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MODUS OPERANDI

Models Covered: 5dr supermini MPV [1.2, 1.4, 1.6 petrol 1.5 diesel (Authentique, Expression, Oasis, Dynamique, Privilege, Initiale, Maxim)]

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

The market for small cars has changed beyond recognition in the last few years. Time was when you either bought a supermini or a family hatch. Those were your sole realistic choices. Then strange citycars started filtering in from Japan at one end of the market and ever smaller MPV-style vehicles assaulted the family hatches at the other end. Nowadays, if you’re shopping for a small car you can get something that offers the advantages of both these vehicle types, wrapped up in a smartly-styled body. Renault’s Modus is just such a vehicle, one that proved an instant hit and which is available in significant numbers in the used arena.

The UK unveiling of the Modus was, it has to be said, an occasion steeped in high dudgeon. The organisers of the British Motor Show had billed the Modus as their ace card for the 2004 event, a genuine world exclusive but Renault rather skunked them by unveiling it at the Madrid show the week earlier. The Spanish connection is apposite, as the Modus is built in Valladolid, just up the A6 from Madrid. Renault used the rather grandly titled Alliance Platform B (which to you and I is the Nissan Micra chassis) as the basis for the Modus. The Modus was an extremely important vehicle for Renault. Fully one-third of all cars sold in Europe hail from the small car segment and back in 2004, with both the Clio and Twingo models looking rather old, Renault needed a fresh challenger. Only available in five-door guise, the Modus looked to make a convincing fist of things, especially when it comes to the vital ‘first five seconds’ the period of time in which the majority of car sales are either won or lost. Renault had access to a whole array of decent powerplants, had established their five-star safety credentials before almost any other manufacturer got on board and priced the Modus keenly. It couldn’t fail. It didn’t. The basic proposition has remained unchanged since launch with the addition of Oasis and Maxim special editions in summer 2005. A mild facelift in the summer of 2006 brought clear lens light clusters front and rear. Door mirrors were also introduced that featured integrated indicator lights and all models received body-coloured bumpers. By this stage, the Quickshift5 clutchless gearbox was available on the dCi 86 diesel engine.

The first thing that strikes used buyers is the Modus’ modernity. Compared to many other conventional supermini designs there’s something very refreshing about its cleanly-integrated styling and sheer versatility. The interior is exceptionally airy, the huge amount of glass up top and the low waistline brightening the cabin. The driving position feels more like a mini-MPV than a conventional hatch and the centrally-mounted instrument panel allowed the designers to make a feature of the smooth sweep of the fascia, again giving a clean, minimalist look. The sunroof system is unusual. The rear panel is fixed while the forward one can be operated by a one-touch switch. In addition to the usual tilt position, there are also three possible slide positions. The manual roof offers two side-by-side panels which can be tilted or removed completely and stowed in a bag behind the rear bench seat. Renault dubbed this sliding rear bench the ‘Triptic’ and it features a folding centre section. With a sliding range of 170mm, the rear of the car can be optimised for passengers, luggage or a compromise between the two. In two seat configuration, it can be set to any one of four positions whilst in three-seat mode, two positions are available. It can also be folded down to form a completely flat floor area. The novelties don’t stop there either. The Modus’ rear hatch can open much like a conventional hatchback (that is, hinged at the top) or the lower section can open using hinges at the bottom, thus making it easy to access the luggage bay in cramped conditions. Should you ever get a puncture in the Modus, you’ll appreciate the sheer amount of design ingenuity in the way Renault have engineered the spare wheel system. When it comes to safety, the Modus adopts a belt and braces philosophy. It benefits from a Bosch 8.0 anti-lock brakes with brakeforce distribution, ESP electronic stability control with understeer control and a tyre pressure monitoring system. The Modus is also available with additional cornering lights – which was a world first in the small car segment – double-distance xenon headlamps, together with an automatic range adjustment system. Passive safety is impressive, reflecting Renault’s expertise in this area. The Modus structure includes numerous strengthened crumple zones, designed to work in harmony with the restraint mechanisms of Renault's third-generation System for Restraint and Protection (SRP3). Other safety features of the Modus are its six airbags – including two adaptive front airbags – and front safety belts with load limiters and double pretensioners.

An entry-level Modus 1.2-litre Authentique without anything in the way of options will open at around £5,900 on an 04 plate. Most customers opted for air-conditioning and this tacks another £200 onto used valuations. The 1.4-litre petrol engine was a more popular choice and here you can expect to pay from £6,700 for an 04-plated Dynamique or £7,200 for a plush Privilege. 1.6-litre models represent the punchiest petrol option to date and a sporty Dynamique model with air-conditioning runs to around £6,900 on an 04 plate. As good as the petrol engines are, it’s hard not to fall in favour of the diesels as a sound used purchase. The eight-valve 1.5-litre dCi unit represents the entry-level oil burner and this opens at £6,200 for an Authentique. The 80bhp 16-valve engine is more widely available and a Dynamique with air-conditioning will cost you around £7,400, again on the 04-plate. Insurance ranges from Group 2E to 6E.

Nothing to report here. The Modus is a very reliable car and Renault have ironed out some of the niggly electronic gremlins that affected earlier Clios and Twingo models. Check for parking damage and ensure the car has a full service history and buy with confidence.

