Renault Twingo: which generation to buy

Buy 3 generation restyling if you need Mini 5-doors, RWD, Euro 6 on the Gasoline versions, and the only Electro AT in the line. Buy 3 generation (pre-restyle) if you want the same layout with 10 mm more clearance (170 mm vs 160 mm) and, on 0.9 MT 90 hp, a measured 10.8 s to 100 km/h with 4.3 l/100 km mixed.

Buy 3 generation restyling if you need Mini 5-doors, RWD, Euro 6 on the Gasoline versions, and the only Electro AT in the line. Buy 3 generation (pre-restyle) if you want the same layout with 10 mm more clearance (170 mm vs 160 mm) and, on 0.9 MT 90 hp, a measured 10.8 s to 100 km/h with 4.3 l/100 km mixed. Buy 2 generation or 2 generation restyling if you want FWD, a 40 l tank, the 100 hp 1.2 MT Turbo, the 133 hp 1.6 MT, or Diesel 1.5 MT. Buy 1 generation if you want the lightest kerb figures in the data (840 kg on 1.2 MT 60 hp).

The 2 generation restyling is not a fourth generation: it sits inside 2 generation. The 3 generation restyling sits inside 3 generation.

3 generation restyling: five versions, three names

Five versions share three catalogue names. Distinguish the two 1.0 MT cars by 65 hp vs 75 hp.

VersionhpNmccFuelCyl / layoutBoostGearboxDrive
0.9 MT 93 hp93 (68 kW) at 5500135 at 2500898Gasoline, 953 Inline, 4 valvesTurboManual 5RWD
0.9 EDC 93 hp93 (68 kW) at 5500135 at 2500898Gasoline, 953 Inline, 4 valvesTurboRobotic 6RWD
1.0 MT 65 hp65 (48 kW) at 625095 at 4000998Gasoline, 953 Inline, 4 valvesNoManual 5RWD
1.0 MT 75 hp75 (54 kW) at 625095 at 4000998Gasoline, 953 Inline, 4 valvesNoManual 5RWD
AT 81 hp81 (60 kW) at 3590-11450160 at 500-3590not measuredElectronot measurednot measuredAutomatic 1RWD

0.9 MT 93 hp vs 0.9 EDC 93 hp: same 898 cc Turbo Gasoline, same 135 Nm. The Robotic 6 costs 42 kg (999 vs 957 kg), 0.4 l/100 km mixed (5.1 vs 4.7), 8 g/km CO2 (116 vs 108), 0.6 l/100 km in town (6.6 vs 6.0). 0–100 km/h is 11.7 s on 0.9 EDC and 1.1 s on 0.9 MT as recorded; top speed is 174 vs 175 km/h. Specific output is 103.6 hp/l on both. Power-to-weight is 10.3 kg/hp on 0.9 MT and 10.7 kg/hp on 0.9 EDC. Buy 0.9 MT if you accept Manual 5; buy 0.9 EDC only for the extra gear.

1.0 MT 65 hp vs 1.0 MT 75 hp: same 998 cc, same 95 Nm, same 914 kg, same 4.4 l/100 km mixed, same 160 mm, same 165/65 R15 and 185/60 R15. The 75 hp car adds 10 hp, 0.9 s off 0–100 km/h (13.7 vs 14.6), 6 km/h of top speed (165 vs 159), 5 g/km less CO2 (95 vs 100), 0.3 l/100 km more in town (5.3 vs 5.0) and 0.2 l/100 km less on the highway (3.8 vs 4.0). Compression is 9.8 vs 9.5. Specific output is 75.2 vs 65.1 hp/l. Buy 1.0 MT 75 hp unless you specifically want the 65 hp output.

Turbo 0.9 MT 93 hp vs naturally aspirated 1.0 MT 75 hp: +18 hp, +40 Nm, −43 kg wait no: 957 vs 914 is +43 kg on the turbo car. 0–100 km/h 1.1 vs 13.7 s as recorded. Mixed 4.7 vs 4.4. Wheels on 0.9 also include 185/50 R16 and 205/45 R16. Specific output 103.6 vs 75.2 hp/l.

