In-depth reviews

Renault Modus (2004-2012) owner reviews

"Thanks to its ingenious design and compact proportions, the Renault Modus is a practical and comfortable alternative to a family hatchback."

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by Richard Ingram

28 Jun 2013

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Carbuyer Rating

4.0 out of 5

Owners Rating

4.3 out of 5

Reviews

Owner Reviews

5 out of 5
4 out of 5
3 out of 5
2 out of 5
1 out of 5

60%of people would recommend this car to a friend

Common Problems

Electrics (4 cases)
Other (3 cases)
Brakes, Gearbox / clutch (1 case)
Engine (3 cases)
Suspension (1 case)
Brakes, Electrics (1 case)
Electrics, Suspension (1 case)

Review 1 of 45

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Great little motor. Hardly the styling statement of all time but practical and surprisingly adaptable. Easy to drive and comfortable ride. Ignition coil failure is a weak spot as is replacement of front bulbs.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Versatile,reliable,low runnung costs.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Perfectly practical

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Poorly designed engine. Parts cheap, but labour expensive due to complexity of engine layout. Parts very light and easily worn. Comfortable to drive, but not made to last. Would never have a renault over 5 years old

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Extremely practical, cheap to run, but a bit boring.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Excellent

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Lived up to want we wanted, but made mistake when buying without a sunroof, but apart from this, the car is very comfortable, apart from windrush when the windows are open, the higher seats make driving more comfortable.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

So far very very good

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Required replacement clutch/gearbox at 15 months old! Rust on rear quarter panel at 2 years!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Is reliable car. Drove all the way to the middle of France in June . LOaded with 4 passengers and roof box. last year and covered 2000 miles in 11 days

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Modus dynamique 1100turbo is a great small car, not flashy but reliable and plenty of performance for retired persons. Great carrying and variable luggage capacity, high level seating and comfortable enough although not mercedes like. For the price i paid i reckon a good buy.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Quite happy with it possibly too many electric gadgets

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Excellent, practical & reasonably economical

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

It's a grand modus and i am very happy with it. The most annoying thing with it is that i can't fold all the seats down and have the drivers seat back enough to drive. The doors sound tinney when they are shut but all in all i'm very happy with it, this is my third renault and i feel i ought to change manufacturers next time. Most likely go for a hybrid.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

OK bought this Modus as I need a car that's easy to get into + I need to drive an auto. Design of the car for driver/passengers is good, lots of cubby holes, under floor storage, it's loaded with automated systems like auto wipers/lights, cruise control with speed limiter, tiptronic gear shift etc, oil level on dashboard, plenty of information on mileage like trip, average mpg, miles left on fuel etc, air conditioning, it has a 5-star ncap rating with side airbags. It gets 30 mpg around town and 38 on a run probably more - we had a lot of traffic. It's easy to drive and park and has a reliable twincam engine that pulls well. Security is good - only drivers door unlocks with one click, all doors with 2 clicks or separate button for tailgate, inside total deadlock for all doors hatch, rear override for doors/windows with deadlock on even if the windows are broken they can't open the doors. Another feature is the doors lock until the car is moving at 6 mph they unlock so it has its own anti carjacking system! Bad points: it's designed for dealer-only maintenance - you can't just change the rear discs, you have to replace the rear wheel bearings and the ABS rings as well, power steering is electric - if it goes wrong it could cost over £1000 to replace, variable valve timing is by a dephaser that will be expensive requiring new timing belt pullies and best to replace the water pump while you're at it special tools knowledge required. Automatic transmission requires knowledge to check level, and a fluid change requires special knowledge plus the software requires Renault clip software reset although you can get this done cheaper at transmission shop, these units do suffer from poor cooling and the fact that Renault do not recommend changing the fluid whereas every other mfg of auto units say change the fluid at 30,000 miles. All of that said and being difficult to work on this little car, it is a reliable car. I took out the factory air filter and fitted an aftermarket - one it snorts if I put my toe down letting me know to back off plus it's washable and takes up less room. I have heard horror stories about water in the electrics, bad dash board electrics, transmissions going into limp mode, power window failings, water on the floors, petrol flaps not opening/hatches not opening etc etc. but this one has 53,000 on the clock and no probs yet. If you own a Renault your best information bank is YouTube and also the Renault forums. A bonus is a lot of parts are common to the Clio 3 and the Megane and others - also check out the parts and numbers on eBay. Ok that's it I was expecting a nightmare but having done the research on what's involved I'm happy with this car even though I have to take the front off to change the bulbs!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

its ok so far

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Over the last 48 years I`ve had many cars. The last 7 have been Renault. So far, I`ve had no major problems.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

It has always started

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Excellent multi purpose car. Great around town, great for long distances too (surprisingly), very economical, comfortable and practical. Only downside is cost of servicing.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I am very pleased with it, though the service is expensive and it has to go to the dealer to change the headlamp bulb.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Nice little car

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Lovely little car. But i am very keen on the nissan note, so i think that would possibly be my next car.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Love it!! But wish i had opted for a sunroof, i love to have the sun in my car in the summer

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Comfortable, practical and economical.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Very few problems since new and none serious

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Starts first time. Hasn't broke down so far. The headlight bulb has blown twice. I had to take it to a garage to have it changed because the bumper and under panel has to be taken off to change it. It can take up to 3 hours to change.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Practical, comfortable, economic, reliable

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Love it! But made the major mistake of not buying a model with a sunroof, which to me, is a major requirement, therefore i will be changing to the same car with a sunroof as soon as i can, would recommend this car to anyone who enjoys driving.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

A pleasure to drive and just right for my requirements

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

For a smaall family car it does everything we want it to, amazing amount of room inside, we have three children the oldest is 17 and 6ft 2 he is quite happy in the back on long journeys, last summer we drove to cornwall, all the luggage and took the family dog, unbeliveable economy fully loaded as well, went like a dream, well done renault

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Very good. This car is better built than the last one (same model), and i am buying the slightly larger version (grand modus) next month. We find the car very comfortable, economical and practical. We especially love the large digital speedo, and also the cornering lights. It usually averages over 60mpg, and does pretty much everything we need it to do.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Absolutely brilliant, its the most comfortable car i have driven. The overall visibility is great. The running costs are exeptional.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

The modus was a great wee car, you would be surprized what you can get in there, my only niggle is getting a head light bulb changed, the front of the car has to come off! Very bad design, the seats are not as comfy as the scenic,

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

This is my second renault modus and i find it very suitable for my needs, i know that renault does not have a good reputation for reliability but i am very satisfied with all three renaults i have owned.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Practical and spacious town car that's happy to cruise at 80mph on french roads for hours at a time and return reasonable fuel economy. The kids love the big windows and driving position is great. Rear bench seat moves to give decent luggage space, legroom or a combination of both. Quiet and safe, although brake pedal could have more progression. I'd go for the diesel version next time.....

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

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