64% Which? works for you

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Overview

The spacious Modus is well-suited to family life. It offers more space than a standard supermini - it’s based on the Clio - but is smaller, easier to manoeuvre and cheaper to run than an all-out MPV. Renault generally has a poor record for reliability, and so far owners have mainly reported problems with the non-engine electrics.

The Modus was co-developed with sister-brand Nissan - its own mini MPV, the Note, is a direct rival. The Modus range was updated in 2008, when the longer-wheelbase Grand Modus joined the line-up to offer further interior space and practicality. The range was axed in the UK in February 2012.

The Modus excels with its on-road manners – keen drivers will enjoy the way it handles and rides. Responsive steering gives good turn-in and the suspension absorbs most bumps readily, despite being firm.

We drove the mid-powered 86bhp 1.5 diesel, achieving 55.4mpg, a little short of Renault’s claimed 62.8. We’ve also tested the 1.6 petrol, which provides good pulling power if you rev it; we achieved 36.2mpg against the 41.5mpg official figure.

All is not perfect up front, where the central storage box can get in the way. However, things are better in the back, with a sliding rear seat. In its rearmost position (when it seats only two, instead of three) boot space is a disappointing 190 litres, but if you fold the seat down, you have up to 595 litres of luggage room. The Grand Modus has an extra 150/100 litres of space (seats up/down).

According to our latest Which? Car survey, the Modus and Grand Modus have an average (three-star) reliability rating. The most commonly reported issues are the dashboard display, air con, dashboard switches, rainwater seals, lights, suspension components and springs.

Recommended models

in the range

Which? caR TOp chOice MOdel 1.2 Tce dynamique 5dr New price: £12,355 Used price: £2,625 FasTesT MOdel 1.6 Maxim 5dr New price: -Used price: £1,895 0-62mph:

10.3 secs

MOsT eFFicieNT MOdel 1.5 dci 88 i-Music 5dr New price: £13,535

Used price: £3,695

combined fuel economy:

68.9 mpg

cheapesT MOdel TO bUy NeW 1.2 expression 5dr [ac] [euro 5] New price:

£10,655

cheapesT MOdel TO bUy Used 1.2 authentique 5dr

Used price:

£995

cheapesT MOdel TO RUN (NeW) 1.2 expression 5dr [ac] [euro 5] New price: £10,655

Running costs:

£11,367

(3 yeaRs/36,000 Miles)

Good crash safety. Good ride and handling.

Generous interior space, and innovative design. Stability control not standard on many models. High depreciation (loss in value).

Long braking distances.

ON sale:

sep 2004

class:

people carriers/MpVs

NeW pRice:

£10,655 - £14,435

Used pRice:

From £995

64%

ToTal score:

peRFORMaNce:

bOOT & sTORage:

Ride cOMFORT:

★★★

★★★★

★★★

★★★★

saFeTy: haNdliNg: ReliabiliTy:

Owner’S View

Nearly all of the faults in

my previous Modus have

been eliminated. Replacing

headlight bulbs can now

be done underbonnet. No

need to slide seat in Grand

Modus for rear legroom.

But heater fan failed at

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We use the sophisticated electronic timing equipment to record standing-start and in-gear acceleration, and repeat each test several times.

Ride comfort is assessed by our labora-tory experts who have driven hundreds of thousands of miles in a myriad of different models.

On the road

The Modus is fun to drive, easy to handle and gives a good, comfortable ride.

performance

_★★★

We tested a Modus with the 1.5-litre diesel engine, which is a well-mannered unit capable of delivering good performance even at relatively low revs. Vibrations from the engine are kept to a minimum. The gears engage easily and precisely, and the five-speed gearbox matches the engine’s performance characteristics well.

Model tested acceleration (37-62mph) Rating

diesel 1.5dCi (86bhp) manual 5-door (2005) 8.1 secs

★★★★

petrol 1.2 16v (75bhp) manual 5-door (2008) 11.1 secs

★★

petrol 1.6 (88bhp) manual 5-door (2004) 7.7 secs

★★★★

Ride comfort

★★★★

The suspension is well balanced and absorbs most bumps well. At high speed, the Modus can shuffle about a little, but unwanted movements are generally very limited.

