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Toomey Renault Basildon

Service House,
West Mayne, Basildon,
Essex SS15 6RW

Toomey Renault Southend

160 Priory Crescent,Southend On Sea, Essex SS2 6QN

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For Most models are well equipped, and space is luxurious for four people

Against Luggage space is sacrificed for passenger comfort, and the Modus is quite pricey

Verdict It's classy, comfortable and versatile, but not the most enthralling car to drive

Gallery 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12 

Read the full test with expert trade views



What's it like?

Some buyers will be put off buying a Modus because of its looks - its high sides and ungainly stance make it appear a bit awkward. However, these buyers will be missing out, because the Modus is a very talented car. Those lofty dimensions make for excellent cabin space, with lots of headroom and, thanks to a sliding rear bench, limo-like legroom in the back. Mind you, that does steals space from the boot, so the Modus isn't as practical as you might expect. On the other hand, the drive is probably more comfortable than you would expect. The ride is smooth over any surface, and while the Modus doesn't have the most entertaining handling in this class, there's plenty of grip. There's a wide range of engines and trims to choose from, and most cars are well stocked with goodies. The build quality is excellent, and the high-grade materials give a classier feel than you'll get in most superminis. Also, being a Renault, it's extremely safe.

"Just finding its level with stable prices, 1.2 Expression looks good"
James Ruppert

Which one should I get?

There are plenty of engines to choose from - three petrol and three diesel. If you want a petrol engine, you'll find the 1.2 is adequate, but the 1.4 provides extra performance, which comes in very handy. The 1.6 provides more power still and all have good fuel economy, with none failing to beat 40mpg. Alternatively, you can go for the 1.5 dCi turbodiesel with outputs of 68, 86 or 106bhp. All provide decent performance, and they're very refined and frugal, but they're pricey in comparison with the petrols. That's why we'd recommend the 1.4 petrol. There's a dizzying array of trim levels to consider, too, each of which provides varying combinations of equipment. All get remote central locking, curtain airbags, a CD player and electric front windows, but air-con is only standard on some. We'd go for Expression, which gives you everything you need at a relatively low price.

"Slow seller new due to high prices. Popular used buy for over 60s"
Martin Keighley

What are the running costs?

As a new car, the Modus is quite pricey when compared to conventional superminis, and the same is true in the used market. However, when you compare it to cars of the same type - the Vauxhall Meriva, for instance - there's very little difference in cost. The bonus is that the Modus's residuals aren't as strong as the Meriva's, so, where there is a difference, used Renaults should be a little less expensive than their Vauxhall counterpart. On most versions, servicing will also work out cheaper on the Modus than on the Meriva. The Modus has the Meriva well beaten on running costs, too. Fuel economy is much better, especially on the diesels, with the 86bhp diesel returning a very impressive 62.9mpg. Our favourite 1.4 petrol engine gives a respectable 42.2mpg. Insurance premiums will be fairly palatable, too. Groupings start at 2 for the 1.2, and go up to 5 or 6 for the 1.6 petrol, depending on trim.

What should I look out for?

Despite the fact that the Modus has been on sale for some time, reliability data on it is still fairly sketchy. That said, the Modus uses mechanicals from the Clio and the Megane, and both these cars have proven to be fairly sound. So, we expect the Modus should follow suit. However, two recalls have been issued. Some cars built between August 2004 and May 2005 required work on their steering columns. Cars with the 1.6 petrol engine mated to the automatic gearbox also had to be brought back, because some were slipping out of the 'Park' position of their own accord. This recall applied to cars built in November 2004. Check the service history to see if the car you're looking at is affected. If it is, make sure the work has been carried out.