It was facelifted in March 2002, gaining the new front end of the hatchback Clio, black moldings on the bumpers, slightly revised interior (electric window buttons moved from the central console onto the doors, the steering wheel got a new design) and improved safety levels.
New engines were also added: a 1.5 litre diesel (65 hp, 160 Nm), and the 1.6 litre 16-valve petrol (105 hp, 148 Nm) in Europe, which was only available with the Dynamique trim level.
Throughout the following years, two other versions of the dCi engine were featured in the range: the 65 hp version was upgraded to 70 hp (following the introduction of the Euro IV emission standards from January 2005) and a more powerful version of 80 hp and 185 Nm (in the second half of 2004).
A new 1.2 litre 16-valve engine (75 hp, 105 Nm) was introduced the first half of 2006.
An automatic transmission version was available, but only with the 1.4 16-valve petrol engine.

The new front end was adopted in South America from 2003.
In Brazil two engines were adapted to run with flexible-fuel: the 1.0 litre 16-valve (76 hp on petrol, 77 hp on alcohol) and the 1.6 litre 16-valve (110 hp on petrol, 115 hp on alcohol); while in Argentina a CNG version was introduced towards the end of the year.
The interior of the pre-facelifted model was kept in the South American facelift version.
In Colombia, it was added the automatic transmission in 2004 to the Symbol Expression, and the new interior of the facelift model was added in 2008, with some differences from the European version, including the location of the electric window controls, the seats and the radio, and it kept the exterior of the phase II Symbol.
The Alizé model included front electric windows and driver airbag; the Expression included electric mirrors, digital clock, passenger airbag, ABS and foglights.
The 2008 model also included a 1.6 litre petrol engine, replacing the 1.4 litre one.

The Nissan Platina was available only with the 1.6 litre 16-valve petrol engine (110 hp; 82 kW).
It had four trim levels, baptized Grado Q, Grado K, Grado K plus and Grado A, the same as the top cards in a playing deck.
From the 2008 model year, they changed to Custom, Emotion, Premium and Premium A. It was sold either with a manual gearbox or with an automatic one with overdrive system.

In the first half of 2005, minor changes were done to the Renault models.
These included clear tail lights and side repeaters, a slightly modified grille and some of the display units passing form analogue to digital.

In the beginning of 2006, an improved version of the sedan was offered in Argentina and Brazil, and from fall in Europe.
 At the exterior, it now had body coloured bumpers, without moldings and regardless of the trim level.
The shape of the grille was revised and the boot got a new handle with the Renault logo integrated, similar to the one used on Laguna, as well as the new styling of the Renault word.
Four new colours were made available and two distinctive new rim designs.
For the European model and the Platina,  the interior was upgraded to the one used in the facelifted Clio II, with very minor parts commonality with Mégane II, as well as new standard and optional equipment, such as automatic air conditioning and a CD player.

This model was offered in three equipment levels: Authentique, Expression and Dynamique.

Expression included driver airbag, air conditioning, trip computer, electric mirrors, electric front windows, CD-player and height adjustable steering wheel.
Dynamique added passenger airbag, ABS, rear electric windows, body coloured door handles and alloy rims, although the ABS and passenger airbag were optionals that could be added to the lower levels too.
Automatic air conditioning was available as an extra feature.

It scored 12 points out of 16 in a frontal crash test conducted by the Russian magazine Autoreview in 2002, which was considered equivalent to the result scored by the hatchback version in the Euro NCAP testing.
Over 600,000 units were sold worldwide since the release of this model.
It was facelifted in March 2002, gaining the new front end of the hatchback Clio, black moldings on the bumpers, slightly revised interior (electric window buttons moved from the central console onto the doors, the steering wheel got a new design) and improved safety levels. New engines were also added: a 1.5 litre diesel (65 hp, 160 Nm), and the 1.6 litre 16-valve petrol (105 hp, 148 Nm) in Europe, which was only available with the Dynamique trim level. Throughout the following years, two other versions of the dCi engine were featured in the range: the 65 hp version was upgraded to 70 hp (following the introduction of the Euro IV emission standards from January 2005) and a more powerful version of 80 hp and 185 Nm (in the second half of 2004). A new 1.2 litre 16-valve engine (75 hp, 105 Nm) was introduced the first half of 2006. An automatic transmission version was available, but only with the 1.4 16-valve petrol engine.
The new front end was adopted in South America from 2003. In Brazil two engines were adapted to run with flexible-fuel: the 1.0 litre 16-valve (76 hp on petrol, 77 hp on alcohol) and the 1.6 litre 16-valve (110 hp on petrol, 115 hp on alcohol); while in Argentina a CNG version was introduced towards the end of the year. The interior of the pre-facelifted model was kept in the South American facelift version. In Colombia, it was added the automatic transmission in 2004 to the Symbol Expression, and the new interior of the facelift model was added in 2008, with some differences from the European version, including the location of the electric window controls, the seats and the radio, and it kept the exterior of the phase II Symbol. The Alizé model included front electric windows and driver airbag; the Expression included electric mirrors, digital clock, passenger airbag, ABS and foglights. The 2008 model also included a 1.6 litre petrol engine, replacing the 1.4 litre one.
The Nissan Platina was available only with the 1.6 litre 16-valve petrol engine (110 hp; 82 kW). It had four trim levels, baptized Grado Q, Grado K, Grado K plus and Grado A, the same as the top cards in a playing deck. From the 2008 model year, they changed to Custom, Emotion, Premium and Premium A. It was sold either with a manual gearbox or with an automatic one with overdrive system.
In the first half of 2005, minor changes were done to the Renault models. These included clear tail lights and side repeaters, a slightly modified grille and some of the display units passing form analogue to digital.
In the beginning of 2006, an improved version of the sedan was offered in Argentina and Brazil, and from fall in Europe.  At the exterior, it now had body coloured bumpers, without moldings and regardless of the trim level. The shape of the grille was revised and the boot got a new handle with the Renault logo integrated, similar to the one used on Laguna, as well as the new styling of the Renault word. Four new colours were made available and two distinctive new rim designs. For the European model and the Platina,  the interior was upgraded to the one used in the facelifted Clio II, with very minor parts commonality with Mégane II, as well as new standard and optional equipment, such as automatic air conditioning and a CD player.
This model was offered in three equipment levels: Authentique, Expression and Dynamique. 
Expression included driver airbag, air conditioning, trip computer, electric mirrors, electric front windows, CD-player and height adjustable steering wheel. Dynamique added passenger airbag, ABS, rear electric windows, body coloured door handles and alloy rims, although the ABS and passenger airbag were optionals that could be added to the lower levels too. Automatic air conditioning was available as an extra feature.
It scored 12 points out of 16 in a frontal crash test conducted by the Russian magazine Autoreview in 2002, which was considered equivalent to the result scored by the hatchback version in the Euro NCAP testing. Over 600,000 units were sold worldwide since the release of this model.
Renault Symbol