(Approx. values for a 2004 1.4 Authentique) A clutch assembly will be around £195 and front brake pads are around £45; it’s around £40 for the rear set. An alternator should be close to £250 and a radiator around £175.

Renault haven’t forged a reputation for building some of the sweetest handling small cars for nothing. The suspension of the Modus draws its inspiration from that of the Mégane II, itself one of the best riding cars in its class. Both its ride and road-handling are impressive and there’s a wide engine choice available to UK customers. Petrol engines comprise three 16-valve units: 75bhp 1.2-litre, 98bhp 1.4-litre and 113bhp 1.6-litre. From launch, the Modus diesel engine range included the 65bhp and 80bhp 1.5-litre dCi units as well as a 106bhp 1.5-litre flagship although the two less powerful diesel models were later upgraded to 68 and 86bhp respectively. The 5-speed manual gearbox was taken from the Mégane II, with gear ratios adapted to the Modus, while the 1.6-litre engine also drives through an automatic gearbox. The 106bhp dCi diesel gets a 6-speed manual and there was an impressive Quickshift5 set-up for the mid-range oil burner. Renault worked hard to ensure low noise levels and the Modus features significant levels of noise insulation material.

The Renault Modus is one of the smartest small used car buys around at the moment. Still fresh enough to be up there with the latest crop of contenders but just old enough to throw up some bargains, it’s well worth taking advantage of this window of opportunity if you’re the sort who’s looking for top value.

TURBO A LA MODE
Who’d have thought a minuscule turbocharger would pep up Renault’s 1.2-litre Modus so agreeably? Andy Enright takes a look at the 1.2 TCE 100 range

The Renault Modus didn’t need a whole lot of improvements to be class competitive but the fitment of the 1.2-litre Turbo Control Efficiency (TCE) engine sees it pack a healthy 100bhp. This means decent performance from this lightweight car and economy that you’d almost expect from a diesel. Emitting just 140g/km of CO2 and managing 47.9mpg, the Modus TCE100 is a very composed all rounder.

You’re probably getting used to the Modus by now. It’s one of the cleverer cars in Renault’s line up and has proven justifiably popular with buyers looking for something small and nippy but with a trick or two up its sleeve in terms of versatility. Until recently, the engine range hasn’t been overly inspiring but the addition of a turbocharged 1.2-litre powerplant gives the Modus a bit of pep without putting a big dent in economy and emissions figures. The key to this is the light pressure turbocharger that can massage a small capacity petrol engine’s power figures up modestly without the negative side effects. That’s the logic at least behind the 1.2-litre Turbo Control Efficiency (TCE) engine as fitted to this Modus. Replacing both the 1.4-litre 16v 98 and the 1.6-litre VVT 111 engines – in manual guise at least - this little engine has a weighty responsibility. Renault makes some hefty claims for this engine, reckoning it has the torque of the 1.6 VVT 111 engine, the power of the 1.4 16v unit and the economy and emissions of the 1.2 16v 75 lump on which it is loosely based. That is quite some requirement for one engine to fulfil but the little 1.2 Turbo 100 confounds the critics with a brilliant all-round performance. Fully 145Nm of torque is on offer at just 3,000rpm which means that you won’t need to leather the throttle pedal in order to achieve some meaningful acceleration. It’ll get to 60mph in 10.9 seconds on the way to a maximum of 113mph. Renault has worked hard to ensure low noise levels and the Modus 1.2-litre 16-valve features more noise insulation material than any other direct rival. No car in this class can cut it these days without generous safety provision and the Modus adopts a belt and braces philosophy. It benefits from Bosch 8.0 anti-lock brakes with brakeforce distribution and emergency brake assist as standard. Buyers can also opt for a new-generation ESP electronic stability control with ASR traction control.

"Compact, reasonably punchy, economical, extremely safe and very affordable…."

