Renault Problems

There are things that could cause abnormally high fuel consumption, like a faulty oxygen sensor, faulty ECU, blocked exhaust, but the dealer mechanics found no such problems when they checked your car. The fuel consumption figures quoted by carmakers is the result from a laboratory test under controlled conditions, it's meant to provide a means of comparing makes and models, rather than give you a real life figure that you could expect to get from your car. That said, the difference between the test result and your car's consumption is too much. I would sit down with the dealer and have them explain the reasons for the difference.

Our earlier comparisons are out of date with the arrival of new XV opponents including the Mazda CX-3, Honda HR-V and Renault Captur. The XV is now trailing those three, at least.

I'd suggest you wait, just a little, and investigate the new breed of compact SUVs. Right now you can choose from the Subaru XV and Renault Captur, which I give The Tick, but soon enough there will also be a Mazda CX-3 that looks like the pick of the litter.

That's a great way to win trust.

Bad news for you, sadly. Renault spokeswoman Emily Fadeyev says: "At this time the diesel Captur isn't on the plan for Renault Australia."

Renault spokeswoman, Emily Fadeyev, says: "The brake fluid leaking in Mr Gibson's Clio is not the normal operation of a Clio. Our head office customer service team have been in contact with Mr Gibson since we became aware of this issue and we've asked him to take his vehicle to the nearest dealership so they can investigate what is happening with his car. The dealer has been advised to ensure Mr Gibson has a loan car so he isn't inconvenienced further".

Emily Fadayev of Renault Australia replies: "We have carried out extensive testing since the repair work was completed and have been unable to reproduce his concerns. This is the first case we've encountered so we've contacted head office. Our customer service team are remaining in constant contact with Glen as it is our desire to resolve this for him as soon as possible."

Yes, you should. It's not being caused by the spark plugs, that's a red herring, it's most likely a problem with the sensor itself or the wiring.

I have just driven the CX-3, Honda HR-V and Renault Captur and rate the Mazda as clearly best of the bunch, as well as better than the XV. It gets The Tick but be careful that you don’t spend too much — there are 14 models in the line-up.