Model tested Rating

diesel 1.5dCi (86bhp) manual 5-door (2005)

★★★★

petrol 1.2 16v (75bhp) manual 5-door (2008)

★★★★

petrol 1.6 (88bhp) manual 5-door (2004)

★★★★

how we test

performance

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On the road

continued...

handling

★★★★

The Modus offers good directional stability and a reassuringly safe ride. Despite responsive steering, it understeers strongly in corners, which won’t suit everyone, however. Brake Assist with electronic traction control, which helps maximise braking and prevent wheelspin, can be bought at an extra cost, as can a tyre pressure monitoring system.

★★★★

brakes

★★★★

Although the brakes are quick to respond, they’re not as effective as those of other cars in this class. Brake Assist helps the driver to apply maximum force in emergency stop situations.

Model tested braking distance (62-0mph) Rating

diesel 1.5dCi (86bhp) manual 5-door (2005) 41.5m

★★★

petrol 1.2 16v (75bhp) manual 5-door (2008) 38.5m

★★★★

petrol 1.6 (88bhp) manual 5-door (2004) 41.5m

★★★

Refinement and noise

★★★★

The Modus’ interior is smart and seems well put together, and there are plenty of storage spaces around the cabin. It’s not too noisy either; even the sound of the diesel engine is barely noticeable. However, when travelling at higher speeds, wind noise is audible.

Model tested cruising noise Rating

diesel 1.5dCi (86bhp) manual 5-door (2005) 70dB

★★★★

petrol 1.2 16v (75bhp) manual 5-door (2008) 70dB

★★★★

On-the-limit handling is explored well away from public roads to ensure a fair test. Our obstacle avoidance test is one of the harshest tests in the industry..

The Which? Car braking test measures stopping distance from 62-0mph and is repeated ten times in quick succession to highlight any brake fade issues.

The Which? Car experts use a decibel meter to record interior sound levels at common UK motorway speeds, and

how we test

handling

brakes

(4)

On the road

continued...

cabin and controls

★★★★

The dashboard is well laid-out. All of the most important switches and dials are easy to find and use, while a display provides information on the outside temperature as well as the average and current fuel consumption. The Modus is fitted with electric windows and powered exterior mirrors, while the windscreen wipers and exterior lights come on automatically in higher-spec models, and you can operate the audio system from buttons and switches on the steering wheel.

However, there are some gripes. The steering wheel is positioned slightly too low and the instruments in the centre are difficult to read, particularly in direct sunlight. Similarly, some of the controls for the heating system switch are too small and hard to see at a glance.

A large sunroof and a satellite-navigation system are both available at extra cost.

★★★★

Visibility and parking

★★★

Thanks to the elevated seating position and the high roof, the view out of the front is fantastic. It’s not so great out of the back but you can push the rear headrests down into the rear seats to improve visibility. Parking sensors are available at extra cost and xenon headlights and active cornering-beam headlights are also optional.

Model tested Turning circle Rating

diesel 1.5dCi (86bhp) manual 5-door (2005) 10.7m

★★★

petrol 1.2 16v (75bhp) manual 5-door (2008) 10.3m

★★★

petrol 1.6 (88bhp) manual 5-door (2004) 10.7m

★★★

We penalise cars with difficult controls, and we look for things like backlit light switches and easy-to-use heating and ventilation adjustments.

Visibility is a major issue for motorists today, so each car gets a 360-degree swivel view test to reproduce the driver’s eye view and any obscured areas.

how we test

cabin and controls

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We take measurements all around the driver and passenger’s door apertures and note the height of the seat, door sills and step down onto the car floor. The best cars don’t require too much bending or stretching to get in and out.

We assess seat comfort subjectively, using our road testers’ expert knowledge and experience from thousands of differ-ent cars. And we measure the head-, leg- and elbowroom on offer in every seat, to see how well the car caters for people of all shapes and sizes.

how we test

getting in and out

seat space and comfort

comfort and practicality

Getting in and out isn’t a problem, thanks to the Modus’ big doors, and there’s plenty of room inside despite the odd comfort gripe. Boot space is disappointing, although this can be greatly increased by pushing the rear seats forward.

getting in and out

★★★★

★★★

★★★★

seat space and comfort

★★★★

There’s plenty of head- and elbowroom in the front. The driver’s seat is height-adjustable but, irritatingly, the driver’s left leg is pushed up against the storage box between the seats, and the passenger’s seat feels very high. Although the seats are firmly padded, they’re foam-cushioned and may get a bit sticky and uncomfortable during the summer.