Only available in five-door guise, the Modus makes a convincing fist of things, especially when it comes to the vital ‘first five seconds’ the period of time in which the majority of new car sales are either won or lost. That’s not to say there’s anything superficial about the Modus: we’re just paying tribute to its cleanly integrated styling and sheer versatility. The interior is exceptionally airy, the huge amount of glass up top and the low waistline brightening the cabin. The driving position feels more like a mini-MPV than a conventional hatch and the centrally mounted instrument panel allows the designers to make a feature of the smooth sweep of the fascia, again giving a clean, minimalist look. The sunroof system is unusual. The rear panel is fixed while the forward one can be operated by a one-touch switch. In addition to the usual tilt position, there are also three possible slide positions. The manual roof offers two side-by-side panels which can be tilted or removed completely and stowed in a bag behind the rear bench seat. Renault dubs this sliding rear bench the ‘Triptic’ and it features a folding centre section. With a sliding range of 170mm, the rear of the car can be optimised for passengers, luggage or a compromise between the two. In two seat configuration, it can be set to any one of four positions whilst in three-seat mode, two positions are available. It can also be folded down to form a completely flat floor area. The novelties don’t stop there either. The Modus’ rear hatch can open much like a conventional hatchback (that is, hinged at the top) or the lower section can open using hinges at the bottom, thus making it easy to access the luggage bay in cramped conditions. Should you ever get a puncture in the Modus, you’ll appreciate the sheer amount of design ingenuity in the way Renault have engineered the spare wheel system. Two trim levels are offered with the 1.2-litre TCE100 engine; Expression and Dynamique S. The Expression marks the entry level point, priced at £10,525. This model gets body-coloured bumpers and the mid-life restyle has given it better looking lights, smarter seat upholstery and higher quality interior materials for the dash and centre console. Pay £11,170 and you can upgrade to the Dynamique S. Equipment on all Modus models includes remote central locking, a trip computer and electric front windows but the Dynamique S adds electric mirrors, a temperature gauge and a CD stereo. There’s also curtain airbags, djustable mirros, 15-inch alloy wheels, electrically adjustable mirrors, a split fold rear seat, part leather trim and the option of specifying upgraded stereo systems that seem to be denied choosers of the humble Expression. Hard lines. The Modus is built in the Spanish town of Valladolid, just up the A6 from Madrid where it was originally launched. Renault used the rather grandly titled Alliance Platform B (which to you and I is the Nissan Micra/Renault Clio chassis) as the basis for this car and its importance to the French maker cannot be understated. Fully one-third of all cars sold in Europe hail from the small car segment and with sales of traditional shape superminis on the wane, Renault needed an alternative for buyers in this sector who didn’t want a Clio. The Modus 1.2 TCE 100 excels in the field of cost of ownership. The combined fuel economy figure of 48mpg will come as a welcome sight to drivers who want to keep fuel bills down but don’t want to drive a diesel. Likewise, emissions are pegged at just 140g/km which will mean cheap road fund licence, netting the private buyer a saving over both the 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre engined models that this car effectively makes redundant. The inevitable upshot of this is that residual values will be good. The Modus range as a whole already enjoys some of the healthiest used prices of any supermini models and once word gets out that this 1.2-litre Turbo 100 is the engine to have in the petrol Modus range, pence per mile figures will inevitably reduce. Insurance is also very reasonable, turbocharger notwithstanding. The Renault Modus is one of those small, inexpensive, often low mileage vehicles that it’s often not cost effective to specify in turbo diesel form. A quick scan of the price lists shows that you’ll need nearly £13,000 for the entry-level diesel 106bhp Dynamique model and given that the 1.2-litre TCE100 in better-specified Dynamique S trim is nearly £2,000 cheaper, it’s easy to see which is the better buy. You’d have to be covering intergalactic mileages to make the diesel car cheaper in real terms and that does beg the question of why you’d want to cover those distances in a Renault Modus. That’s not to do the Modus TCE100 down in any way. It does what it’s designed for brilliantly. Compact, reasonably punchy, economical, extremely safe and very affordable, it barely puts a foot wrong. In terms of smart factor per square inch, there’s not much that can touch this baby Renault.

FACTS AT A GLANCE CAR: Renault Modus 1.2 Turbo 100 TCE range PRICES: £10,525 - £11,170 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 4 [est] CO2 EMISSIONS: 140g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 10.9s / Max Speed 114mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 48mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front/side airbags, ABS, brakeforce distribution, ESP WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE ?: Length/Width/Height: 3792/1960/1589mm

ENTRY MODE
The entry-level Renault Modus 1.2-litre offers a stylish option in the burgeoning Supermini MPV market. Steve Ghosley checks it out…

Renault have a habit of creating new markets with innovatively designed cars like the Espace and Scenic. They can’t claim to have done so however, with the supermini-MPV sector but they were one of the first off the mark with the cleverly designed Modus. This car has been freshened up in recent times, so it’s a good opportunity to re-evaluate this French contender in the face of newer competition. And where better to start than with the 1.2-litre 16v entry-level petrol version?

The improvements are quickly covered, stretching to more stylish clear ‘crystal’ indicator lenses for the front and rear lights and the wing mirror indicators. At the rear, the car’s circular lights are also clear lens affairs and there’s the familiar Renault rear bustle tagging along behind, first seen on the latest Megane. There’s a wider selection of colours too – and body-coloured bumpers for entry-level models like the Authentique and Expression 1.2-litre variants we’re looking at here. On the inside, there’s smarter seat upholstery and higher quality interior materials for the dash and centre console. Prices start at £9,075. The Modus certainly looks the part, resembling a slimmed-down Espace, and still looks modern in the face of competition from comparable cars like Fiat’s Idea and Vauxhall’s Meriva. Being a very distinctly family-oriented vehicle, the Modus is also the safest supermini currently available on the market, having been the first model in its class to gain the coveted five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating. This also goes along way to ensuring that the Modus 1.2-litre 16-valve achieves a 2E Insurance rating, one of the lowest in its class. The importance of this car to Renault cannot be understated. Fully one-third of all cars sold in Europe hail after all from the small car segment where it’s no longer enough just to have a conventional supermini. With no citycar on its books until the next generation Twingo arrives, Renault needs the Modus to sell well to bolster its performance in this sector – and so far, it’s been doing pretty well. Only available in five-door guise, the Modus makes a convincing fist of things, especially when it comes to the vital ‘first five seconds’ the period of time in which the majority of new car sales are either won or lost.

