Renault Modus Range Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Car: Renault Modus range
Prices: £10,335-£12,885 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 2-4
Emissions: 119-179g/km
Performance: [1.2 TCE 100] 0-60mph 10.9s / Max Speed 114mph
Fuel Consumption: [1.2 TCE 100] (combined) 48mpg
Safety: Twin front/side airbags, ABS, brakeforce distribution, ESP WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE ?: [Modus] Length/Width/Height: 3792/1960/1589mm

RENAULT’S BABY GRAND

Our Rating: 7.7 / 10

A supermini MPV in two sizes, the Modus and Grand Modus models go large on utility but keep prices modest. Andy Enright reports

Since its launch in 2004, the Renault Modus has racked up strong sales across Europe but has been unable to match the utility of its bigger rivals. Now, with the addition of a Grand Modus variant featuring an extra 16cm of length, it comes equipped to dominate. Some great engines and unbeatable safety provisions means the future looks bleak for the opposition.

When Renault announced the Modus back in 2004, few realised quite what a significant car this seemingly peripheral little hatchback would be. Most were more excited by news of a new Twingo, a car that would make do with the old Clio’s chassis. It turned out most commentators had taken their eyes off the ball. The Renault-Nissan Alliance B platform might sound more than slightly esoteric but it’s one of the key reasons the Modus has done so well. An all-new (at the time) chassis shared between Nissan’s Micra and Note models enabled Renault to make a car that was not only safer but also better to drive than tall, short cars had been capable of to that point. Three years after its launch, the Modus has been extensively facelifted and a longer Grand Modus model slotted into the product line up. A wider range of low CO2 engines brings the product offering bang up to date.

The suspension of the Modus draws its inspiration from that of the Mégane II, itself one of the better riding cars in its class. Both its ride and road-handling match best-in-class levels and there’s a wide engine choice available to UK customers. The petrol engines comprise two 1.2-litre units: a 75bhp 1.2-litre and a 100bhp 1.2-litre turbo. Plus there’s a 111bhp 1.6 VVT automatic. The Modus diesel engine range includes 86bhp and (in the Grand Modus) 106bhp 1.5-litre dCi units. The 5-speed manual gearbox is taken from the Mégane II, with gear ratios adapted to the Modus, but there’s an optional Quickshift5 clutchless set-up for the dCi86. Renault has worked hard to ensure low noise levels and the Modus features a significant amount of noise insulation material.

The 1.2-litre Turbo Control Efficiency (TCE) engine is probably the pick of the bunch and will get the Modus to 60mph in 10.9 seconds on the way to a maximum of 113mph. 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.

The Modus gets revised headlights, bumpers and rear screen amongst other details while the Grand Modus weighs in with an extra 16cm in length and up to 410 litres of luggage space. The wheelbase has been increased over the standard Modus by 93mm, which means better rear leg room and a quieter ride. 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.

Renault dubs the 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 opens using hinges at the bottom, thus making it easy to access the luggage bay in cramped conditions.

Renault model ranges have had an unenviable reputation for massive complexity down the years but thankfully the French giant has kept things simple with both the Modus and th