Renault Twingo (2014 – 2019) Review

Renault Twingo (2014 – 2019) At A Glance

4/5

+Fun to drive in town. Easy to park and manoeuvre. Tight turning circle. Spacious inside. Cheap sunroof option.

-Expensive to buy. Lacks motorway refinement. Limited seat adjustment. Not as many on the streets as stablemate Smart ForFour. Imports ended January 2019.

Insurance Groups are between 2–11
On average it achieves 77% of the official MPG figure

The 2014 Twingo shares its mechanical underpinnings with the Smart Forfour, but looks completely different, with a retro design that utilises stubby bumpers and a bubble shaped cabin. As a result, the Twingo stands out from the city car crowd and looks distinctive at the traffic lights, when upgraded with Renault's huge range of personalisation packs. 

The cabin of the five-door Twingo is practical and colourful, with an abundance of hardwearing plastics and brightly coloured trims. The rear-engine layout frees up interior space, which means the Twingo can easily accommodate four adults, while all three passenger seats can be flattened to provide a flat 980-litre load area.

Behind the wheel, the 2014 Twingo is comfortable, with decent visibility, although it lacks a clutch foot rest and the seat adjustments are rather limited. As a result, tall drivers might find it difficult to find a comfortable fit, with an excessively high seating position that can push knees onto the bottom of the steering wheel. 

However, the dashboard is user friendly and the Twingo also gets a decent amount of equipment, as standard, with electric heated mirrors, DAB radio, Bluetooth and a free app download for Renault's R&Go, which adds navigation via your smartphone.

The Twingo is offered with two petrol engines, a turbocharged 0.9-litre with 90PS or a naturally aspirated 1.0-litre with 70PS. Both engines work well in town, with the turbocharged unit offering the best all-round performance. However, the Twingo's trump card lies in its rear-wheel drive layout, which makes it nimble in traffic and ridiculously easy to park. 

Unfortunately, the Twingo isn't as much fun on the motorway, with both engines lacking high speed refinement. Not only are the three-cylinder engines rather vocal when revved hard, but the cabin also suffers from an abundance of wind and road noise, which can leave passengers feeling rather beleaguered after a long motorway run. The steering feels rather vague at high speeds, which fails to inspire confidence as the Twingo rattles along at 70mph.

Yet, despite its limitations, the Twingo has plenty to offer for urban drivers. In our view, the small and likeable Renault is a breath of fresh air to the city car scene and we think its retro styling and colourful cabin will find plenty of appeal with younger drivers. What's more, with a high seating potion and five-doors with easy access, we think older drivers will also find the Twingo to be a comfortable urban run around. 

Renault Twingo 2014 Road Test

Renault Twingo GT 2017 Road Test

Real MPG average for a Renault Twingo (2014 – 2019)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

77%

Real MPG

35–57 mpg

MPGs submitted

61

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

Satisfaction Index

Satisfaction Index What is your car like to live with?

We need your help with our latest Satisfaction Index, so that we can help others make a smarter car buying decision. What's it like to live with your car? Love it? Loath it? We want to know. Let us know about your car - it will only take a few minutes and you could be helping thousands of others.

Help us with the Honest John Satisfaction Index now

Ask Honest John

Should I replace my 2015 Renault Twingo with a newer car?

"I currently own a 2015 Renault Twingo Dynamique S with 35,000 miles on the clock. I have owned the car from new and it has always been serviced by a Renault dealer. I am more than happy with the car but want to avoid any big bills as the car is now seven years old and I'm aware that things might need replacing despite the low mileage. I'd also like to take advantage of the high second-hand car prices at the moment. I am quite taken with either a Volkswagen Up GTI or a Suzuki Swift Sport as I want something smallish, fun and sporty. I'm not ready for an electric car just yet. I'd happily consider something else to the Up or Swift but not a Ford or a MINI. I'd appreciate some advice as to whether you think I should sell my Twingo now and replace it with a new car or hang onto it? If I do sell the Twingo, what would you recommend that I get instead?"
Used car prices are starting to drop so now might be the time to sell your Twingo: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/buying-and-selling/2022-04/car-owners-urged-to-sell-as-record-used-car-prices-start-to-drop/ We rate both the Suzuki Swift Sport and Volkswagen Up GTI highly – they're two brilliant little cars. We'd recommend shopping around, test driving both and seeing if you can get a deal you're happy with. Don't be afraid to bide your time if you can't... the cost to change from your Twingo will probably remain the same (as your Twingo's value drops, so will the cars you're looking at replacing it with).
Answered by Andrew Brady

Can you suggest a good first car?

"Is a Renault Twingo good for a first car?"
Yes – cheap to run and easy to drive. Renault doesn't have the best reliability record but that's improved in recent years. You could also look at a Toyota Aygo or Kia Picanto.
Answered by Andrew Brady

Do I need to service my car every year if it only covers low miles?

"I have a 2016 Renault Twingo Dynamique S. It is serviced annually by the main dealer. The first year it did about 6000 miles but the last four years, it has only done just over 6000. It gets a 20 mile run at 80mph down the motorway once every three months. I don't like to skip services but am not sure it needs a full service doing just over 2000 miles a year? Should I ask the dealer to do a reduced service if so, what should I just ask them to do, an oil change with a full service every other year?"
Service intervals are set up to catch this sort of thing. Every manufacturer has a different name for them, but your 'basic' service will include oil and filter. The next one up will include things like brake fluid - this should be changed regardless of how many miles you've done as the product has a finite life. Finally, you'll be looking at the next service level which will include a cambelt - again, this is over a period of mileage or years (because the produce deteriorates over time). If your concern is around cost, then look around for a reliable independent.
Answered by Keith Moody

Will missing a service void the manufacturer warranty on my vehicle?

"My Renault Twingo is still under warranty and I had a serviced booked for mid May. The current situation with the pandemic means the garage remains closed and I can't get it serviced. Will this invalidate my warranty? "
Email your dealer and explain the situation. This will not invalidate your warranty and the dealer should reorganise the service for a later date. For more information, see: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/coronavirus/2020-03/coronavirus-will-a-delayed-service-invalidate-my-cars-warranty
Answered by Dan Powell
More Questions

What does a Renault Twingo (2014 – 2019) cost?