"Passive safety is impressive, reflecting Renault’s strategy and expertise in this area"

The interior is exceptionally airy, the huge amount of glass up top and the low waistline brightening the cabin. The driving position feels more like a mini-MPV than a conventional hatch and the centrally mounted instrument panel allows the designers to make a feature of the smooth sweep of the fascia, again giving a clean, minimalist look. The Modus 1.2-litre 16-valve comes in two trim levels, the familiar Authentique and Expression styles. The Authentique features body-coloured bumpers, tinted glass, fully reclining front seats, 60/40 split rear seats and an RDS radio/cassette with fingertip remote controls. With the Expression, additional features include front and rear reading lights, electrically operated and heated door mirrors, curtain airbags, an air recirculation facility and a single CD/RDS radio again with fingertip remote controls. The suspension of the Modus draws its inspiration from that of the Mégane II, itself one of the best riding cars in its class. Both its ride and road-handling aim to match best-in-class levels. The 1.2-litre 16-valve engine won’t break any speed records with a 0-62mph achieved in 13.5 seconds and a top speed of 101mph, but then buyers of these cars aren’t in the market for out-and-out performance. They are generally more interested in the fuel comsumption figures and the Modus 1.2-litre 16-valve won’t disappoint here either, returning 47.1mpg on the combined cycle. A five-speed manual gearbox is also taken from the Mégane, with gear ratios adapted for the Modus. Renault have also worked hard to ensure low noise levels and the Modus 1.2-litre 16-valve features more noise insulation material than any other direct rival. The Modus’ rear hatch can open much like a conventional hatchback (that is, hinged at the top) or the lower section can open using hinges at the bottom, thus making it easy to access the luggage bay in cramped conditions. Should you ever get a puncture in the Modus, you’ll appreciate the sheer amount of design ingenuity in the way Renault have engineered the spare wheel system. No car in this class can cut it these days without generous safety provision and the Modus adopts a belt and braces philosophy. It benefits from Bosch 8.0 anti-lock brakes with brakeforce distribution and emergency brake assist as standard. Buyers can also opt for a new-generation ESP electronic stability control with ASR traction control and if you go for the Expression trim, then an automatic tyre pressure monitor is also available. Passive safety is impressive, reflecting Renault’s strategy and expertise in this area. The Modus structure includes numerous strengthened crumple zones, designed to work in harmony with the restraint mechanisms of Renault's third-generation System for Restraint and Protection (SRP3). Other safety features of the Modus are its six airbags – including two adaptive front airbags – and front safety belts with load limiters and double pretensioners. The Renault Modus 1.2-litre 16-valve may be just the ticket to keep the Valladolid factory’s production lines churning out this cute supermini. With the Modus, Renault would seem to have a winner on their hands providing they continue to keep the pricing competitive and the specification up to the mark. The Modus 1.2-litre 16-valve remains a safe and economical option amongst supermini MPVs.

FACTS AT A GLANCE CAR: Renault Modus 1.2-litre 16-valve PRICES: £9,075-£9,825 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 2E CO2 EMISSIONS: 145g/km PERFORMANCE: [1.2 16V] Max Speed 101mph / 0-62mph 13.5s FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.2 16V] (Combined) 47.1mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front/side airbags, ABS, brakeforce distribution WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE ?: Length/Width/Height: 3792/1960/1589mm

FULLY LOADED MODUS
Just Because You Buy A Small Car Doesn’t Mean You Need To Forgo Some Luxury Touches. Andy Enright Takes A Look At The Renault Modus Initiale Models

Downsizing is quite the automotive trend of the moment. Canny buyers are realising that small cars are increasingly offering big car attributes and besides, hauling a whole lot of redundant metal about with you is verging on the American. Although safety and security features of small cars is often top notch, there’s been little to capture the imagination of those buyers who are looking to scale back but want to keep the luxury accoutrements they’re used to in bigger vehicles. Renault think they have the answer in the pert shape of the Modus Initiale range.

The French company have some form here. The old Renault 5 was offered in luxurious Monaco and Bacarra trim levels and latterly the Clio has also been available in similarly well-appointed Initiale form. The Modus Initiale continues this trend, offering leather-lined luxury for less than the price of most family hatches. The Initiale trim level is loosely based on the already well appointed Privilege specification but adds beige leather upholstery with matching door panels as well as a sophisticated climate controlled air conditioning system that maintains a given temperature no matter what the mercury’s doing outside. Other big car refinements include cruise control, a speed limiter to make sure you’re protected against inadvertently tripping a GATSO, and Xenon ‘Double Distance’ headlamps. The lights are ideal if you do a lot of rural driving, turning day into night without creating too much dazzle for oncoming drivers. The exterior also gets a spruce up with 16-inch Initiale alloy wheels, door sill kick plates and subtle badging on the front door rubbing strips. Renault claim the Modus Initiale has more standard equipment than a £40,000 Jaguar XJ6 3.0 and while this may be a little contentious, (the Jaguar has some features the Renault signally lacks) it’s impossible to argue with the fact that if you were to specify the Jaguar with the leather interior, xenon lights, cruise control, speed limiter, metallic paint and folding door mirrors standard on the Modus, you’d need to raid the savings account for well over £3,500.

