour</a> is more expensive than the Twingo, but it has a more stylish interior.

If you want the most dependable car in the city car class, look for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/aygo/hatchback/used-review/n853">Toyota Aygo</a>. This is cheap to run, thanks to its 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine.

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Page 5&nbsp;of 5

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<h3>Seatbelt buckles</h3>

The seatbelt latches of Twingos made between 20 October 2014 and 7 November 2014 could separate from the buckles in the event of a collision, therefore putting&nbsp;occupants at risk. Renault dealers should have recalled&nbsp;affected cars and replaced the relevant seatbelt buckles.

<h3>Bonnet skin</h3>

There was a risk that the&nbsp;upper part of the bonnet skin could detach from the rest of the bonnet due to poor adhesives on examples built between 7 May 2014 and 6 July 2015.&nbsp;Dealers were instructed to add reinforcements to the bonnet skin to prevent it from separating.

<h3>Rear spoiler skin</h3>

Similar to the previous recall, the skin of the rear spoiler could potentially separate due to poor adhesives being used on cars built between 7 May 2014 and 10 December 2016. Dealers should have&nbsp;reinforced&nbsp;the spoiler on affected cars to prevent this issue from happening. In each case,&nbsp;contact a dealer to check that these fixes have been carried out.

The Twingo didn’t feature in the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, but <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/renault">Renault</a> as a brand ranked 19th out of 31. That's not a great result, but it was still higher than&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/citroen">Citroën</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/nissan">Nissan</a>.

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2018-what-car-reliability-survey/n17798">What Car? Reliability Survey</a> pages for more information.

Page 3 of 5

Hatchback

Hatchbacks, SUVs, fast cars, electric cars: Renault makes them all, in a variety of shapes and sizes, so it has a line-up designed to tempt pretty much everyone.

From the roadside, the standout feature of them all is the design, with its cars now having a distinctive look that has won the firm a legion of fans for its flair and charm.

To drive and to own, the line-up is typically decent rather than outstanding. Best of the cars when they are rated against rivals are the Kadjar SUV, the fast RS models and the electric Zoe.

With new and used pricing also keen – and Target Price discounts through our New Car Buying marketplace usually more generous than most – there is the opportunity to negotiate an appealing price.

RENAULT

TWINGO

Rear-wheel drive and retro styling aim to make the Renault Twingo stand out in the city car class

Used Renault Twingo 2014-2019

The entry-level 1.0 SCe&nbsp;isn’t the most efficient engine in the range, with a combined average of 56.5mpg and CO2 emissions of 105g/km. The stop-start&nbsp;(S&amp;S) version of this engine is noticeably more economical at 67.3mpg combined and just 95g/km.

The turbocharged 0.9 TCe isn't much more expensive to run, with a combined figure of 65.7mpg and 99g/km of CO2.

The automatic gearbox will put a dent in the running costs of the 0.9 TCe, pushing economy down to 58.9mpg and CO2 output up to&nbsp;108g/km.

The Twingo&nbsp;GT&nbsp;is the most expensive to run. This warm hatch has an economy figure of 54.3mpg and churns out 115g/km.

Any Twingo registered after 1 April 2017 will be charged a flat-rate fee&nbsp;every year under the current system.&nbsp;Find out more about <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-changes-in-2019-%E2%80%93-what-do-i-need-to-know/n1153">road tax costs here</a>.

Page 2 of 3

<h3>&nbsp;</h3>

Rear-wheel drive and retro styling aim to make the Renault Twingo stand out in the city car class

Prices for an early <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/renault">Renault</a> Twingo that has been previously written off and repaired begin at just over £4000. However, you’ll probably want to bump up your budget in order to buy a car with better provenance; a Twingo with the&nbsp;0.9 TCe turbo&nbsp;engine will set you back £5000.

If you need an automatic gearbox, your choice is limited to the&nbsp;0.9 TCe, on which a dual-clutch auto was&nbsp;optional. It became available from late 2015, with examples starting at £8000.

