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What to check: Renault Twingo

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Ranked across all years of the Renault Twingo, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Bushes and ball jointsRuns high on this modelDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 6.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.7%

Cold start and smokeRuns high on this modelAsk the seller not to warm the car up before you arrive, then watch the tailpipe at start-up and again under hard acceleration. Any visible smoke is a negotiation at best. A diesel that has lived on short trips may also be carrying a tired particulate filter.Recorded on 4.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.2%

Coil springsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the bottom coil of each spring; when springs snap it is usually there, and the break is visible. Step back and check the car sits level too. A dropped corner is often a broken spring.Recorded on 3.1% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.4%

ExhaustRuns high on this modelListen along the exhaust at cold idle for blowing or chuffing, and give the tailpipe a push to check nothing hangs loose. Small blows only get louder.Recorded on 2.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

Headlamp lensesRuns high on this modelCheck for condensation inside the headlamps and for cloudy or yellowed lenses. Both attract MOT trouble, and moisture inside a sealed LED unit generally means a whole new lamp.Recorded on 2.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.3%

Warning lights on ignitionRuns high on this modelTurn the ignition on without starting the engine and watch the dash. Every warning light should appear, then go out once it is running. Be more suspicious of a light that never comes on at all than of one that stays on; warning bulbs have been known to vanish before a sale.Recorded on 1.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.5%

Underneath, with a torchRuns high on this modelGet down and look at the sills, the subframes and the rear suspension mounting points. Flaking scale and bubbling matter; light surface rust does not. On older cars this is the one check that finds the fault that scraps them.Recorded on 1.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.1%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 27.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Pads and discsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 15.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 10.1%

Windscreen and wipersScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 2.0% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.7%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Start the engine from cold and blip the throttle gently, listening for a tap or rattle.A rattle on the 0.9 TCe turbo points to timing chain stretch, an expensive one if ignored.

Pull the handbrake on fully at a stop, then release it and pull away.Dragging, binding, or a handbrake that won't release cleanly means a seizing rear cylinder or cable.

On a dCi diesel, watch the exhaust on a hard pull away and check for an EGR/DPF warning light.Smoke or a lit warning light signals DPF or EGR clogging, common on cars used for short trips only.

Push the clutch pedal through its full travel a few times.A sticky, light, or inconsistent pedal suggests wear in the linkage rather than just the clutch itself.

Pair a phone to the infotainment system by Bluetooth and CarPlay, and leave the screen running for a few minutes.Freezing, dropouts, or a screen that won't power up match a known, if inconsistent, R&Go complaint.

Drive slowly over a speed bump or rough patch listening for knocks from the front end.Creaks or clonks point to worn top mounts, drop links, or bushes.

Check the MOT history for repeat brake advisories year after year.The same brake advisory recurring is a sign of the seizing issue coming back rather than being properly fixed.

Full Renault Twingo reliability report