"The Initiale is a cut above the usual supermini rat race"

The Modus Initiale range starts at £14,195 for the 86bhp 1.5-litre dCi diesel version. By far the most interesting engine is the 1.5dCi 106 diesel unit which, as its nomenclature suggests, generates a healthy 106bhp. This will get to 60mph in less than 11 seconds, a full 1.5 seconds quicker than the 1.5dCi 86 engine. Torque also rises from 200Nm to a brawny 240Nm. A six-speed gearbox has been developed for the car as a joint venture between Renault and Nissan, and this additional ratio has improved fuel consumption, enabling the 1.5dCi 106 to eke over 60 miles from a gallon of diesel. Even around town, this engine should manage in excess of 50mpg. Emissions are pegged at a saintly 124g/km. If you want a self-shifting gearbox in this opulent Modus, there’s a Quickshift5 clutchless set-up offered with the dCi 86. The importance of the Modus to Renault cannot be understated. Fully one-third of all cars sold in Europe hail from this small car segment and with both the Clio and (European only) Twingo models now looking rather old, Renault needed a fresh challenger. Only available in five-door guise, the Modus makes a convincing fist of things, especially when it comes to the vital ‘first five seconds’ the period of time in which the majority of new car sales are either won or lost. That’s not to say there’s anything superficial about the Modus: we’re just paying tribute to its cleanly integrated styling and sheer versatility. The interior is exceptionally airy, the huge amount of glass up top and the low waistline brightening the cabin. The driving position feels more like a mini-MPV than a conventional hatch and the centrally mounted instrument panel allows the designers to make a feature of the smooth sweep of the fascia, again giving a clean, minimalist look. The sunroof system is unusual. The rear panel is fixed while the forward one can be operated by a one-touch switch. In addition to the usual tilt position, there are also three possible slide positions. The manual roof offers two side-by-side panels which can be tilted or removed completely and stowed in a bag behind the rear bench seat. Renault dubs this sliding rear bench the ‘Triptic’ and it features a folding centre section. With a sliding range of 170mm, the rear of the car can be optimised for passengers, luggage or a compromise between the two. In two seat configuration, it can be set to any one of four positions whilst in three-seat mode, two positions are available. It can also be folded down to form a completely flat floor area. The novelties don’t stop there either. The Modus’ rear hatch can open much like a conventional hatchback (that is, hinged at the top) or the lower section can open using hinges at the bottom, thus making it easy to access the luggage bay in cramped conditions. Should you ever get a puncture in the Modus, you’ll appreciate the sheer amount of design ingenuity in the way Renault have engineered the spare wheel system. No car in this class can cut it these days without generous safety provision and the Modus adopts a belt and braces philosophy. It benefits from a Bosch 8.0 anti-lock brakes with brakeforce distribution, new-generation ESP electronic stability control with understeer control and a tyre pressure monitoring system. Passive safety is impressive, reflecting Renault’s strategy and expertise in this area. The Modus structure includes numerous strengthened crumple zones, designed to work in harmony with the restraint mechanisms of Renault's third-generation System for Restraint and Protection (SRP3). Other safety features of the Modus are its six airbags – including two adaptive front airbags – and front safety belts with load limiters and double pretensioners. Good things are supposed to come in small packages. The Modus Initiale doesn’t buck that particular trend.

FACTS AT A GLANCE CAR: Renault Modus Initiale range PRICES: £14,195-£14,965 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 4E-6E CO2 EMISSIONS: (1.5Ci 106) 124g/km PERFORMANCE: (1.5Ci 106) Max Speed 116mph / 0-60mph 10.9s FUEL CONSUMPTION: (1.5Ci 106)] (Combined) 60.2mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front/side airbags, ABS, brakeforce distribution, ESP WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE ?: Length/Width/Height: 3792/1960/1589mm

MODUS OPERANDI
If You Want A State Of The Art Small Car, Renault’s Modus dCi Is About As Good As It Gets. Andy Enright Reports

If you pause to consider how many car manufacturers are attempting something quite novel, the count is depressingly small. All too many of them peruse a copycat philosophy, waiting for one of the others to make the expensive mistakes. Renault isn’t like that. Instead it’s a company that likes to gamble on predicting customer trends. Some of them, such as the Avantime and Vel Satis models, haven’t fared too well. In contrast, the Modus looks set to pay off in spades and the diesel-engined models look set to be the biggest winners of the bunch.

Everything about the Modus is fresh, funky and bang up to date. Particularly with the latest models featuring clear lens head and tail lamp clusters along with side indicators integrated into the wing mirror housings. Renault have also forged a reputation for developing smooth and punchy diesel engines and three are available in the Modus line up. The trio that feature in the UK are the 68bhp and 86bhp 1.5-litre dCi units plus a 106bhp range-topper. The 5-speed manual gearbox is taken from the Mégane II, with gear ratios adapted to the Modus but there’s also the option of the Quickshift5 automatic ‘box and the 106bhp cars get a 6-speed manual as standard. Renault have worked hard to ensure low noise levels and the Modus features a significant amount of noise insulation material. All three engines are well worthwhile. Although the 68bhp is no ball of fire off the line, it’ll manage a combined fuel economy figure of over 60mpg and is pleasantly refined. The torque output feels strong, especially since the car doesn’t have a huge amount of weight to shift about. From a standing start, the Modus dCi68 will accelerate to 60mph in 15.3 seconds and top out at 99mph. The carbon dioxide emissions figure of 125g/km is superb and the insurance rating of group 2 isn’t going to break the bank either. Prices start at £10,065 for the Authentique trim level, with the Expression tacking over £1,000 onto that figure.

