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Photo of a Renault Modus

Renault Modus

Small car, big first: 5 Euro NCAP stars.1

Researched November 1, 2026 from 32 sources

Also called

  • CliospaceUsed by the motoring press for the anticipated small Renault MPV before the Modus name was revealed.2

At a glance

0100200
64–111 hpPower
01020
10.3–15.3 s0–100 km/h
0100200
158–188 km/hTop speed
0150300
104–240 N·mTorque

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.16

Engine
1.2-1.6 L gasoline I4, D4F/D4FT/K4J/K4M; 1.5 L K9K dCi diesel I41
Layout
Front-engine, front-wheel drive1
Gearbox
5/6-speed manual; 5-speed QuickShift5 automated manual; 4-speed automatic1
Built at
Renault Valladolid plant, Spain1

The story

Positioned above Twingo and Clio, the Modus put Scénic versatility into a smaller footprint. Alliance B roots linked it to Clio III and Nissan Micra, while its sliding Triptic bench switched between two and three seats.13

2004: Geneva concept, September launch · First small car with 5 Euro NCAP stars20042005: dCi 106 pairs 240 Nm with 6 speeds · 165,277 sales miss a 250,000 target20052008: Grand Modus: 410 liters of trunk space20082010: TCe 100 goes Euro 520102012: December: Valladolid production ends20122013: Captur succeeds the mini-MPV2013 Renault Modus concept: 2004Renault Modus conceptRenault Modus / Grand Modus (P): 2004–2012PRenault Captur: From 2013Renault Captur 200420062008201020122014201620182020202220242026
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones124910
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
2004Renault Modus concept
2004–2012Renault Modus / Grand Modus (P)
From 2013Renault Captur
2004Geneva concept, September launch
2004First small car with 5 Euro NCAP stars
2005dCi 106 pairs 240 Nm with 6 speeds
2005165,277 sales miss a 250,000 target
2008Grand Modus: 410 liters of trunk space
2010TCe 100 goes Euro 5
2012December: Valladolid production ends
2013Captur succeeds the mini-MPV
  1. 2004

    Geneva concept, September launch

    The Geneva concept reached showrooms in September; Modus was Renault's first Alliance B-platform car, built in Valladolid, Spain.124

  2. 2004

    First small car with 5 Euro NCAP stars

    Modus scored 32.84 out of 37 to become the first small car with 5 Euro NCAP stars. Its protection package included six airbags.5

  3. 2005

    dCi 106 pairs 240 Nm with 6 speeds

    The Euro 4 1.5 dCi 106 paired 240 Nm with an Alliance-developed six-speed manual: 0-100 km/h in 11.2 seconds and 186 km/h.6

  4. 2005

    165,277 sales miss a 250,000 target

    Sales reached 165,277 cars, versus Renault's 250,000-a-year target and 300,000 if demand allowed.2

  5. 2008

    Grand Modus: 410 liters of trunk space

    A facelift and Grand Modus arrived together. Its 4.034 m body and 2,575 mm wheelbase made room for a sliding bench and up to 410 liters of luggage.127

  6. 2010

    TCe 100 goes Euro 5

    The September update made Exception a regular trim and brought Euro 5 compliance to TCe 100: 5.9 L/100 km and 139 g/km CO2.8

  7. 2012

    December: Valladolid production ends

    The dCi 75 reached 3.9 L/100 km and 104 g/km CO2 as France's range shrank to .Com, Expression and Dynamique. Production ended in December.18

  8. 2013

    Captur succeeds the mini-MPV

    With mini-MPVs losing favor, there was no direct Modus successor. Captur replaced it in Renault's lineup as an SUV.29

Every generation

  • Renault Modus / Grand Modus
    P2004–2012
  • Renault Captur
    Renault CapturFrom 2013

Power over the years

From 74 hp to 110 hp in 1 year.

050100150 20042006200820102012 hp 2004 · 74 hp · Launch 1.2 16V2004 · 85 hp · 1.5 dCi Dynamique, Euro 42005 · 64 hp · Entry 1.2 16V Authentique2005 · 105 hp · 1.5 dCi 106, Euro 42005 · 110 hp · Initiale 1.6 16V2006 · 102 hp · 1.5 dCi 103, particulate filter2007 · 99 hp · 1.2 TCe 1002012 · 74 hp · dCi 75 eco22012 · 102 hp · TCe 100 (2012) 110 hp Initiale 1.6 16V 74 hp Launch 1.2 16V
12691011121314
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
200474Launch 1.2 16V
2004851.5 dCi Dynamique, Euro 4
200564Entry 1.2 16V Authentique
20051051.5 dCi 106, Euro 4
2005110Initiale 1.6 16V
20061021.5 dCi 103, particulate filter
2007991.2 TCe 100
201274dCi 75 eco2
2012102TCe 100 (2012)

Versions

12 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Standard

    Pack / Confort / Confort Pack Clim / Luxe

    From 2004

  • Grand Modus

    Standard

    Grand Modus

    2008–2012

  • Standard

    Modus .Com

    2011–2012

  • Standard

    1.5 dCi 106

    From 2005

    105 hp

  • Standard

    Yahoo!

