Renault Symbol

The Renault Symbol at a glance

Three Symbol generations

The first Symbol went on sale in Turkey in November 1999 as the saloon version of the Clio II. Renault meant it for developing markets and gave it local names. Production soon spread to Brazil (2000), Colombia (2001) and Mexico (2002), where Nissan sold it as the Platina. Updates came in March 2002, with the new Clio front end and more safety equipment, and in 2006, with body-coloured bumpers. The 2002 update also dropped the word "Clio" in many markets.

The second generation was revealed in August 2008. It kept much of the old structure but had a new body that was 7 cm longer, with better-balanced proportions. Bursa built most cars, and a plant in Córdoba, Argentina, added a 1.6-litre version from 2009. In Central European countries such as Poland, Czechia and Hungary, it was sold as the Thalia. In December 2008 a jury of 15 journalists gave it the Autobest award, which the old 1cars text describes as the prize for the best car in Central and Eastern Europe.

The third generation was shown at the Istanbul Motor Show in 2012 and went on sale in Turkey in early 2013. It was a Dacia Logan II with a Renault grille and bumpers. Brazil built it as the Renault Logan from November 2013, and a factory near Oran, Algeria, assembled it from November 2014. A facelift in early 2017 brought LED daytime running lights and a new rear end.

Petrol and dCi engines by generation

The four-speed automatic was offered only with the 1.4 16V petrol. According to the old 1cars text, a second-generation 1.4 16V reached 100 km/h in about 11 seconds and 186 km/h, while the 1.6 needed about 10.5 seconds. With the automatic, the 1.4 took about 16.6 seconds. The diesel of that generation needed about 12 seconds and reached 177 km/h.

Every Symbol has front-wheel drive, MacPherson struts at the front and a semi-independent rear axle. The third generation used ventilated front discs, rear drums and hydraulic power steering, all taken from the Logan.

Size, cabin and the 510-litre boot

The Symbol's main selling point is space. The first generation offered 510 litres of boot space and a full-size spare wheel. The opening is narrow, though, and the hinges take some room from the load. The old 1cars text gives ground clearance of 155 mm for the first generation and 140 mm for the second.

Inside, the first Symbol had a simple cabin, with manual windows and mirrors in base form and four-way manual front seat adjustment. Three adults fit in the back, but only two are comfortable. The second generation added rear quarter windows that improved visibility, a two-tone cabin and a small trip computer. The third generation brought the Logan II dashboard, a three-dial cluster and, on later cars, a 7-inch Media Nav touchscreen with navigation, USB and Bluetooth.

The third-generation saloon and its twin, the Renault Logan 2, share the same 510-litre boot. To check how the Symbol's length compares with another car, use the 1cars size comparison tool.

Fuel consumption and running costs

Renault quoted 5.3 l/100 km for the third-generation TCe 90 and 3.9 l/100 km, or 103 g/km of CO2, for the dCi diesels. Over 15,000 km a year, that is about 795 litres of petrol or 585 litres of diesel by our calculation, a saving of 26 % for the diesel. In a 2008 eco-drive event in Turkey, a second-generation dCi covered 1,430 km at 3.15 l/100 km.

Real-world figures for older petrol cars are higher. The old 1cars text reports 8–10 l/100 km for first-generation 1.4 engines and about 10 l/100 km in town for the second-generation 1.4. The fuel cost calculator turns these figures into a yearly bill.

Trim levels and equipment

The first generation came as Authentique and Expression. Base cars had central locking, a driver's airbag, power steering, a full-size spare and a height-adjustable steering wheel. The Expression added air conditioning, a trip computer, electric mirrors and windows, fog lights, an immobiliser and a CD stereo. ABS, a passenger airbag and heated seats were options, and a steel engine guard was standard.

The second generation used Authentique, Expression and Privilège trims. On the third generation, early Turkish and North African cars had very simple base trims with one airbag. Even upper versions needed ABS as an option, according to the old text. Later cars added cruise control, automatic air conditioning and the Media Nav system, with a three-year or 100,000 km warranty.

Safety: what is known

Euro NCAP never tested the Symbol or the Thalia. The first two generations offered ABS and a passenger airbag only as options on many versions. The third generation used the stiffer Logan II body, with a reinforced front cross-member and strengthened front structure according to the old text. Buyers who need high crash-test ratings should look at newer cars.

Reliability and common problems by generation

The old 1cars text collected owners' reports. On first-generation 1.4 petrol engines, the typical faults were ignition coils, high-voltage leads, the starter drive and the alternator regulator. The engines themselves were described as long-lived. Early 1.5 dCi diesels were sensitive to fuel quality and could suffer crankshaft bearing wear, so service records matter.

Owners of all generations praise the soft suspension, the large boot and a body with good corrosion protection when the car has not been in an accident. Common complaints are road noise above about 130 km/h, weak base engines and simple interior materials.

The Symbol compared with its rivals

The Symbol's strengths were price, boot space and robust mechanicals. German and Korean rivals offered better interiors and more equipment. The 1cars comparison tool lets you compare the Symbol with any of them.