2012 & 2013 Renault Hatchback Reviews & Ratings

Over the course of their history in the automotive group, Renault has built a solid reputation. While they can attribute much of their success to becoming involved in the racing segment from the very beginning, another part of that success is due to the Renault Hatchback. Through the years there have been a significant number of successful hatchback vehicles from Renault. Some of those vehicles are still in production today because the popularity has not wavered with time. The various models... (full review continues below)

Over the course of their history in the automotive group, Renault has built a solid reputation. While they can attribute much of their success to becoming involved in the racing segment from the very beginning, another part of that success is due to the Renault Hatchback. Through the years there have been a significant number of successful hatchback vehicles from Renault. Some of those vehicles are still in production today because the popularity has not wavered with time. The various models may come in three or five door models, and many of the newer releases are based primarily on older models.

One of the most successful and popular Renault hatchback vehicles is the Clio. This is a supermini hatchback that was launched by Renault in 1990. It is currently in its third generation and there are no plans to stop anytime soon. As a matter of fact, there has been quite a bit of success with the Clio and it is still one of the top selling vehicles in Europe. While some markets do not have the interest in hatchbacks, it has continued to grow in the European market and Renault is there to take advantage of that growth.

The Twingo is another Renault hatchback that has become widely known and unexpectedly successful. It was introduced as a three door model at the Paris Motor Show in 1992 and sales began in 1993. The second generation of the Twingo launced in 2007 and much of the design has been based on the Clio. Like its role model, The Twingo is more of a supermini hatchback than a standard size vehicle.

While the Megane is most commonly known as a coupe, there is a hatchback version of it as well. This Renault Hatchback, unlike many others, differs greatly from its coupe counterpart. Where the Megane is sporty, the hatchback version is conservative. Buyers will also find that there is no automatic transmission the hatchback Megane as a continuously variable transmission is all that is offered. Like the Clio and Twingo, the Megane is still in production at this time.

The Lagoona was launched in 1993 and featured a five door hatchback model. Unlike many of the other Renault Hatchback vehicles, the Lagoona is more of a large family vehicle. It is based on the Platform D and offers more room than the smaller superminis like the Clio and the Twingo.

A newer edition to the Renault hatchback market is the Pulse. Based on and selling in some areas as the Nissan Micra, the Pulse is a small hatchback created on the Nissan V Platform. It offers drivers a five speed manual or a continuously variable transmission.

One of the reasons that the hatchback has maintained its popularity is due to the cost of fuel. A smaller hatchback such as the Clio is far more fuel efficient than a larger sedan like the Megane. Add to that the fact that a hatchback offers ample cargo space and it is easy to see why many of them are considered best sellers in the European market.