"Everything about the Modus is fresh, funky and bang up to date"

If you’re feeling a little more flush, the dCi86 powerplant offers a little more in the way of poke with no penalty when it comes to fuel consumption. In fact its 61.4mpg fuel economy figure is even more economical than its little sibling and the acceleration to 60 of 13.2 seconds and the top speed of 104mpg are both usefully quicker. True, you’ll need to notch up mega mileage in order to recoup the additional cost of the 86bhp car in terms of fuel economy, but the £11,295 asking price for the Expression trim level doesn’t seem excessive. More luxurious trim levels are offered too, with the Dynamique pitched at £11,595, the Privilege costing £12,495 and the Initiale topping the range at £14,195. At the top of the Modus diesel range, the 1.5 dCi 106 has a 0-62mph figure of 11.2 seconds, a full 1.8 seconds faster than the 1.5 dCi 86. Delivering an impressive 106bhp at 4,000rpm, and torque up by 20% compared to the 1.5 dCi 86hp engine, from 200Nm to 240Nm at 2,000 rpm, this flagship diesel Modus offers a maximum speed of 116 mph. Prices start at £13,335. The addition of a sixth gear means the Modus 1.5 dCi 106 has improved fuel consumption enabling it to offer an impressive CO2 figure of 124 g/km and an urban fuel consumption of 50.4mpg, an extra urban figure of 67.3 mpg and a combined of 60.1mpg. The importance of all Modus models to Renault cannot be understated. Fully one-third of all cars sold in Europe hail from this small car segment and with both the Clio and Twingo models now looking rather old, Renault needed a fresh challenger. Only available in five-door guise, the Modus makes a convincing fist of things, especially when it comes to the vital ‘first five seconds’ the period of time in which the majority of new car sales are either won or lost. The sunroof system for example, is unusual. The rear panel is fixed while the forward one can be operated by a one-touch switch. In addition to the usual tilt position, there are also three possible slide positions. The manual roof offers two side-by-side panels which can be tilted or removed completely and stowed in a bag behind the rear bench seat. Renault dubs this sliding rear bench the ‘Triptic’ and it features a folding centre section. With a sliding range of 170mm, the rear of the car can be optimised for passengers, luggage or a compromise between the two. In two seat configuration, it can be set to any one of four positions whilst in three-seat mode, two positions are available. It can also be folded down to form a completely flat floor area. The novelties don’t stop there either. The Modus’ rear hatch can open much like a conventional hatchback (that is, hinged at the top) or the lower section can open using hinges at the bottom, thus making it easy to access the luggage bay in cramped conditions. Should you ever get a puncture in the Modus, you’ll appreciate the sheer amount of design ingenuity in the way Renault have engineered the spare wheel system. No car in this class can cut it these days without generous safety provision and the Modus adopts a belt and braces philosophy. It benefits from a Bosch 8.0 anti-lock brakes with brakeforce distribution, new-generation ESP electronic stability control with understeer control and a tyre pressure monitoring system. The Modus is also available with additional cornering lights – a world first in the small car segment – double-distance xenon headlamps, together with an automatic range adjustment system. Passive safety is impressive, reflecting Renault’s strategy and expertise in this area. The Modus structure includes numerous strengthened crumple zones, designed to work in harmony with the restraint mechanisms of Renault's third-generation System for Restraint and Protection (SRP3). Other safety features of the Modus are its six airbags – including two adaptive front airbags – and front safety belts with load limiters and double pretensioners. The Modus has given every other manufacturer in the supermini sector some serious thinking to do. It offers something genuinely fresh and innovative with an engineering package that leaves nothing wanting. Our pick would probably be a Dynamique dCi 86 version but whatever you choose, it’s going to be hard to put a foot wrong. Renault have another surefire winner on their books. Who said gambling doesn’t pay?

FACTS AT A GLANCE CAR: Renault Modus dCi range PRICES: £10,065-£14,965 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 2-4 CO2 EMISSIONS: 122-125g/km PERFORMANCE: [dCi86] Max Speed 104mph / 0-60mph 13.2s FUEL CONSUMPTION: [dCi86] (Combined) 61.4mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front/side airbags, ABS, brakeforce distribution, ESP WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE ?: Length/Width/Height: 3792/1960/1589mm

ONE (POINT SIX) FOR THE MODE
With 1.6-Litre 16-Valve Petrol Power, Renault’s Modus Supermini MPV Has More Pace To Go With Its Space. Steve Walker Reports…

The tiny MPV has evolved quickly. It wasn’t so long ago that buyers seeking small, cheap transport for a family either resigned themselves to one of those popemobile van-based products or made do with a 5-door supermini. Now most of the mainstream marques have a proper MPV based on their supermini platform, vehicles with the space and flexibility that had previously been the preserve of larger MPV products. Renault’s variation on this theme is called Modus. It features acrobatic rear seats, neat storage solutions, cute looks and there’s a 1.6-litre petrol engine if you like to press on a bit. It represents the current state of supermini MPV evolution but is it the natural selection in this increasingly competitive sector?

