Renault Twingo Review

Renault hopes that this new dawn for the Twingo will help to put it on the map and allow it to break in to the top tier of the sector, which, is as competitive as they come. Rivals include the Citroen C1, Peugeot’s 108, the Toyota Aygo and the VW Up! to name but a few.

The Twingo is certainly aimed squarely at the youth market and first time buyers with its quirky engine layout and its eye-catching styling. There are good reasons behind positioning the engine in the rear, it opens up more interior space, allows more frontal space for crash protection structures, turning circle is one of the best in class while the car has been developed in conjunction with the new Smart ForTwo and ForFour models keeping costs down.

Is the Twingo good enough to be class-leading? Read on to find out.

Renault is offering a decent range of three-cylinder engines on the little Twingo.

The French maker has built a new naturally aspirated SCe 70 1.0-litre. It produces 70bhp and has 91Nm of torque. This means it will propel the Twingo to 62mph from a standing start in 14.5 seconds and goes on to a top speed of 94mph.

If you need more power, you could opt for the TCe 90. It is powered by a 0.9-litre turbocharged engine developing 90bhp and has 135Nm of torque. It will complete the benchmark sprint in 10.8 seconds and has a top speed of 103mph. 

This is a city car through and through and most buyers won’t even realise that the engine is in the rear thanks to the electronics and the traction control.

However, if you are expecting a true rear-wheel drive car then you may be a little disappointed, the Twingo feels nippy and agile but it’s certainly not a spirited drive. The steering is direct and weights up when you press on - there is good level of grip when cornering enthusiastically but the Twingo is happiest in the urban jungle. The roar of the three cylinders when pressing on is a nice soundtrack but it could get irritating for some and they may want to blast the stereo a tad louder. 

Ride comfort is actually very good on the little Twingo meaning that comfort levels are quite high. There is a bit of road, tyre and wind roar in the cabin while you will hear the distinctive three-cylinder whine when driving enthusiastically

The little Twingo is one of the best when dealing with potholes thanks to the wheelbase, Renault has engineered the wheels to be right in the corner of the car making ride better over undulations in the road.

Up front, the seats are supportive and you can seat four adults in relative comfort in the little Twingo

Three trims are offered on the Twingo line-up. The entry-level Expression comes with DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity, a smartphone cradle and free R&Go app to turn it into a sat-nav, there’s also hill start assist, remote control central locking, speed limiter, two rear head restraints, height adjustable steering wheel, electric front windows, pollen filter, 50:50 split rear seats, 15-inch wheels, body-coloured bumpers, door handles and mirror housings and LED day running lights.

Play is the mid level trim and it adds a height-adjustable driver’s seat, aircon and two-tone wheel trims.

The flagship trim is the Dynamique grade and it adds cruise control, front fog lights, lane departure warning system, stop/start engines, leather gear lever and steering wheel, storage pockets in the rear doors, 15-inch alloys, electric and heated door mirrors, chrome exterior detailing and pinstripe side decals.

Key options, depending on model, include an electric fabric panoramic sunroof, rear parking sensors, a premium sound system and the Seat, Techno, Convenience and Personality packs which offer themed items of extra equipment at lower prices than if bought individually.

Smaller than the previous generation by 10cm, the Twingo stands at 3.59 metres long, but has a 12cm longer wheelbase (helping that ride comfort mentioned above) and 33cm more room in the four-seat cabin (making it more pleasant on long journeys).

With the seats in place, the boot has a capacity of 188 litres, but the rear seat-backs can be set in a ‘cargo’ position at 90°. This increases the boot volume to 219 litres, while still safely carrying two passengers in the back. Fold the rear seats flat and the luggage space expands to 980 litres. If you need even more space for awkward items, then you’ll be pleased to know that all versions feature a folding front passenger seat as standard – a unique offering in the Twingo’s class according to Renault.

Plenty of cabin storage is available too including three cupholders and a boot light.

The most frugal engine on the Twingo line-up is the SCe 70 1.0-litre with Start and Stop. According to Renault this version has a claimed average economy of 67.3mpg and emits 95g/km of CO2. 

Renault has been improving its reliability record in the past few years and the Twingo comes with a 4+ warranty and assistance package. The car is protected against defects recognised by Renault for four years or 100,000 miles (first two years unlimited). In the event of a breakdown, Renault provides emergency roadside repairs or towing to the nearest dealer 24/7 every day of the year, plus three years’ European cover.

When tested by Euro NCAP the Renault Twingo received four stars from the independent testers. A decent level of standard safety kit includes Electronic Stability Control, Hill Start Assist, Emergency Brake Assist and four airbags as well as front and rear headrests and a tyre pressure warning light.