Renault Twingo 1998–2003 car dimensions: 3433 mm long, 1630 mm wide and 1423 mm high. Unladen weight is 820 kg. Braked towing is 600 kg.
The cabin has a simple layout with a restyled dashboard from 1998 that includes a passenger airbag. Manual air conditioning is available on higher packs or as an option. Power steering and electric windows appear on some grades. No cruise control or parking sensors are offered. Driver aids are limited to basic items like airbags on equipped models.
Boot space measures 168 litres with seats up and expands to 1096 litres with the rear bench folded. The sliding rear seat helps balance passenger and load room.
Towing capacity is 600 kg braked and 395 kg unbraked. Payload reaches 410 kg. The compact size suits light urban loads rather than heavy work.
The cabin feels open and practical for a tiny city car thanks to the monobox shape and sliding rear bench that trades legroom for boot space or folds flat. Front seats offer basic manual slide and recline with cloth trim as standard or leather on the Initiale grade. A high driving position aids visibility while the centre console and door bins provide useful storage. Manual air conditioning appears on Pack Clim and higher grades along with electric windows and central locking on electric packs.
1.2 petrol engine with combined fuel use of 6.0 l/100 km
40-litre fuel tank
Oil and filter service every 10 000 km or once a year
Timing belt replacement every 120 000 km or 5 years
Euro NCAP 3 stars for adult occupant protection in 2003 test
Driver and passenger airbags standard from 1998 restyle. side airbags and ABS optional or on higher grades
The 1.2-litre petrol engines return published combined consumption near 6 litres per 100 km with a 40-litre tank, suiting short urban trips. Higher 16-valve versions from 2001 stay in the same economy band while adding modest performance.
Routine servicing centres on annual or 10 000 km oil changes. The cambelt interval sits at 120 000 km or five years. Filters, plugs and brake fluid follow standard short cycles typical of the era.
Safety kit grew across the run. From the 1998 update dual front airbags became standard. Side airbags protecting head and thorax were optional or fitted on upper trims by the 2003 Euro NCAP test that scored three stars for adults. ABS moved from option to wider availability and ISOFIX anchors arrived around 2002 along with seat-belt reminders.
Living with the car means watching for body rust on early examples and keeping the simple mechanicals serviced. Parts remain straightforward and running costs stay low for a four-seat hatch of this size.
Length 3433 mm, Width 1630 mm, Height 1423 mm, Wheelbase 2347 mm (Twingo 1998–2003)
Sources: manufacturer data, auto-data.net and autoevolution.com.