Renault Modus Range
Youve got to love manufacturer PR guff. Heres Renaults claim for their Modus, a more versatile MPV-style spin on the traditional supermini formula: its style expresses all the warmth and friendliness of our small cars to the point where even the front face of the car seems to smile at you. Yesright. The Modus, Renault tell us, also comes in a version "which offers an original, fun manual control" for opening and closing the twin sunroofs. So just how much fun can be obtained by operating a sunroof?
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On the inside, theres smarter seat upholstery and higher quality interior materials for the dash and centre console. Trim levels consist of Authentique, and Expression and prices start at £9,075. 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 didnt want a Clio. 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.
"Renaults bullishness about the Modus prospects seems justified"
Thats not to say theres anything superficial about the Modus: were 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 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 aim to match best-in-class levels, and theres 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 theres a 98bhp 1.
4. The Modus diesel engine range includes the 68bhp and 86bhp 1.5-litre dCi units. The 5-speed manual gearbox is taken from the Mégane II, with gear ratios adapted to the Modus, but theres an optional Quickshift5 clutchless set-up for the dCi86. Renault have worked hard to ensure low noise levels and the Modus features a significant amount of noise insulation material. 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 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 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. Renaults bullishness about the Modus prospects has proved to be justified. With clever packaging, cheeky styling, a range of decent powerplants and a focus on safety, it seems to fulfil all the requirements for a contemporary supermini-style MPV.
If the Valladolid factory can continue to screw them together with competence and Renault resist the temptation to hike the prices, a successful future seems assured.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Renault Modus range
PRICES: £9,075-£11,295 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 2E-4E
CO2 EMISSIONS: 125-140g/km
PERFORMANCE: [1.5 dCi 86] Max Speed 106mph / 0-60mph 13.0s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.2 16V] (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