The Twingo GT is rare and will also set you back around £8000.

Check the value of a used Renault Twingo with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/car-valuation/">What Car? Valuations</a>

The entry-level 1.0&nbsp;SCe model&nbsp;isn't particularly quick, but it's the one to go for, because it's cheaper to buy than the&nbsp;turbocharged 0.9 TCe&nbsp;and will cost you less&nbsp;to run, particularly when you go for an example equipped with&nbsp;stop-start technology.

The more powerful 0.9 TCe is much more usable when venturing out of town, but you'll need to pay extra for that privilege and there are fewer of them available to buy. The same is true of the&nbsp;108bhp&nbsp;GT version.&nbsp;It isn’t that much fun to drive anyway, so we can't recommend this particular Twingo&nbsp;unless you can get&nbsp;a really good deal on it.

Our favourite trim is Dynamique, because of the extra kit you get over the cheaper models.

Our favourite <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/renault">Renault</a> Twingo: 1.0 SCe 70 S&amp;S Dynamique

Page 4&nbsp;of 5

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Clever interior space </li> <li>Quiet and comfortable ride </li> <li>Good visibility </li> <li>Plenty of safety tech </li> <li>Low running costs </li> <li>Outstanding value for money</li></ul>

City cars are all about diminutive size and manoeuvrability because they invariably spend most of their time on our increasingly crowded urban streets.

They do need to be big enough for a couple of adults, with back seats that’ll suffice for occasional use by people – or as a dumping ground for a couple of large shopping bags – but they must also be small enough to nip in and out of traffic, and squeeze into tight parking spaces.

Out-and-out acceleration isn’t crucial, but there must be enough oomph in the lower gears to scoot into gaps that appear in the traffic. Running costs should be low, too.

Fortunately there’s never been a better line-up of city cars on offer. Kia's Picanto mixes a neat, functional interior with tidy handling and a surprisingly big boot, while the Skoda Citigo and Suzuki Celerio are cheaper and even more frugal.

City

Despite the Twingo's tight turning circle and big door mirrors, you should check its alloy wheels for kerb damage and bumpers for scrapes. Parking sensors aren’t standard on any Twingo other than the top-spec GT – something that&nbsp;might have caught some drivers out when slotting their car into a space.

The interior could be specified in some light colours that won't&nbsp;hide dirt for long. It's also made with plenty of hard, scratchy plastics that might be easy to wipe clean but can also be scuffed by shoes or jewellery.

The layout of a small car is usually a straightforward affair of engine in the front, powering the front wheels, and a small interior a small boot. Deviating from this norm costs money, and that's&nbsp;not the done thing when making a city car.

But with the help of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/smart">Smart</a>, Renault was able to come up with an unconventional new car. The Renault Twingo shares its platform with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/smart/forfour-hatchback/hatchback/review/n94">Smart Forfour</a>, meaning you have a car with its engine in the rear (under the boot floor) driving the rear wheels. The idea is that this frees up space for a bigger interior without compromising crash safety.

The Twingo comes with a choice of three-cylinder petrol engines: an entry-level 69bhp 1.0 SCe, an&nbsp;89bhp turbocharged 0.9&nbsp;TCe and a 108bhp version of the 0.9-litre engine that's used exclusively in the range-topping GT model.&nbsp;

Out on the road, the Twingo isn’t very refined; there's a bit too much wind and road noise at speed and the ride isn’t particularly smooth. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i10/hatchback/used-review/n820">Hyundai i10</a> has quieter road manners and is better suited to the odd motorway journey. The manual gearbox in the Twingo is a bit notchy, too, and isn’t as slick as the one in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/up/hatchback/used-review/n794">Volkswagen Up</a>.

