Renault Clio Manual (2022-2024) in Iceland: A Practical Rental Review
Thinking about renting a manual Renault Clio for your Iceland trip? Here's an honest look at where this small hatchback works well, where it struggles, and who should book something else instead.
Quick Verdict
Here's the short version, before we get into the details. If you already drive a manual comfortably and you're sticking to Iceland's main roads, the Clio is one of the better budget picks out there.
Renault Clio Manual 2022-2024, Iceland rating: 4.2/5
Best For
- Solo travellers and couples
- Small families with light luggage
- Reykjavík, the Golden Circle and the South Coast
- A summer Ring Road trip on paved roads
Main Strengths and Weaknesses
It's cheap to fuel, easy to park, and the trunk fits more than most people expect from a car this size. I'd recommend not writing it off just because it looks small.
The trade-off is simple: it's a front-wheel-drive hatchback with low ground clearance, so it isn't built for anything rougher than a normal road.
Overall Rating
For a couple travelling in summer, I'd rate it close to 5/5. Add four adults with full suitcases, or take it out in winter, and it drops to around 3/5. On F-roads or in the Highlands, it's the wrong car.
Car Overview
Rental fleets carry a mix of Clio trims and years, so the exact equipment can vary from one car to the next. Here's what you can generally expect from the version most commonly supplied during this period.
- Vehicle type: five-door compact hatchback, economy rental category
- Engine: 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol (TCe 90), 90 hp, 160 Nm
- Transmission: 6-speed manual with a clutch pedal
- Drivetrain: front-wheel drive, no AWD or 4WD
- Seats: five, across five doors
- Fuel tank: around 40-42 litres
- Ground clearance: roughly 142 mm
That last number matters more than any other spec on this list. It tells you where this car belongs on Icelandic roads, and where it doesn't.
Passenger Space and Comfort
The Clio sits a step above the smallest city cars, and you notice it once people actually get in and sit down.
How Many People Actually Fit
- 1-2 adults: plenty of room
- 3 adults: still comfortable
- 4 adults: possible, though the back seat gets cramped after a few hours
- 5 adults: fine for a short airport transfer, not for a week on the road
Comfort on Long Driving Days
The front seats stay comfortable through a full day of driving, so the driver and front passenger shouldn't have complaints. The back seat is smaller, and you feel it more on rough roads, where the ride gets bumpier.
Luggage Capacity
This is one spot where the Clio does better than its size suggests.
What Fits in the Trunk
If I were packing for this trip, I'd plan for one large suitcase and one smaller bag per couple, or two medium suitcases plus a couple of soft bags. Four hard-shell suitcases for four people is too much. Soft duffel bags work better here than rigid cases, since the trunk is deeper than it is wide.
Keeping Your Bags Out of Sight
With the parcel shelf installed, your bags stay hidden from view outside the car. That matters more than people expect once you start making frequent stops.
If your group has more than two large suitcases, think about whether a bigger car is worth the extra rental cost before you book.
Driving Experience in Iceland
How the Clio drives depends a lot on where you take it, so let's go road by road.
Ring Road and Highway Driving
In summer, Route 1 gives the Clio no trouble. It's not a quick car, but Iceland's speed limits don't call for much power anyway, and sixth gear keeps the engine quiet at cruising speed.
Reykjavík and Town Driving
This is where the car works best. Parking, narrow streets and tight garages are all easier in a Clio than in something bigger.
Gravel Roads
The Clio can drive on normal, maintained gravel, but it needs more care than a car with higher clearance. Slow down when the road switches from asphalt to gravel, and expect more road noise and the occasional stone chip.
Steep Roads and Mountain Passes
With 160 Nm of torque, ordinary hills aren't a problem. With passengers and luggage on board, expect to shift down more often on the steeper climbs.
Wind Stability
This is the one that surprises people. The Clio is light, so a strong gust can move it more than drivers used to European roads expect. When wind warnings are out, I'd slow down and hold the door firmly whenever you're getting in or out.
Rain, Snow and Ice
Rain isn't a concern as long as the tyres are in good shape. Light snow on a cleared road is manageable with proper winter tyres. Deep snow or ice on a mountain pass is different, and this is exactly where not having AWD becomes a problem.
4x4 and F-Road Suitability
There's no room for ambiguity here, so let's say it plainly.
Is the Clio 4x4?
No. It's front-wheel drive only, and there's no AWD version of this configuration.
Can It Handle F-Roads or River Crossings?
No. Not carefully, not slowly, not on the easy ones. F-roads and river crossings need real 4x4 vehicles with proper clearance, and most rental agreements don't cover a 2WD car on them anyway. Leave both off your route if you're driving a Clio.
Fuel Economy and Running Costs
Fuel is one of the Clio's strongest points, but it's not the only cost to plan for.
Real World Fuel Consumption
The official figure sits around 5.2-5.3 L/100 km. Wind, cold mornings and hills in Iceland push that higher in practice. I'd budget closer to 5.5-6.5 L/100 km on a normal trip, and more in winter.
Features That Matter in Iceland
Equipment depends on the trim and the rental company, so treat these as commonly available rather than guaranteed.
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, useful for phone-based navigation
- Cruise control, useful on long open stretches
- Parking sensors, more common than a reversing camera on lower trims
- Heated seats, trim-dependent, don't count on them
- USB charging, bring your own cable just in case
Safety and Iceland-Specific Considerations
A few things matter here specifically because you're driving in Iceland, not just in a rental car generally.
- Wind can catch an open door, so hold it firmly in gusty conditions
- Headlights need to stay on at all times, and rear lights don't always turn on with them automatically
- Traction control helps, but it won't fix a car going too fast on ice or gravel
- Check the weather and road conditions each morning, since conditions can change fast
Who Should Rent the Renault Clio?
Some trips suit this car well. Others don't.
- Reykjavík, Golden Circle, South Coast: a good fit
- Summer Ring Road, couple or small family: a good fit
- Normal maintained gravel roads: fine if you slow down
- Winter Ring Road: possible, but a 4x4 gives you more margin
- F-roads, Highlands, river crossings: the wrong car
- Four adults with full luggage: workable, but tight
Pros and Cons
Here’s the definite list to help you make the decision.
Pros
- Good fuel economy for a petrol car
- Easy to park and drive around Reykjavík
- Trunk fits more than the car's size suggests
- Six-speed manual keeps highway driving relaxed
- Cheaper to rent than an SUV or crossover
Cons
- No 4WD or AWD available
- Low ground clearance rules out rough roads
- Not allowed on F-roads
- Four adults with big suitcases will feel cramped
- The manual gearbox isn't something to learn on this trip
Alternatives to the Renault Clio
If the Clio doesn't fit your plans, here's what I'd look at instead.
Smaller and Cheaper Option
The Hyundai i10 is a good choice for one or two people traveling light and sticking mainly to paved roads.
Similar Alternative
The Toyota Yaris is the closest match, with similar space but an automatic transmission.
When to Upgrade to a 4x4
For winter driving, rougher roads, or F-roads, step up to a Dacia Duster, Suzuki Vitara, or Subaru XV. If you're staying on normal roads in summer, the Clio should be plenty..
Final Recommendation
For two people touring Iceland's main roads in summer, the manual Clio is a solid, affordable choice, and I'd recommend it without much hesitation. A family with moderate luggage will still do fine with it. For a winter circumnavigation or anything involving F-roads, it's the wrong car, no matter how good the daily rate looks.
Book it if you're confident with a manual and you're keeping to paved roads. Skip it if the Highlands, deep snow, or four people's worth of suitcases are part of the trip.
