Renault Modus (2004 – 2012) At A Glance
Sensible, practical little car with good features like 'Triptic' rear seat and some diesel engines under 121g/km. Plenty of character too.
'Triptic' seat apparently dropped from spec sometime in 2007.
Seriously cute, immensely likeable and very practical sums it up in one line. I hadn't expected to get on with the Modus as well as I did.
What do owners think of the Renault Modus (2004 – 2012)? Check out our
Owners' Reviews from people who live with the car day in, day out.
Real MPG average for a Renault Modus (2004 – 2012)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.
Satisfaction Index
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Reviews for Renault Modus (2004 – 2012)'s top 3 rivals
Ask Honest John
Can you recommend an alternative to the Renault Modus?
"I have a Renault Modus petrol 1.6 and it has failed its MoT big time! I love everything about this car, can you suggest any similar cars I could look at? I only do about 3,000 miles per year. My budget is approx £5,000. "
We'd recommend a Honda Jazz. It's a bit like a Modus (with a big boot for its relatively compact dimensions) but should be more reliable. You should be able to get a tidy example from around 2011 within budget. Alternatively, if something a bit more conventional appeals, consider a Ford Fiesta with the dependable 1.25-litre petrol engine.
Where can I buy winter tyres in summer?
"I’ve been on winter tyres for the last five winters. My 1.5DCI Renault Modus is happily clocking 65mpg on my 90mile daily commute across the southern Yorkshire Dales on Kleber Krisalp tyres. I leave them on year round because in this area and climate they are much the safer bet when coping with high rainfall, variable temperatures, cow pats and mud on the road. The only downside is having to replace a damaged tyre in the summer months when the Krisalps aren't available. Luckily Mytyres.co.uk have come up trumps once again this year with delivery direct to my front door."
The UK allocation of cold weather tyres is based on the previous year and is usually exhausted by November. But My Tyres (https://bit.ly/2I7N1bv) is actually based in Germany, where cold weather tyres are compulsory in snow, so stocks have to be available. The Kleber All Season tyre, designed for use all year round, is called the Quadraxer.
What's the cause of white smoke and emulsion on the on the inside of the oil filler cap?
"What is the cause of white exhaust smoke, even when the car is warm, from my 2008 Renault Modus 1.2 petrol with 32,000 miles on? There is also a small amount of emulsion inside the oil filler cap but no sign of anything unusual on dipstick or in the water reservoir."
Assuming that the engine runs okay, if you do quite a few short runs in the car (and not many long ones) this can cause condensation in the engine resulting in emulsified oil. You can clean it out and take the car for a decent long run afterwards and it should improve. However, the white smoke might also be water condensation, which is much more apparent in the current cold temperatures.
Buying a Renault Modus - which engine is best?
"I need your assistance and opinion regarding the Renault Modus. We are planning to buy second car (used) and we are considering the Modus.
We are in a dilemma in regards which one to choose. We have almost found one with the 1.2 16v engine with 75HP, and second, slightly more expensive 1.2TCE with 101HP.
Second car will be used for car driving, and occasional country side rides and shorter journeys. Car will be used for driving kids to school and sports, and it will be rarely fully loaded. Which should we buy?"
The turbo engine is better to live with because it uses heat more efficiently. A water cooled turbo heats up the rest of a petrol engine and the cabin of the car far faster than a naturally aspirited petrol engine simply because the engine coolant is passing through a turbo situated in the exhaust manifold, which is the hottest part of the engine.
More Questions
Inside of the Renault Modus (2004 – 2012)
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Dimensions
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Length
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3792–3874 mm
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Width
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1695–1709 mm
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Height
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1586–1589 mm
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Wheelbase
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2482 mm
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Full specifications |
The surprise and delight feature is the amazing ‘Triptic' rear seat. The centre squab can be flipped up, the two side squabs pushed together, then the whole seat pushed back to provide an astonishing amount of legroom. And this doesn't rob the boot too badly either as there is still plenty of space for bags or shopping. On top of that, the doors open wide, giving excellent access to the seats for the elderly, the infirm or those suffering a weekend rugby injury.
Step outside to look at the car and you cannot quite understand how they get some much interior into such a short car. ‘Tardis' is a corny old analogy, but it applies perfectly to the Modus. It's only 12' 5" long yet there's more rear legroom than a limo. Very clever.
You don't get the boot chute as standard though, even on the top spec Privilege. It's an extra £200 for a Mini-like trapdoor in the rear hatchback though which to drop the shopping. Do you need it as much as £200? Your decision.
Good car, though, in what has become an intensely competitive niche market. And fantastic you can now get so much in something so short.
Car seat chooser
Child seats that fit a Renault Modus (2004 – 2012)
Our unique Car Seat Chooser shows you which child car seats will fit this car and which seat positions that they will fit, so that you don't have to check every car seat manufacturer's website for compatibility.
Which car seat will suit you?
Driving Renault Modus (2004 – 2012)
First proper drive was a night-run to the airport with steamed up windows in freezing fog. The Modus unsteamed its widows with unseemly ease for a stone-cold diesel engine. The 1.5 DCI has plenty enough poke, to the extent that you don't really want any more in a car like this. At first, the steering feels a bit over-centred, but grip is good and you soon get used to it. The cable shift feels like one, but not to the extent I'd complain about it. Only the digital speedo on the passenger side of the central pod is a little touch of RHD skinflinting.
The digits are so big you can read it easily enough, but the surrounding rev counter light show is a bit harder to keep track of. Take your eyes off the road and you will see that 3,000rpm gives you a usefully long 80mph cruise (actually a true 76mph). Ride quality is very good too, absorbing poor surfaces and road humps like a balloon-tyred 4x4 despite the car's diminutive size.
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What is your car like to live with?
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