The clever sliding and folding ‘Triptic’ rear bench can be adjusted to comfortably seat two large adults, or three smaller passengers.

★★★★

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Carmakers give official stats for boot space, but our tests are more realistic. We load the boot up with measuring blocks only as far as the rear window line, so that luggage is well secured and won’t obscure rear visibility. We repeat the test with the rear seats up, and folded down (where possible).

Feel sorry for the tester who has to warm each car up from a frosty -10 degrees in our climate chamber. Starting with a cold engine, we measure how long it takes to warm up the front and rear of the cabin. Diesel cars usually take longer. We also check the effectiveness of air condition-ing, where fitted.

how we test

boot and storage

heating and ventilation

boot and storage

★★★★

There are plenty of spaces to store things in the cabin, but initially the size of the boot is disappointing. The Vauxhall Meriva, for example, offers much more space. But by sliding the rear seats forward you can create lots more room for bulky items.

Although it’s relatively easy to open and close, the tailgate doesn’t open very wide, and it’s easy to bump your head on it.

Model tested boot space (seats up/down) Rating

diesel 1.5dCi (86bhp) manual 5-door (2005) 190 litres / 595 litres

★★★★

petrol 1.2 16v (75bhp) manual 5-door (2008) 275 litres / 525 litres

★★★

petrol 1.6 (88bhp) manual 5-door (2004) 190 litres / 595 litres

★★★★

heating and ventilation

★★★

The heating system is nothing special, but will warm up the cabin within a reasonable period of time. And there’s good news for allergy sufferers; air conditioning comes with a pollen filter.

★★

★★★

★★

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We test fuel economy under strict lab conditions – using realistic test cycles – to reveal the facts behind the figures. Our figures rarely match manufacturer claims as, unlike the official mpg test, we mea-sure economy with both a hot and cold engine, and on the motorway.

how we test

Fuel consumption

Running costs and depreciation

Overall, running costs are about average for the class. Diesel models are pretty economical for fuel and road tax. The Modus sheds its value rapidly, which is good news for second-hand buyers.

Insurance costs aren’t too bad, with all models in low groups. Road tax is generally low-rate across the range; however, servicing isn’t the cheapest in class.

Fuel consumption

The 1.5 dCi Privilege we tested delivered 55.3mpg, a fair way short of Renault’s claimed 62.8mpg but still good enough to please most drivers.

Although the petrol models can’t be expected to do as well as this, they aren’t particularly thirsty; overall fuel consumption is average for its class.

petrol (combined mpg, claimed)

37.1 mpg - 50.4 mpg

diesel (combined mpg, claimed)

60.1 mpg - 68.9 mpg

Model tested Urban (claimed/measured)

diesel 1.5dCi (86bhp) manual 5-door (2005) 51.4 mpg/52.3 mpg

petrol 1.2 16v (75bhp) manual 5-door (2008) 36.7 mpg/34.9 mpg

petrol 1.6 (88bhp) manual 5-door (2004) 31.4 mpg/31.0 mpg

Model tested extra urban (claimed/measured)

diesel 1.5dCi (86bhp) manual 5-door (2005) 70.6 mpg/72.4 mpg

petrol 1.2 16v (75bhp) manual 5-door (2008) 55.4 mpg/54.3 mpg

petrol 1.6 (88bhp) manual 5-door (2004) 50.4 mpg/46.3 mpg

Model tested Motorway (measured)

diesel 1.5dCi (86bhp) manual 5-door (2005) 45.6 mpg

petrol 1.2 16v (75bhp) manual 5-door (2008) 35.3 mpg

petrol 1.6 (88bhp) manual 5-door (2004) 31.7 mpg

Model tested combined (claimed/measured)

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While testing fuel economy, we also collect exhaust gases to enable us to measure the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted. We also check whether particulate filters are effective at removing sooty emissions from diesel engines.

We rate cars for safety using Euro NCAP crash test scores (where available), alongside our own comprehensive safety checklist. Uniquely, we also feed in results from our accident avoidance test – after all, it’s far better to steer around a crash than rely on the airbags...

