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Fiat 500 vs Renault Clio comparison

Compare performance (118 HP vs 158 HP), boot space and price (17,100 £ vs 17,100 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Fiat 500 or Renault Clio?

Fiat 500 vs Renault Clio: Key differences

Fiat 500

4.4 (2 Reviews)
rate
  • only slightly lighter
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Renault Clio

4.4 (2 Reviews)
rate
  • marginally cheaper
  • clearly more power
  • clearly more efficient
  • only slightly quicker 0–100 km/h
  • significantly more trunk space
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All details on performance, efficiency, range and trunk space can be found in the technical comparison below – including user reviews for both models.

Achim Sedelmaier
500

Fiat 500 and Renault Clio: a practical‑vs‑playful small‑car comparison

Fiat 500 and Renault Clio present two distinct approaches to the compact car buyer: the Fiat 500 markets personality and acute city efficiency, while the Renault Clio pushes towards everyday practicality and calm refinement. On a comparison page — Fiat 500 VS Renault Clio — the differences are immediate and meaningful for real owners rather than just spec sheets. This piece focuses on how each car behaves day to day: character, comfort, usability, perceived quality and which purchaser each one really suits. Read on for the trade-offs that matter when you use these cars every week, not just on a short test loop.

Clio

Character and driving feel

Driving personality is one of the starkest contrasts: the Fiat 500 behaves like a nimble urban sprite with eager responses, whereas the Renault Clio aims for composure and predictability. The Fiat 500’s light steering and quick initial acceleration make it playful at low speeds but leave it feeling unsettled and nervous at higher motorway velocities. The Clio’s chassis tuning and more communicative steering lend confidence on fast roads and in sweepers, although hybrid energy management can make hard accelerations feel a touch clinical. In short, pick the Fiat 500 for spirited town driving and the Renault Clio if you want a steadier companion beyond the city limits.

500

Comfort and long‑distance usability

Comfort over distance clearly favors the Renault Clio, which offers better isolation and suspension tuning for sustained miles compared with the Fiat 500. The Fiat 500 is perfectly happy for short hops, but its firmer, bouncier setup and rising wind and road noise make longer trips more tiring. The Clio’s quieter cabin and more supportive seating keep occupants fresher on commutes and weekend runs, even when the powertrain becomes audible under hard acceleration. If your routine includes regular motorway stints, the Clio will feel like the less taxing choice; the Fiat 500 remains a short‑trip specialist.

Clio

Practicality and everyday usability

Space and load‑carrying separate these two in a way that affects real life: the Renault Clio is the more usable small car for luggage and passengers, while the Fiat 500 sacrifices capacity for compactness and street agility. The Fiat 500’s tiny boot and high loading lip make shopping and holiday packing a careful exercise, and the rear seats are best left to children or occasional adults. The Clio swallows noticeably more kit and offers full five‑seat packaging that suits small families, though certain powertrain versions slightly reduce cargo volume. So, if you need luggage space or regular rear passengers the Clio is the pragmatic pick; if you prioritise easy parking and minimal footprint the Fiat 500 wins.

500

Cabin feel, tech and everyday controls

The interior experience shows two philosophies: the Fiat 500 sells charm and retro styling with a cheerful cockpit, whereas the Renault Clio leans on modern software and functional ergonomics. The Fiat 500’s cabin feels characterful and pleasant for short drives, but reviewers note more visible hard plastics and occasional infotainment lag under load. The Clio’s infotainment, with strong smartphone and voice integration, feels more immediate and convenient for daily navigation and connectivity, and physical controls keep common tasks instinctive. Both cabins have their fans, but the Fiat 500 trades perceived material refinement for personality while the Renault Clio prioritises usability and system smoothness.

Clio

Who each car actually fits — and what to check next

Fit depends on profile: the Fiat 500 suits an urban buyer who values image, tight parking, and lively short‑trip economy, while the Renault Clio suits someone needing more space, lower real‑world running costs over longer commutes and a calmer cabin. If your miles are mostly within city limits and you love the car’s look, the Fiat 500 will reward you daily; if you regularly carry adults, luggage or cover motorway distances, the Renault Clio will repay with comfort and practicality. Below this editorial we dig into technical details — range behavior, power delivery, luggage figures and consumption — so you can match those real‑world tendencies to the specific version you’re considering.

Frequently compared as well

Fiat 500
Fiat 600
VS
Small Italian icons go head-to-head as the cheeky Fiat 500 takes on the underrated Fiat 600 — two compact cars with very different personalities and practical promises. Whether you want head-turning city agility or a bit more space and sensible family use, this duel will show which little Fiat …
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Renault Clio
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Here’s where it gets real: The technical differences in detail

500

Costs and Efficiency:

Looking at overall running costs, both models reveal some interesting differences in everyday economy.

Renault Clio is marginally cheaper – starting at 17,100 £ , while the Fiat 500 costs 17,100 £ . That’s a price difference of around 77 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the Renault Clio uses 4.1 L/100km and is clearly more efficient than the Fiat 500 with 5.2 L/100km. The difference is about 1.1 L/100km.

Clio

Engine and Performance:

Power, torque and acceleration say a lot about how a car feels on the road. This is where you see which model delivers more driving dynamics.

When it comes to engine power, the Renault Clio offers clearly more power – delivering 158 HP compared to 118 HP. That’s roughly 40 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the Renault Clio is only slightly quicker – completing the sprint in 8.3 s, while the Fiat 500 takes 9 s. That’s about 0.7 s quicker.

There’s also a difference in torque: the Fiat 500 delivers moderately more torque with 220 Nm compared to 190 Nm. That’s about 30 Nm more.

