Renault Clio Ireland Buyer Guide: E-Tech Hybrid vs TCe 90, Motor Tax and Real Costs

The Renault Clio is one of the few superminis in Ireland where the choice of engine changes the car's character rather than just its badge. One version is a conventional 90hp three-cylinder petrol with a manual gearbox. The other is a 145hp full hybrid that Renault says can run on electricity for up to 80 per cent of urban driving. They sit EUR 5,700 apart, and the motor tax difference between them is EUR 20 a year.

If you are choosing between them on the tax line, you are looking at the wrong number. Here is what actually separates them.

Renault Clio Ireland overview: the facelifted MkV

The fifth-generation Clio has been on sale since 2019, and the heavily facelifted version arrived in Irish showrooms in November 2023 at EUR 24,845. Renault chose the Clio to introduce its current design language, so the facelift is more thorough than most: new headlight units, a larger grille and sharper surfacing front and rear.

Inside, the changes are material rather than cosmetic. There is no leather in the car at all any more, replaced by TEP, a grained coated fabric made from bio-sourced and recycled polythene fibres. Cabin quality was already a Clio strength and the update does not undo that.

Renault Clio engine options and Irish prices

Specification	TCe 90	E-Tech 145 hybrid
Engine	1.2 turbo three-cylinder petrol	1.6 petrol plus electric assistance
Combined power	90hp	145hp
Gearbox	Six-speed manual	Six-speed automatic
WLTP CO2	118 g/km	96 g/km
Annual motor tax	EUR 190	EUR 170
WLTP fuel consumption	5.2 litres/100km	4.2 litres/100km
Quoted range	-	880km

At the Irish launch the price ladder ran as follows:

Trim	TCe 90	E-Tech 145
Evolution	EUR 24,845	EUR 30,545
Techno	EUR 26,545	EUR 32,245
Esprit Alpine	EUR 28,345	EUR 34,045

The EUR 20 that does not matter, and the litre that does

The E-Tech sits in the 91-100 g/km motor tax band at EUR 170 a year. The TCe 90 sits in the 111-120 band at EUR 190. That is a EUR 20 annual difference against a EUR 5,700 difference in purchase price. On tax alone, the hybrid would take longer to justify itself than the car will exist.

The number that actually matters is consumption. The E-Tech is rated at 4.2 litres/100km against 5.2 for the TCe 90 - a full litre per 100km, or roughly a fifth less fuel. On a low annual mileage in a rural setting the gap will never close. On a high-mileage urban commute, where Renault reckons the Clio can run on its electric motor up to 80 per cent of the time, it closes considerably faster.

Work out your own annual kilometres before you decide. The hybrid also brings an automatic gearbox and 55 more horsepower, which for many buyers is worth more than the fuel arithmetic anyway.

Renault Clio trim levels and what you get

• Evolution - 16-inch diamond-cut alloys, keyless entry and go, automatic air conditioning, full LED head- and taillights, a seven-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a seven-inch digital driver's display and rear parking sensors.
• Techno - adds 17-inch alloys, front parking sensors, a reversing camera, wireless phone charging, Multisense ambient lighting and a shark-fin antenna.
• Esprit Alpine - adds Alpine-embossed alloys, bucket front seats with blue stitching, a heated steering wheel and heated front seats, a 10-inch driver's display, a 9.3-inch touchscreen, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert.

At its most generously equipped, the facelifted Clio carries 17 advanced driver assistance systems. On the used market, the step from Evolution to Techno is the one most buyers notice day to day, because it brings the reversing camera and front sensors.

What to check before you buy a used Renault Clio

• Confirm which powertrain you are looking at. The E-Tech and the TCe 90 look almost identical from the outside but are EUR 20 a year and 1.0 litres/100km apart, and only one of them is an automatic.
• Read the CO2 figure off the vehicle paperwork rather than the advertisement, and confirm the rate on the state system at motortax.ie.
• On an E-Tech, drive it in traffic, not on a motorway. The hybrid system is designed around urban running, and that is where its behaviour - and any faults in it - will show.
• Check the interior trim carefully. The facelifted car uses coated fabric rather than leather throughout; it wears differently and is worth inspecting on higher-mileage examples.
• Verify NCT status, mileage and outstanding finance in writing before any deposit changes hands. The testing rules are set out on ncts.ie.

Renault service network in Ireland

Renault has retailer coverage across the country and the Clio is one of the highest-volume nameplates it sells here, so parts and servicing are straightforward. The E-Tech hybrid system is shared with several other Renault models, which helps with both diagnostic familiarity and component supply.

Verdict: is a used Renault Clio a good buy in Ireland?

Yes, on either engine - but for different buyers. The TCe 90 is the value choice: cheaper to buy, cheap enough to run, and a manual gearbox if you want one. The E-Tech is the choice if you drive mostly in town, cover real mileage, or simply want an automatic with meaningfully more performance.

What you should not do is pay the hybrid premium expecting the tax bill to repay it. EUR 20 a year will not.

Frequently asked questions

How much is motor tax on a Renault Clio in Ireland?

The E-Tech 145 hybrid emits 96 g/km and costs EUR 170 a year. The TCe 90 petrol emits 118 g/km and costs EUR 190 a year. Confirm the exact rate for any individual car on motortax.ie.

Is the Renault Clio E-Tech a plug-in hybrid?

No. It is a full hybrid that recharges its battery through deceleration and braking. There is no charging cable and no socket.

How much fuel does the Clio E-Tech actually use?

The official WLTP figure is 4.2 litres/100km, against 5.2 for the TCe 90. Renault quotes a range of 880km for the hybrid.

Which Clio trim should I look for used?

Techno is the sweet spot for most buyers, because it adds front parking sensors, a reversing camera and wireless phone charging over the entry Evolution grade.

Is the Clio E-Tech an automatic?

Yes. The E-Tech uses a six-speed automatic, while the TCe 90 is a six-speed manual. It is the only automatic in the Clio range.

Buying or selling? Use Ecosteer

Shopping for one? Browse Renault listings on Ecosteer and filter by county, price, mileage and fuel type, or find a dealer near you.

Selling instead? Private ads under EUR 3,000 are free on Ecosteer - no commission, no listing fee, and reach across all 32 counties.

Before you pay a deposit, read our guide to checking a car's history in Ireland.

External sources

• Renault Ireland - Clio E-Tech full hybrid model information
• Renault Ireland - Clio specification and pricing
• CompleteCar.ie - Updated Renault Clio on sale in Ireland, full price and CO2 detail
• CompleteCar.ie - Motor road tax prices in Ireland explained
• motortax.ie - official online motor tax service
• ncts.ie - National Car Test information

Vehicle photography courtesy of Renault, used for editorial purposes. Prices and specifications quoted are as published at the Irish launch and are subject to change; always confirm the figures for the individual vehicle before purchase.