Security scores come from the security experts at Thatcham, who break into hundreds of cars each year. Most modern cars are very difficult to drive away, but are still too easy to steal from.

how we test

emissions

safety

security

emissions

In tax terms, the diesels clearly make most sense. Some (though not all) of the 1.5 dCi diesels come in under the 120g/km mark for carbon dioxide emissions, and thus into a low-rate annual VED tax band.

petrol (CO2, claimed)

134g per km - 185g per km

diesel (CO2, claimed)

107g per km - 125g per km

Model tested emissions (claimed/measured)

diesel 1.5dCi (86bhp) manual 5-door (2005) 120g per km/139g per km

petrol 1.2 16v (75bhp) manual 5-door (2008) 140g per km/156g per km

petrol 1.6 (88bhp) manual 5-door (2004) 163g per km/184g per km

safety and security

euro Ncap score

★★★★★

Here is the video of the 2004 Renault Modus Euro NCAP frontal crash test.

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Adult occupant

★★★★★

Child protection

★★★★

Pedestrian protection

★

Which? safety rating

★★★★

Active (crash avoidance)

-Passive (crash safety)

-Child

-Pedestrian

-security

Theft of car: Theft from car:

★★★★

★

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Everyone who takes part in the Which? Car survey tells us about their car and the dealers who sell and service it. We analyse this feedback across all cars to give top-level satisfaction ratings for each brand, including the brand’s reliability record over the last eight years. All star ratings are out of five.

These show how owners score this car in 12 different areas, from performance to heating. Owners’ ratings are subjective – so may differ from Which? Car test scores – but they give a good idea of what the car is like to live with. Where relevant, cars are scored against other cars in the same class (e.g. for space).

about our survey

brand ratings

Model ownership ratings

Owner’S View

I bought the car for the

raised driving position, its

ability to convert to load

carrying, low road tax and

economy. I have not been

disapointed with any of the

aspects.

Owner’S View

Extremely versatile interior.

Rear seat slides/folds for

great legroom or great

loadcarrying. High driving

position with good seating

adjustments. Panoramic

roof with opening sunroof.

Which? car survey results

The Which? Car Survey is the UK’s most robust reliability and owner satisfaction survey. In 2015, drivers told us about 58,000 cars, covering more than 484 million miles in the previous 12 months (that’s equivalent to driving to the moon and back a hundred times). This unique feedback allows us to rate satisfaction and reliability for hundreds of new and used cars.

Note: Star ratings below are from 1-5 (1 is very poor and 5 is very good). Percentages shown under ‘Most common faults’ indicate the proportion of owners reporting each problem in the past 12 months.

brand

Sample size: 1,465 people

Renault ratings

Overall owner satisfaction for this brand

69%

Brand reliability

-Dealer Sales Service

★★

Dealer Servicing & repair

★★★

Model:

renault Modus (2004-2012) Samp

l

e size: 82 people

Ownership ratings

Overall owner satisfaction for this range

75%

Driving enjoyment

★★★★

ease of driving

★★★★

Comfort

★★★

Dash layout and controls

★★★★

Practicality

★★

Value for money

★★★

running costs

★★★★

in-car technology

★★★

(10)

-We split reliability into breakdowns (in-cluding failure to start), faults (where parts need replacing) and problems (minor is-sues e.g. squeaks and loose trim). Where the car has been on sale for some time, and we have numerous survey responses from owners, we also split scores by the age of car and fuel type. Star ratings are out of five – the more stars, the more reli-able the car.

Want to know what’s most likely to go wrong as the car gets older? These are the five most common faults reported by owners, grouped by age into new, recent and older cars. A score of 40% means four out of 10 owners reported problems with that part of the car over the previous 12 months. Engine electrics and non-en-gine electrics (e.g. windows, stereo) cause more headaches than mechanical parts in most modern cars.

about our survey

Reliability ratings

Most common faults

Which? car survey results

continued...

Reliability ratings

Overall Reliability

★★★

Up to 3 years old 4-8 years old

petrol cars Reliability

-

-breakdowns

-

-average annual repair cost

-

-diesel cars Reliability

-

-breakdowns

-

-average annual repair cost

-

-all cars Reliability

-

★★★

breakdowns

-

7%

average annual repair cost

-

£151

breakdowns: Percentage of cars suffering a breakdown in last 12 months

average annual repair cost: Average annual cost of repairs (not servicing), in past 12 months

Most common faults

Up to 3 years old -

--

-4-8 years old Air Con

7%

Dashboard display

7%

Dashboard switches

7%

rainwater seals

7%

Springs

5%