Renault MODUS INITIALE RANGE
Just Because You Buy A Small Car Doesnt 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, theres been little to capture the imagination of those buyers who are looking to scale back but want to keep the luxury accoutrements theyre 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 mercurys doing outside.
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Other big car refinements include cruise control, a speed limiter to make sure youre 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) its 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, youd 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 £13,550 for the 1.4-litre 16v petrol version, with a quicker 1.6-litre powerplant also offered. 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 existing 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. 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.
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 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. 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. Good things are supposed to come in small packages. The Modus Initiale doesnt buck that particular trend.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Renault Modus Initiale range
PRICES: £13,550-£15,150 - 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
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