Renault Modus 1.4 16V
Right about now, Renault are the hot ticket as far as innovation, safety and pinpoint accurate market targeting are concerned. All right, so cutting edge designs like the Vel Satis and the Avantime didnt sell, but knowing that these cars existed and what they represented is a victory of sorts for Renaults marketing men. Such designs spread the image of the French company as a bold and progressive organisation that refused to follow trends. Thats still true up to a point.
| Build |  |
| Comfort |  |
| Depreciation | |
| Economy | |
| Equipment | |
| Handling | |
| Insurance | |
| Performance |  |
| Styling |  |
| Value | |
Like Vauxhall for example. Yes, Vauxhall. Their Meriva was the markets first really sensible supermini with MPV-style versatility. It set a template that Renault were keen to follow and, in the case of the Modus, improve upon.
The French company have done this before of course. The original Espace was an improvement on ideas first floated by Chryslers Voyager. The Scenic, an improvement on the concept begun by Toyotas Picnic. The Modus did the same thing and did it very well.
Not well enough however, to rest on its laurels as the market has moved on. Hence a package of changes in recent times. 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 cars circular lights are also clear lens affairs and theres the familiar Renault rear bustle tagging along behind, first seen on the latest Megane.
Theres a wider selection of colours too and body-coloured bumpers for entry-level models like the Expression 1.4-litre petrol variant that many customers choose. On the inside, theres smarter seat upholstery and higher quality interior materials for the dash and centre console. Prices start at £9,075, with the 1.
4-litre petrol variant were looking at here costed from £10,325.
"The opposition are going to have to keep on top of their game to stay in touch with this tot"
The 1.4-litre 16v model we examine here is the mid-range model in a trio of petrol engines that opens with a conventional 1.2 16v unit and is topped off by a turbocharged 100bhp 1.2-litre powerplant.
Developing 98bhp, the 1.4 is peppy rather than what youd call quick, but it will notch off the sprint to 60mph in a respectable 11.4 seconds and top out at 110mph. Clever use of gearing means that the Modus is sprightly off the line without being too noisy on longer journeys.
A carbon dioxide emissions figure of 161g/km isnt bad for this sort of car and neither is the combined fuel consumption figure of over 42mpg. One £10,325 Expression model is now on offer with this engine, a price which makes the Modus look good value against the duller Vauxhall Meriva and many will prefer its styling to the somewhat eccentric Peugeot 1007. The cars face looks friendly and the big circular rear lights and sharp creases on the flanks give it a very appealing air. The best part is that it looks cohesively Renault without the gawkiness that afflicts many short, tall cars.
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 dont 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, youll 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 an automatic tyre pressure monitor is also available. Passive safety is impressive, reflecting Renaults 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 1.4-litre 16-valve will almost certainly remain the biggest seller of all the petrol-engined Modus derivatives.
One things for sure. The opposition are going to have to keep on top of their game to stay in touch with this tot.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Renault Modus 1.4 16V
PRICES: £10,325 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 3E
CO2 EMISSIONS: 161/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 110mph / 0-62mph 11.4s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (Combined) 42.2mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front/side airbags, ABS, brakeforce distribution WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE ?: Length/Width/Height: 3792/1960/1589mm