500

Space and Everyday Use:

Cabin size, boot volume and payload all play a role in everyday practicality. Here, comfort and flexibility make the difference.

Seats: Renault Clio offers more seats – 5 vs 4.

In terms of curb weight, Fiat 500 is only slightly lighter – 1,130 kg compared to 1,202 kg. The difference is around 72 kg.

Looking at boot space, the Renault Clio offers significantly more boot space – 327 L compared to 185 L. That’s a difference of about 142 L.

When it comes to payload, the Renault Clio carries visibly more – 463 kg compared to 325 kg. That’s a difference of about 138 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The Renault Clio stands well ahead of its rival in the objective data comparison.
This result only shows which model scores more points on paper – not which of the two cars feels right for you.

from £17,100
Clio

Renault Clio

  • Engine Type Petrol, Full Hybrid
  • Transmission Manual, Automatic
  • Drive Type Front-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP 115 - 158 HP
  • Consumption L/100km 4.1 - 5.2 L/100km
details
Fiat 500
Renault Clio

Costs and Consumption
View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance
View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body
View detailed analysis

Fiat 500

The Fiat 500 is a cheeky, retro‑styled city car that turns heads with its iconic looks and playful personality. Perfect for weaving through tight streets and easing into tiny parking spots, it’s aimed at buyers who want style and character more than grand touring prowess.

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190624_F_500_Lounge_MY2020_10
190624_F_500_Lounge_MY2020_03

Reviews Fiat 500

4.4 (2 Reviews)
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Reijo Muhonen
28 Feb 2026, 16:46:06

I've owned both cars, and I still end up with the Fiat 500 — it always puts me in a good mood. For longer trips I take the train.

How do you mainly use this car? (optional): City / Short distance
Efficiency / Consumption & Range
Comfort & Interior
Driving Fun / Performance
Technology & Infotainment
Safety
Practicality / Trunk & Everyday Use
Value for Money

Renault Clio

The Renault Clio is a smartly styled and practical compact hatch that feels at home in city traffic while offering a surprisingly refined ride. It pairs user-friendly tech and a comfortable interior with a reputation for being economical and easy to live with.

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r212202p
r212188p
r212211p

Reviews Renault Clio

4.4 (2 Reviews)
rate
technoman
31 Mar 2026, 08:36:27

Having owned a clio now for the last 8 years we have found the 0.9ltr engine to work well both around town and on motorways . Averaging around 45mpg on mixed driving. The 3 cylinder engine has no cambelt to worry about . Interior has worked and worn well . No defects at all during owner ship BUT the striking red paintwork (metallic) is showing deterioration and is expensive to put right and this would be the only reason for dropping a star off the rating . There are two main services on the car an A and a B service. All they do on the A service is change the cabin filter and do the usual safety checks which costa around £120 the second B service is oil and filter change around £230 but at 36000 miles need air filter and brake fluid change which can add another £120

How do you mainly use this car? (optional): City / Short distance
Efficiency / Consumption & Range
Comfort & Interior
Driving Fun / Performance
Technology & Infotainment
Safety
Practicality / Trunk & Everyday Use
Value for Money

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Opel Corsa
Renault Clio
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The Vauxhall Corsa and the Renault Clio are two of the UK’s most popular superminis, each offering a different blend of driving feel, practicality and everyday refinement. This comparison will focus on their driving dynamics, interior quality, running costs and practicality to help you decide which …
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The Clio is the sensible, all-weather hatch — efficient, tech-rich and practical for families and commuters who want a solid everyday car. The R5 is a cheeky retro reboot with electric city credentials and heaps of character — pick the Clio for logic and space, the R5 for style and smile-inducing …
Fiat 500
Renault Clio

Costs and Consumption
Price
17,100 - 27,400 £
Price
17,100 - 23,700 £
Consumption L/100km
5.2 - 5.3 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
4.1 - 5.2 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
13 - 14.7 kWh/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
190 - 331 km
Electric Range
-
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
0 - 121 g/km
co2
92 - 118 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
-

Dimensions and Body
Body Type
Hatchback
Body Type
Hatchback
Seats
4
Seats
5
Doors
-
Doors
-
Curb weight
1,130 - 1,475 kg
Curb weight
1,202 - 1,316 kg
Trunk capacity
183 - 185 L
Trunk capacity
301 - 327 L
Length
-
Length
-
Width
1,683 - 1,684 mm
Width
1,768 mm
Height
-
Height
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
250 - 325 kg
Payload
453 - 463 kg

Engine and Performance
Engine Type
Electric, Petrol MHEV
Engine Type
Petrol, Full Hybrid
Transmission
Automatic, Manual
Transmission
Manual, Automatic
Transmission Detail
Reduction Gearbox, Manual Gearbox
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox, Dual-Clutch Automatic, Automatic Gearbox
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive
Power HP
65 - 118 HP
Power HP
115 - 158 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
9 - 16.2 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
8.3 - 10.3 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
-
Torque
92 - 220 Nm
Torque
190 Nm
Number of Cylinders
3
Number of Cylinders
3 - 4
Power kW
48 - 87 kW
Power kW
84 - 116 kW
Engine capacity
999 cm3
Engine capacity
1,199 - 1,789 cm3

General
Model Year
2025
Model Year
2026
CO2 Efficiency Class
A, D
CO2 Efficiency Class
C, D, B
Brand
Fiat
Brand
Renault
Is the Fiat 500 offered with different drivetrains?

The Fiat 500 is available as Front-Wheel Drive.

DriveDuel uses data analysis and artificial intelligence to evaluate vehicle data and create content. Content is regularly reviewed and improved. The displayed prices are estimates based on German list prices, adjusted to the respective country’s VAT. Country-specific registration taxes are not included. This information is not legally binding.