Improvements to the third generation Renault Clio in 2009 aimed to keep it at the forefront of the British supermini sector, with sportier styling complementing a sensible mix of practical small car virtues.

At its heart though, it remains very simply safe, spacious and affordable.

Will that be enough to tempt supermini buyers looking for an affordable alternative in the used car market?

If you’ve been a bit nervous about buying a used French hatch before on the grounds of reliability and build quality, maybe it’s worth taking a look at this facelifted Clio III.

Facelifted cars in general are often a good used purchase as all of the mechanical issues that affect new from-the-ground-up models tend to have been ironed out and the build workflow at the factories is usually optimised to produce a well screwed together car.

I’d recommend the utterly brilliant Renaultsport models without hesitation, but if you need something a bit less manic, the Dynamique TomTom trims are well worth seeking out, especially when paired with the 1.2 TCe engine.