How popular is the Renault Clio 5?

The 1.0-litre, turbocharged Renault Clio (from R312 999) is a highly-regarded hatch in South Africa. Still, it's not nearly as popular as the seven-seat Renault Triber (it was 7th on the list of best-selling vehicles for February 2023) or the Renault Kiger, which was in 12th position. The Renault Kwid came in at no 26th, outselling the Ford EcoSport.

Top 3 things you need to know about the new Renault Clio 5

So, if you're wondering how popular the Clio is, it didn't make the top 30 list for bestselling passenger vehicles in March 2023 either, but this mostly comes down to pricing and body style preference.

'Saffas' have it hard

South Africans are suffering under high interest rates and the high cost of living, and the Renault models that do the best, sales-wise, are the ones that are cheap to buy. Looking at keyword searches on AutoTrader, stats show that the Clio is still a relatively popular car, if not ultra-popular like the Toyota Corolla Cross. But if you can have a crossover at around the same price, even if the engine isn't turbocharged - why would you drive a hatch, considering the condition of our roads?

The Clio is still loved by locals, but not as much as some of the more budget-minded Renaults.

The Renault Triber is now the most popular Renault in SA. With high suspension travel, plenty of space on board, and an economical engine, it just makes sense to those who are cash-strapped. The panel van is R232 999 and the 1.0 Intens model is R236 999. The 1.0 Intens auto is R246 999.

 

 

The Kiger is the second-most-popular Renault in SA, offering stylish crossover looks and a frugal engine at a pocket-friendly price - from R224 999 for the 1.0 Life model. (The Kwid is now in third position - how the tables have turned!)

 

Best-selling brands in SA

According to Naamsa, the 5 top-selling brands for March 2023 were as follows: Toyota, Volkswagen, Suzuki, Hyundai, and Nissan. (Of all the vehicles sold in March 2023, it is worth noting that passenger vehicle sales accounted for 63% of total sales, while LCV or light commercial vehicle sales accounted for 31%.)

 

How popular is the Clio in Europe (2022)?

In European countries, Clios are far better sellers - For 2022, the Clio was the second-best-selling passenger car in Turkey, with 41 607 units sold. In France, the best-selling passenger vehicle for 2022 is the Peugeot 208.

The favourite car of the French for 2022, is the Peugeot 208.

The Renault Clio was the third-best-selling car in France with 64 012 models sold! And unsurprisingly, the Toyota Hilux is SA's best-selling car for 2022.

Popular cars aren't all that.

Driving a car that isn't too popular also has its perks; for starters, it's less popular with hijackers and car thieves, and in some cases, lose its value fast which will count in your favour if you're shopping for one, like the Clio. Better yet, choose a brightly-coloured model, because white and silver are a hit with hijackers.

Find out which cars are mostly hijacked in SA

ENDS