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| BOOT UP IN THE BIGGER SMALL CARS |
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| Wednesday, 20 February 2008 | |
 For the discriminating estate-car buyer, Brian McCullough plays off Renault’s new Grand Modus against the Clio estate.
The platform of the Clio III is the
base for three new Renaults: the Clio Estate,
the new Modus and the Grand Modus, all billed
as giving maximum space with small-car minimal
fuel consumption. The Clio Estate has back seats which do fold flat, providing 1,277 litres and a load length of 1.4 m. It is Renault’s first small estate, and competes with the Peugeot equivalent that, until now, has had the market to itself. Renault has found that estate car buyers are a very distinct bunch who will not buy cars with other body shapes, so there will not be a conflict between the Modus and the Estate on the showroom floors. Although they share the same platform and engines, the two cars are very different to drive. Both had the optional double electric sunroofs, but even so the Modus was considerably lighter inside, thanks to its bigger windows. More upright, it leans slightly more into the corners before the suspension flattens out. Renault is proud of the engine, first used in the Twingo, which it says has the fuel consumption of a 1.2 litre, the horsepower of a 1.4 litre and the torque of a 1.6 litre unit. In the Modus it is more refined than in the Twingo, with its extra soundproofing and extra weight taking off the harsh edges when the revs mount. The Estate version tested by French News needed to have its wheels balanced, with vibration through the steering wheel obvious after 120kph on the motorway, but apart from that seemed to be well put together; over bumpy country roads it was quiet, comfortable and surefooted. The fuel consumption in the test cars emphasised how much thirstier petrol engines are than diesel, and the Clio diesel’s lower CO2 emissions qualify for the government’s €300 bonus, while the petrol-engined Modus falls into the neutral malus/bonus range. Prices for the New Modus start at €13,800 for a 1.2 litre petrol engine with 75 HP in the lower level “expression” trim, and rise to €18,800 for a 1.5 litre, 105HP diesel engine with a particle filter, in ‘dynamic’ trim. The Grand Modus also starts at €13,800 for the 1.2 litre 75HP petrol engine in ‘expression’ trim, but at the other end it costs €19,800 for a 1.5 litre 105 HP diesel with a particle filter in ‘dynamic’ trim. For the Clio Estate, prices start at €13,450 for a 1.2 litre, 75HP in ‘authentique’ trim and rise to €20,200 for a 105HP 1.5 litre diesel with a particle filter. |
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