The Essentials

• Price from £13,225
• What Car? says:
• Fuel economy: up to 70.6mpg
• What is it? An easy-to-park small car with room for the dog

• Drive

  Perky performer has plenty of go, and is also a quiet motorway cruiser. It's a cinch to park, too

• Inside

  It's easy to get comfortable despite the steering wheel only offering height adjustment; thick rear pillars can obstruct your view however

• Safety

  Four airbags come as standard, stability control costs extra. Deadlocks should frustrate thieves

• Reliability

  The mechanical bits are tried and tested, but the Clio hasn't shone in customer satisfaction surveys

• Space

  Sport Tourer's bigger boot means more room for serious shopping trips or a couple of small dogs than in the hatchback

• Standard and extras

  Bluetooth and electric front windows are standard; upgrade for air-con, sat-nav and alloy wheels

• What's it like to drive?

  The Renault Clio Sport Tourer has a lot going for it: it's spacious, cute and just as fun to drive as the hatchback version. Whether you're battling through rush hour or cruising along the open road it's light and easy to drive. It's incredibly quiet, too. The best engines are the perky 1.2 TCE turbo petrol and the 1.5-litre turbodiesel, which is strong and refined enough for long motorway journeys.

• What's it like inside?

  Think of the Renault Clio Sport Tourer as a supermini with a bigger boot rather than an estate car and you won't be disappointed. A handy under-floor compartment offers extra storage, or holds the luggage cover when you've removed it to carry larger loads. There's plenty of room for four adults to travel comfortably, too. The standard car is pretty basic, but the top-spec model has attractive silver and leather touches and running your hands over the surfaces is a tactile treat.

• How reliable is it?

  The hatchback scored top marks in Euro NCAP crash tests and even basic models come with four airbags. Keyless entry/start and stability control are optional - but affordable - extras. Most of the mechanical bits have already passed the test of time, so you needn't worry about big garage bills.

• Should I buy one?

  You don't have to haggle too hard to get a decent discount on a Renault Clio Sport Tourer. It holds onto its value, too, and it's cheap to run and insure. Standard kit includes electric front windows and a CD player; you'll need to upgrade for alloy wheels, air-con and sat-nav.