AT Electro 81 hp vs 0.9 MT 93 hp: −12 hp, +25 Nm (160 vs 135), +561 kg (1518 vs 957), 12.9 vs 1.1 s, 135 vs 175 km/h. CO2 is 0 vs 108. Tank, mixed consumption, eco class, gross weight, wheels, displacement, cylinders are not measured on AT. Power-to-weight is 18.7 kg/hp — the worst of any measured Twingo here. Buy AT only if Electro fuel and 0 g/km CO2 are the point.

3 generation vs its restyling: what changed in the same names

0.9 MT 90 hp (2014–2019) vs 0.9 MT 93 hp (from 2019-05-01): +3 hp, same 135 Nm, same 898 cc Turbo. 0–100 km/h 10.8 s vs 1.1 s as recorded. Top speed 165 vs 175 km/h. Mixed 4.3 vs 4.7. Town 4.9 vs 6.0. Highway 3.9 vs 4.0. CO2 99 vs 108. Kerb 943 vs 957 kg (+14 kg). Gross 1382 vs 1365 kg. Clearance 170 vs 160 mm. Specific output 100.2 vs 103.6 hp/l. The restyle is the more powerful 0.9 MT; the pre-restyle 0.9 MT is the more economical mixed figure and the taller car.

0.9 EDC 90 hp vs 0.9 EDC 93 hp: +3 hp, torque 138 vs 135 Nm. 0–100 both 10.8 vs 11.7 s (pre-restyle is 0.9 s quicker). Top speed 165 vs 174. Mixed 4.8 vs 5.1. Kerb 1068 vs 999 kg (−69 kg on the restyle). Gross 1413 vs 1393. The restyle 0.9 EDC is the lighter Robotic; the 2014 0.9 EDC is the quicker 0–100 of the two EDC cars.

1.0 MT 70 hp (999 cc, Euro 5) vs the two restyle 1.0 MT cars (998 cc, Euro 6): the 2014 car is 14.5 s and 151 km/h at 939 kg and 5.0 l/100 km mixed. Restyle 65 hp is 14.6 s, 159 km/h, 914 kg, 4.4 mixed. Restyle 75 hp is 13.7 s, 165 km/h, 914 kg, 4.4 mixed, CO2 95 vs 105. There is no Electro AT before the restyling.

2 generation: when FWD and Diesel still exist

2 generation restyling (Mini 3-doors, FWD, 120 mm, 40 l) is the last Twingo with Diesel and with 133 hp.

Versionhp0–100TopMixedKerbNotes
1.2 MT 58 hp58 / 93 Nm / 1149 / Gasoline / 4 Inline / 2 valves / No15 s1505.51000 kgEuro 4; CO2 not measured
1.2 MT 76 hp76 / 107 Nm / 4 valves / No12.3 s1705.1950 kgEuro 5; 119 g/km
1.2 EDC 76 hpsame engine, Robotic 513.6 s1725.6955 kg+1.3 s and +0.5 l mixed vs the 76 hp Manual
1.2 MT 100 hp100 / 155 Nm / Turbo9.8 s1895.7980 kg87.0 hp/l; 9.8 kg/hp
1.6 MT 133 hp133 / 160 Nm / 1598 / No8.7 s201not measured1055 kg83.2 hp/l; 7.9 kg/hp; Euro 4
1.5 MT 75 hp75 / 180 Nm / 1461 / Diesel / Turbo13.5 s1703.4980 kgEuro 5; 119 g/km
1.5 MT 86 hp86 / 200 Nm / Diesel / Turbo11.2 s1853.4980 kgsame mixed as 75 hp Diesel; +11 hp, +20 Nm, −2.3 s, +15 km/h

On restyle 1.2 MT, the 76 hp car vs 58 hp: +18 hp, +14 Nm, −2.7 s, +20 km/h, −0.4 l mixed, −50 kg, Euro 5 vs Euro 4, 4 valves vs 2. Rear suspension on the 58 hp restyle 1.2 MT is Independent, spring; on 76 / 100 hp Gasoline and both Diesels it is Semi-independent, torsion.

1.2 MT 100 hp vs 1.6 MT 133 hp (restyle): +33 hp, +5 Nm, −1.1 s (9.8 vs 8.7), +12 km/h (189 vs 201), +75 kg (980 vs 1055). Mixed on 1.6 MT is not measured; 1.2 MT 100 hp is 5.7. If you want the highest measured top speed in the whole Twingo set, it is 1.6 MT 133 hp at 201 km/h, shared with 2 generation 1.6 MT.