For most people who have the budget, the default engine choice in a small MPV would be a nice common-rail diesel. Capable of fuel consumption that would render you a stRanger on your local filling station forecourt, these units also possess a useful slug of torque for launching the family around town. The 1.5-litre dCi diesel options found in Renault’s Modus are perfect examples of this but here we’re considering the 1.6-litre 16-valve petrol engine. It’s a powerplant that some might think isn’t particularly well-matched to a vehicle with the family remit of the Modus, but even supermini MPV buyers understand the value of a little something extra under their right foot. A 1.6-litre 16-valve Modus isn’t a fast car by conventional standards but it’s the quickest Modus and if your search is limited to supermini MPVs, there aren’t many models around with more oomph. You’ll be able to breach the 60mph barrier within 10.3 seconds of introducing throttle pedal to carpet and that’s over a second quicker than the next fastest Modus model. The 111bhp maximum power output is available at 6,000rpm with the engine revving freely up to and beyond that marker. Torque of 151Nm is produced at 4,250rpm and the engine pulls strongly from considerably lower in the Range than that. Performance on a car like the Modus is never going to be much more than a sideshow but fuel economy will be of interest to prospective buyers. The Modus 1.6 fares well here, a combined average of 41.5mpg is commendable and even around town, owners should be able to return over 31mpg. You should be able to average over 60mpg with the 1.5-litre diesel Modus but the fuel cost penalty that goes with the extra performance of the 1.6 is not as harsh as many people would have imagined. What’s more, the lower asking price of the petrol engined car will, for most customers at least, make it the wiser buy. The driving position is upright but comfortable and engine noise is well suppressed inside the cabin. The Modus handles competently without too much of the cornering body-roll you’d expect from a narrow high-sided vehicle. It’s no hot hatch but with a capable chassis married to the 1.6-litre engine, fun is still on the agenda in this supermini MPV.

"You’ll be able to breach the 60mph barrier within 10.3 seconds of introducing throttle pedal to carpet…"

Of all the supermini MPVs, the Modus is the one that looks most like it should have something more than a weedy 1.2-litre petrol engine under its bonnet. It’s a shapelier proposition than its rivals from most angles with the pronounced wheelarches and the rearward plunging roofline creating a sturdy, purposeful stance that does much to hide the vehicle’s extra height. The Renault styling themes that we were once unsure about now look modern and innovative. There’s a hint of the Megane’s rump below that vertical rear windscreen and pronounced shoulders run down the sides. The latest models are distinguishable by their clear lens light clusters front and rear. The 1.6-litre models are available only in Dynamique, Privilege or Initiale trim and that means body coloured bumpers, body-coloured mirrors, 15" alloy wheels and front fog lamps all feature to spice up the exterior. The Modus designers seem to have struck an impressive balance between function and form but it’s the function that buyers in this sector will be most keenly interested in. There’s only a finite amount of space you can engineer into any car and a supermini MPV will always have less than most but the key is how that space is made usable. The ingenuity of the Modus centres around its rear bench seat. With it positioned normally, there’s plenty of rear passenger space for heads, shoulders, knees and toes Plus a surprisingly large luggage area behind. From there, the whole seat back can be folded forward to increase the luggage space at the expense of the rear passengers and, should you need more, the whole of the rear bench can then flip forward into the rear footwell. The result is a large van-like load area but the bench will not flip into the rear footwell unless the front seats are slid quite a way forward and taller drivers may be hindered by this. Other noteworthy features on the Modus include the ‘boot chute’ which opens from the tailgate much in the same way that the original Mini’s once did. It allows the stowage of smaller items without the need to open the whole tailgate. Storage compartments are commonplace around the interior so that just when you think you’ve found them all, another will come to light. The centre console is neatly laid out in a style that will be familiar to Megane owners but one complaint is that the buttons are a little small and fiddly for operating while on the move. Equipment on all Modus models includes remote central locking, a trip computer and electric front windows but the Dynamique adds electric mirrors, a temperature gauge and a CD stereo. The Privilege has air-conditioning, electric rear windows, folding mirrors and Xenon headlamps while the Initiale piles on virtually everything else on the options list. Being Renaults, all models score very highly on safety with the Modus being the first small car to achieve a 5-star NCAP rating. Prices for a 1.6-litre 16v Modus run from £11,560 for the Dynamique to £14,160 for the Initiale and the automatic gearbox option costs around £1,000 more in each case. Speed isn’t a big issue with buyers of cars like this and so the 1.6-litre engine isn’t likely to be the most popular in the Modus Range. It is surprisingly effective, however, and will appeal to people who like a degree of feistiness in their small cars. It seems that with a modicum of performance, even a supermini MPV can put a smile on its driver’s face.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Renault Modus 1.6-litre 16v Range PRICES: £11,560-£14,160 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 6E CO2 EMISSIONS: 163g/km PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 117mph / 0-60mph 10.3s FUEL CONSUMPTION: (Urban) 31mpg, (Extra Urban) 50.4mpg, (Combined) 47mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front/side airbags, ABS, brakeforce distribution, ESP WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE ?: Length/Width/Height: 3792/1960/1589mm

THE SHIFT HITS THE FANS
If You Want A Small Car With A Great Diesel Engine And An Automatic Gearbox, The Choice Isn’t Wide. It’s Just As Well That The Renault Modus dCi86 Quickshift5 Is Part Of That Selection. Andy Enright Reports

I think I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been driving in a small, diesel car and paused to consider how much better the car would be if offered with an automatic gearbox. Unfortunately, many manufacturers seem to think ‘small’, ‘automatic’ and ‘diesel’ are mutually exclusive concepts and continue to foist manual ‘boxes on us. When most of these cars are used for city duties, that just makes no sense whatsoever. Therefore, my curiosity was piqued when Renault announced that they were plumbing their clever Quickshift5 gearbox into one of my favourite tots, the Modus dCi86.