The steering isn’t the Twingo’s best feature, either. The 1.0 SCe has rather vague steering, and&nbsp;although the more powerful 0.9 TCe and GT models get&nbsp;variable-ratio steering (the aim of which is to make the car feel more agile at town speeds and more stable on the motorway), it still doesn’t inspire much confidence at higher speeds.

On the upside, body control is reasonably good and there is plenty of grip. The GT has firmer sports suspension that doesn’t help the Twingo's ride quality and is best avoided.

As far as trim levels are concerned, the range begins with&nbsp;Expression. This gets the basics and nothing more: daytime running lights,&nbsp;DAB radio, Bluetooth, hill start assist, electronic stability control, remote central locking and front electric windows. Play trim adds to this with driver’s seat height adjustment, air conditioning and 15in alloy wheels.

Dynamique&nbsp;adds cruise control, front foglights and a leather steering wheel. Dynamique S goes even further upmarket by fitting part-leather seats, 16in diamond-cut alloy wheels, aluminium pedals and stripes for the grille, doors and door mirrors in either red, white or blue.

The top-of-the-range GT comes with 17in alloy wheels, twin exhausts, doorsills with '<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/renault">Renault</a> Sport' written on them and, to top it all off, a metal gearknob. GT cars are only worth seeking out if you really want the most&nbsp;powerful&nbsp;engine.

The boot floor is much higher than it is in most small cars because of where the engine is.&nbsp;This offers&nbsp;some benefits, though, because&nbsp;you don't have to deal with a&nbsp;loading lip, so&nbsp;slotting&nbsp;heavy bags or a suitcase into the Twingo is&nbsp;a breeze.

When you fold the rear seatbacks down, they lie flat.&nbsp;Even the front passenger seatback can fold down onto its base to enable much longer items to be transported. The downside is that when all the seats are up, the boot is smaller than those of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/mii/hatchback/used-review/n822">Seat Mii</a>, Volkswagen Up and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/citigo/hatchback/used-review/n836">Skoda Citigo</a>, even when the rear seatbacks are put in a more upright position to increase overall capacity.

Four adults can fit in the Twingo&nbsp;easily – quite a feat in a small car. There are plenty of pockets&nbsp;dotted around the interior, and&nbsp;some models could even be specified with a couple of&nbsp;storage areas&nbsp;under the rear seat – a good place to hide items&nbsp;away from prying eyes.&nbsp;

Page 1 of 5

Used Renault Twingo 2014-2019 review

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Despite the Twingo's tight turning circle and big door mirrors, you should check its alloy wheels for kerb damage and bumpers for scrapes. Parking sensors aren’t standard on any Twingo other than the top-spec GT – something that might have caught some drivers out when slotting their car into a space.,The interior could be specified in some light colours that won't hide dirt for long. It's also made with plenty of hard, scratchy plastics that might be easy to wipe clean but can also be scuffed by shoes or jewellery.,,Seatbelt bucklesThe seatbelt latches of Twingos made between 20 October 2014 and 7 November 2014 could separate from the buckles in the event of a collision, therefore putting occupants at risk. Renault dealers should have recalled affected cars and replaced the relevant seatbelt buckles.Bonnet skinThere was a risk that the upper part of the bonnet skin could detach from the rest of the bonnet due to poor adhesives on examples built between 7 May 2014 and 6 July 2015. Dealers were instructed to add reinforcements to the bonnet skin to prevent it from separating.,Rear spoiler skinSimilar to the previous recall, the skin of the rear spoiler could potentially separate due to poor adhesives being used on cars built between 7 May 2014 and 10 December 2016. Dealers should have reinforced the spoiler on affected cars to prevent this issue from happening. In each case, contact a dealer to check that these fixes have been carried out.,,The Twingo didn’t feature in the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, but Renault as a brand ranked 19th out of 31. That's not a great result, but it was still higher than Citroën and Nissan.If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.Page 3 of 5

What to look for when buying a Renault Twingo 2014 - 2019, covering common problems to check for and overall vehicle reliability.

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Used Renault Twingo 2014-2019 review

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