Renault Thalia

Renault Thalia: Which Version Should You Buy?

The Renault Thalia is a Sedan offered across the 1 generation, two restylings, and the 2 generation between 1999 and 2012. Choosing among its versions chiefly means balancing performance against fuel consumption: the quickest recorded option is the 107 hp 1.6 MT, while the lowest measured combined consumption belongs to the 86 hp 1.5 MT diesel at 4.3 l/100 km.

The Renault Thalia is a Sedan offered across the 1 generation, two restylings, and the 2 generation between 1999 and 2012. Choosing among its versions chiefly means balancing performance against fuel consumption: the quickest recorded option is the 107 hp 1.6 MT, while the lowest measured combined consumption belongs to the 86 hp 1.5 MT diesel at 4.3 l/100 km. Buyers wanting an Automatic can choose selected 1.4 AT, 1.5 AT, or 1.6 AT versions, depending on the production period. Every listed Thalia is FWD.

Renault Thalia generations: what changed?

The 1 generation ran from 1999 to 2002 as a Sedan with 3 versions. Its range consisted entirely of 1.4-liter Gasoline engines: two 1.4 MT versions producing 75 hp or 98 hp, plus a 98 hp 1.4 AT. The more powerful 1.4 MT improved acceleration from 12.5 to 11.2 seconds and raised top speed from 170 to 186 km/h. The 1.4 AT retained 98 hp but required 13.6 seconds for acceleration.

The 1 generation, restyling was produced from 2002 to 2006 as a Sedan with 8 versions. It preserved the 75 hp and 98 hp 1.4-liter choices, added a 107 hp 1.6 MT, and introduced 65 hp and 82 hp 1.5-liter Diesel versions. The restyling therefore offers the widest selection in the data, including both Manual and Automatic Diesel configurations.

The 1 generation, restyling 2 covered 2006 to 2008 and remained a Sedan, with 7 versions. Its Gasoline range included two outputs for the repeated 1.4 MT and 1.4 AT names, so power is essential when identifying them: 75 hp or 98 hp. It also offered the 107 hp 1.6 MT and two 1.5 MT Diesel versions producing 65 hp or 80 hp.

The 2 generation ran from 2008 to 2012 as a Sedan with 6 versions. Choices included the 75 hp 1.2 MT, 98 hp 1.4 MT and 1.4 AT, 102 hp 1.6 MT and 1.6 AT, and an 86 hp 1.5 MT Diesel. Compared with the preceding 107 hp 1.6 MT, the later 1.6 MT lost 5 hp but retained 148 Nm. Ground clearance also changed: all 2 generation versions have 140 mm, against 155 mm or 175 mm among the earlier entries.

Renault Thalia engine and transmission specs

Because names recur across production periods, the table identifies each version by generation and horsepower.

The strongest power-to-displacement result is approximately 70.5 hp per liter from the 98 hp 1.4-liter versions. The 107 hp 1.6 MT delivers approximately 67.0 hp per liter, while the 102 hp 1.6-liter versions produce approximately 63.8 hp per liter. The 2 generation 1.5 MT diesel stands out differently: its 200 Nm exceeds the later 1.6 MT’s 148 Nm by 52 Nm and arrives at 1900 rpm rather than 3750 rpm.

Renault Thalia performance and fuel economy

For measured economy, the 2 generation 1.5 MT uses 2.7 l/100 km less combined fuel than the 1.4 MT and 3.0 l/100 km less than the 1.4 AT. It is also 2.0 seconds quicker than the older 65 hp 1.5 MT, while adding 21 hp and 40 Nm.

Among the later Gasoline versions, the 1.6 MT is 0.7 second quicker than the 1.4 MT and consumes 0.2 l/100 km less on the combined cycle. Curiously, the 1.6 AT has the lowest stated combined Gasoline figure at 6.6 l/100 km, although its city consumption is the highest measured figure at 10.7 l/100 km.

Renault Thalia dimensions, weight, clearance and wheels

All versions carry a 50-liter fuel tank. Kerb weight spans from 940 kg to 1170 kg where measured, while gross weight ranges from 1425 kg to 1555 kg. Some 1.4 AT entries have no measured kerb weight.

The strongest weight-to-power result among entries with a measured kerb weight belongs to the 107 hp 1.6 MT at approximately 9.0 kg per hp from 960 kg. The 98 hp 1.4 MT ranges from approximately 9.7 kg per hp at 950 kg to 10.0 kg per hp at 980 kg. In the 2 generation, the 102 hp 1.6 MT combines 980 kg with approximately 9.6 kg per hp; the 1039 kg 1.6 AT works out to approximately 10.2 kg per hp.

Ground clearance is 155 mm on most original and first-restyling entries, although some Diesel versions have 175 mm. The second restyling ranges from 155 mm to 175 mm. Every 2 generation version has 140 mm, a reduction of 15 mm from 155 mm and 35 mm from 175 mm.

Wheel sizes are not measured for most versions. For the 2 generation 1.4 MT and 1.4 AT, the listed sizes are 175/65 R14 and 185/55 R15. Wheel sizes for the other versions are not measured.

Which Renault Thalia version should you choose?

For maximum recorded performance, choose the 107 hp 1.6 MT from either restyled form of the 1 generation. It reaches 100 km/h in 9.9 seconds and 191 km/h, making it 1.3 seconds quicker than the 98 hp 1.4 MT and 21 km/h faster than the 75 hp 1.4 versions. Its approximately 9.0 kg-per-hp figure is also the best supported by a measured kerb weight.

For the strongest economy result, choose the 2 generation 1.5 MT. Its 4.3 l/100 km combined consumption is the lowest measured figure, and its 200 Nm is the highest torque output in the catalogue data. Compared with the earlier 80 hp 1.5 MT, it adds 6 hp and 15 Nm while reducing combined consumption by 0.3 l/100 km.

For a Gasoline Manual balance, the 2 generation 1.6 MT has a persuasive numerical case. Against the contemporary 1.4 MT, it adds 4 hp and 21 Nm, accelerates 0.7 second sooner, gains 4 km/h in top speed, and uses 0.2 l/100 km less combined fuel.

For a Gasoline Automatic, compare the 2 generation 1.4 AT and 1.6 AT. The 1.6 AT adds 4 hp and 18 Nm, reaches 100 km/h 1.7 seconds sooner, and has a 4 km/h higher top speed. Its stated combined consumption is 0.7 l/100 km lower, although it uses 0.7 l/100 km more in the city.

For higher ground clearance, look to earlier cars rather than the 2 generation. Versions listed at 175 mm provide 35 mm more clearance than every 2 generation model. The trade-off is that performance, consumption, or kerb-weight figures are not measured for every earlier configuration.

Prices, sale listings, problems, and reliability results are not measured in the supplied data. Consequently, the numerical shortlist is clear but conditional: the 107 hp 1.6 MT is the performance choice, the 86 hp 1.5 MT is the economy-and-torque choice, and the 102 hp 1.6 MT is the balanced later Gasoline Manual. Condition and purchase price cannot be ranked from these specifications.