At this point, I should correct a small, but important issue. The Quickshift5 gearbox isn’t an automatic at all, but then nor is it a conventional manual. A ‘proper’ automatic car has a torque converter which is a hydraulic fluid coupling that replaces the clutch in a manual car. It’s what makes the shifts in an automatic butter-smooth but its inherent inefficiency makes automatic cars rather thirsty – not great for a small car. The Holy Grail that transmission manufacturers have been striving towards is a system that offers the smoothness and convenience of a decent automatic with the efficiency, response and – when the mood takes you – the good old fashioned fun of a manual gearbox. Some have come closer than others to achieving this end. You may remember the rather terrible sequential manual gearboxes fitted to Ferrari and BMW models. Alfa’s Selespeed improved things and the latter BMW SMG gearboxes were really rather good but it took Audi and their revolutionary twin clutch DSG gearbox to really show the way forward. The problem with these systems is that they were all designed for rather expensive cars. City car users had to content themselves with monstrosities like the transmission in the smart fortwo, a car that changed gears so jerkily that owners built up neck muscles like Iron Mike Tyson. Renault’s Quickshift5 is a step in the right direction.

"This Modus’ clever robotised gearshift certainly takes the strain out of city driving"

What’s more, it only costs £500 over the manual alternative which, given that most automatic options in this class tend to be priced at around £1,000, looks good value. So what do you get? Basically a conventional five-speed gearbox with a robotised clutch system, that’s what. Should you wish, you can flip the gear shifter across to ‘A’ to access an automated mode, the gearbox software taking care of shifting duties. It’ll take into account vehicle speed, rate of acceleration or deceleration, road gradient and even factor in the driver’s style changing gear when necessary. It’s still not quite as seamless as a full auto but it’s very close. Switch to ‘M’ and you have a semi-automatic mode where you change gear manually, knocking the lever back and forward to change up and down the ‘box. Rather annoyingly, the shift pattern is the ‘wrong’ way round insofar as you push the lever forward to change up. It works better the other way round. The semi automatic mode protects against under or over-revving the engine, the system preventing the driver knocking it down too many gears at speed and will also intervene if you run the revs too high or too low. A particularly welcome aspect of the set-up is that it will ‘creep’ forward at idle if the brakes are released, a feature that is particularly useful in traffic. There’s even a snow mode for slippery conditions that always keeps the car in the highest possible gear for any given road speed, so as to inhibit wheelspin. The dCi86 diesel powerplant offers a reasonable slug of poke and the Quickshift5 ‘box exacts no penalty when it comes to fuel consumption. In fact, its 62.8mpg fuel economy figure is even more economical than its manual sibling and the acceleration to 60 of 13.2 seconds and the top speed of 104mpg are both usefully quick. With emissions pitched at just 119g/km, this is one clean character. Prices kick off at £11,795 for the Expression, with Dynamique, Privilege and range-topping Initiale models spanning prices up to £14,695. There’s a lot to like about the Modus. The sunroof system for example, is unusual. The rear panel is fixed while the forward one can be operated by a one-touch switch. In addition to the usual tilt position, there are also three possible slide positions. The manual roof offers two side-by-side panels which can be tilted or removed completely and stowed in a bag behind the rear bench seat. Renault dubs this sliding rear bench the ‘Triptic’ and it features a folding centre section. With a sliding range of 170mm, the rear of the car can be optimised for passengers, luggage or a compromise between the two. In two seat configuration, it can be set to any one of four positions, whilst in three-seat mode, two positions are available. It can also be folded down to form a completely flat floor area. The novelties don’t stop there either. The Modus’ rear hatch can open much like a conventional hatchback (that is, hinged at the top) or the lower section can open using hinges at the bottom, thus making it easy to access the luggage bay in cramped conditions. Should you ever get a puncture in the Modus, you’ll appreciate the sheer amount of design ingenuity in the way Renault have engineered the spare wheel system. This Quickshift5 version of the Modus dCi86 offers a lot for a modest outlay. If most of your driving is a suburban grind but you still want to retain the right to have a little fun, this is one that’s well worth checking out.

FACTS AT A GLANCE CAR: Renault Modus dCi86 Quickshift5 PRICES: £11,795-£14,695 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 3E-4E CO2 EMISSIONS: 119g/km PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 104mph / 0-60mph 13.2s FUEL CONSUMPTION: (Combined) 62.8mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front/side airbags, ABS, brakeforce distribution, ESP WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE ?: Length/Width/Height: 3792/1960/1589mm