Df071 Renault Clio 1.5 Dci -

It is rough around the edges, the interior plastics feel like they came from a Kinder Egg, but that little 1.5 dCi engine is a gem. It just keeps chugging.

Don't drive it like a granny. Rev it out every now and then to clear the soot. Change the oil every 6,000 miles (not the Renault recommended 12,000). And pray the electric windows don't break.

You aren’t winning any drag races, but that 200Nm of torque arrives low down. You can leave it in 5th gear at 30mph and it will just pull away smoothly. It is the laziest engine to drive in town. df071 renault clio 1.5 dci

Let’s be honest: when you see a Renault Clio for sale with a diesel engine and a check engine light on, you usually walk away. But what if I told you that the DF071 (often referred to as the K9K 1.5 dCi) is actually the hidden gem of the supermini world?

Have you owned a DF071? Did your injectors fail or are you still driving it at 250,000 miles? Let me know in the comments below. It is rough around the edges, the interior

Why does the radio turn off when you indicate left? (Kidding, but barely). The DF071 engine management system is robust, but the body control module (UCH) is fragile. Expect random "Injector fault" warnings that disappear when you restart the car.

The long-distance commuter who is sick of paying £80 to fill up a petrol car. Rev it out every now and then to clear the soot

It’s an 8-valve. No complex variable valve timing to break. It is a simple, cast-iron block workhorse. If you have a set of spanners and a laptop with DeeLia (Renault diagnostic software), you can fix almost anything on it. The Bad Stuff (The French Reality) Okay, the engine is brilliant. The car around it... less so.

The city dweller doing 3-mile trips. Buy a petrol or an EV. You will kill this DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) and hate life.