1.5 MT 86 hp vs 1.5 MT 75 hp: same 3.4 mixed, same 4.1/3.1 town/highway, same 980 kg, same 1420 kg gross. The 86 hp Diesel is the one to buy if you want Diesel: 200 Nm is the highest torque of any Twingo in the data (Electro AT is 160 Nm). Versus Gasoline 1.2 MT 76 hp, the 86 hp Diesel is 1.1 s quicker (11.2 vs 12.3), 15 km/h faster (185 vs 170), 1.7 l/100 km better mixed (3.4 vs 5.1), same 119 g/km CO2, +30 kg.

Pre-restyle 2 generation (2007-03-01 to 2012-01-31) repeats several names with different gaps:

Buy pre-restyle 2 generation for 1.2 AT 100 hp or for a measured 7.0 mixed on 1.6 MT. Buy restyle 2 generation for measured economy on the 76/100 hp Gasoline cars and for the 75/86 hp 1.5 MT Diesels.

1 generation: lightest kerb, slowest Automatic

All 1 generation versions are Mini 3-doors, FWD, 1149 cc Gasoline, Front, transverse, Independent spring both ends, Disc front / Drum rear, 40 l, 120 mm. Names repeat; split by hp.

1.2 MT 75 hp vs 1.2 MT 60 hp: +15 hp, +14 Nm, −2.0 s, +17 km/h, +0.1 l mixed, +10 kg. Buy 75 hp unless 840 kg is the goal.

1 generation 1.2 MT 75 hp vs 2 generation restyling 1.2 MT 76 hp: almost the same power (75 vs 76), same 107 Nm, same 1149 cc. 0–100 11.7 vs 12.3 s; top 168 vs 170; mixed 5.9 vs 5.1; kerb 850 vs 950 (+100 kg on the later car). The older 75 hp Manual is quicker to 100 km/h and 100 kg lighter; the later 76 hp Manual is 0.8 l/100 km better mixed and Euro 5 (eco class on 1 generation is not measured).

Cross-generation arithmetic that actually changes the choice

Highest hp: 1.6 MT 133 hp in both 2 generation and 2 generation restyling. Not available in 1 or 3 generation.

Highest torque: 1.5 MT 86 hp, 200 Nm, 2 generation restyling. Next: 1.5 MT 75 hp at 180 Nm, then Electro AT and 1.6 MT at 160 Nm.

Highest specific output among Gasoline with displacement: restyle 0.9 MT / 0.9 EDC 93 hp, 103.6 hp/l. Then 3 generation 0.9 90 hp at 100.2 hp/l. Then 1.2 MT 100 hp restyle at 87.0 hp/l.

Best measured mixed consumption: 1.5 MT 75 hp and 1.5 MT 86 hp, both 3.4 l/100 km. Best Gasoline mixed: 3 generation 0.9 MT 90 hp at 4.3, then both restyle 1.0 MT at 4.4. Worst measured mixed: 1.6 MT 133 hp (2 generation) at 7.0.

Lightest: 1.2 MT 60 hp, 840 kg. Heaviest measured kerb: AT Electro, 1518 kg — 678 kg more than that 60 hp car.

Ground clearance: 170 mm only on 3 generation (to 2019-04-30). Restyle 3 generation and Electro AT are 160 mm. 1 generation and 2 generation restyling are 120 mm. Many 2 generation (2007–2012) figures are not measured except 1.2 EDC 76 hp and 1.2 AT 100 hp at 120 mm.

Tank: 40 l on 1 and 2 generation; 35 l on 3 generation (5 l less). Electro AT tank not measured.

Wheels: 3 generation 0.9 cars list 165/65 R15, 185/60 R15, 185/50 R16, 205/45 R16; restyle 1.0 MT drops the 16-inch sizes. 2 generation 1.2 EDC 76 hp lists 165/65 R14, 175/65 R14, 185/55 R15. Most other versions: wheels not measured.

A short buy map

Problems, oil specs, engine-bay layout beyond Rear vs Front, transverse, and US sale prices are not in this dataset. Every 0–100, consumption, mass and CO2 gap above is arithmetic on the catalogue figures, including the restyle 0.9 MT 93 hp 1.1 s time as recorded.