    From 2011

  • Standard

    Night&Day

    From 2011

  • Standard

    Initiale 1.6 16V

    From 2005

    110 hp

  • Special

    Alyum / Alyum 2

    From 2006

  • Special

    Cool & Sound (Austria)

    2006

  • Limited

    Alizé

    2007

  • Special

    Exception

    From 2009

  • Special

    Grand Modus Lafuma

    2009

How to spot one

Look for

  • Early cars: upright headlights and a broad, mouth-like intake below the front plate.420
  • Deep side windows sit inside leaf-shaped sculpting along the flanks.20
  • Facelift cars: large clear headlights sweep into a two-part grille.7
  • Some early cars have a small drop-down hatch within the tailgate.1
  • Grand Modus: an extra rear side window and a gently descending roofline.7

Year by year

  1. 2006–2007 New Collection

    Body-colored bumpers spread across the range; indicators turned clear, and side door moldings changed.112

  2. 2008 facelift

    Large clear headlights gained swept upper edges that visually continue the two-part grille.7

  3. 2008 rear update

    Revised taillights and a three-crease tailgate arrived; the optional boot chute disappeared.127

  4. 2008 Grand Modus

    Grand Modus arrived with extra rear side windows and a roofline that slopes gently toward the tailgate.7

  5. 2010 range update

    Expression gained body-colored side strips; Dynamique adopted 15-inch Taranis wheel covers.8

  6. 2012 range

    Range shrank to .Com, Expression and Dynamique; Expression gained fog/cornering lamps and Dynamique 16-inch alloys.8

Don’t confuse it with

  • Photo of a Renault Modus
    Modus
    Photo of a Renault Scénic
    Renault Scénic

    Renault Scénic

    Grand Modus has a Scénic-like profile in a compact 4.034 m body; look for its small proportions.18

  • Photo of a Renault Modus
    Modus
    Photo of a Renault Clio III
    Renault Clio III

    Renault Clio III

    Facelift headlights echo the Clio III; the Modus has a taller mini-MPV body.18

  • Photo of a Renault Modus
    Modus
    Photo of a Nissan Note
    Nissan Note

    Nissan Note

    The original short Modus is taller and stubbier: 3.79 m long and 1.59 m high, versus the Note's 4.08 m and 1.55 m.21

Against its rivals

  • Nissan Note 1.5 dCi

    Modus vs Nissan Note 1.5 dCi

    Starting price lower is better

    Modus16,450 €
    Nissan Note 1.5 dCi15,600 €
    21

Prices

Value today $800.0–$6.5K27

Price when newAuction saleValue todayPrices on a log scale
$100$1K$10K$100K 20052010201520202025 Value today: $800–$6,500 2005 · $17,300 · South Africa 1.2 Authentique, ~USD2005 · $21,200 · South Africa 1.4 Dynamique, ~USD2006 · $18,500 · France Cosmopolitan base, ~USD2007 · $19,600 · France Alizé base, ~USD2008 · $21,300 · France Tech'Run base, ~USD2008 · $22,800 · France Grand Tech'Run base, ~USD2010 · $21,100 · France Grand GEO Collections, ~USD2010 · $19,200 · France base, ~USD2012 · $12,900 · France .Com base, ~USD 2005 · R110 000 · South Africa base, 2005; approx. ZAR 6.36 per USD 2024 · $6,440 · 2009 1.2 16V Phase 2, 48,862 km; approx. USD, Artcurial2025 · $960 · 2010 Dynamique; approx. USD, WB & Sons2026 · $715 · 2005 1.5 Dynamique, 95,361; 8 stamps; hammer, ~USD, Ewbank's2026 · $1,320 · 2012 Grand Modus 1.2 16V 75 ECO2, 110,695 km, ALCOPA AUCTION PARIS SUD $6.4K Artcurial, 2024
82027293032
Show the numbers
YearPriceAmountDetail
2005Launch price$17,300South Africa base, 2005; approx. ZAR 6.36 per USD
2005Price when new$17,300South Africa 1.2 Authentique, ~USD
2005Price when new$21,200South Africa 1.4 Dynamique, ~USD
2006Price when new$18,500France Cosmopolitan base, ~USD
2007Price when new$19,600France Alizé base, ~USD
2008Price when new$21,300France Tech'Run base, ~USD
2008Price when new$22,800France Grand Tech'Run base, ~USD
2010Price when new$21,100France Grand GEO Collections, ~USD
2010Price when new$19,200France base, ~USD
2012Price when new$12,900France .Com base, ~USD
2024Auction sale$6,4402009 1.2 16V Phase 2, 48,862 km; approx. USD, Artcurial
2025Auction sale$9602010 Dynamique; approx. USD, WB & Sons
2026Auction sale$7152005 1.5 Dynamique, 95,361; 8 stamps; hammer, ~USD, Ewbank's
2026Auction sale$1,3202012 Grand Modus 1.2 16V 75 ECO2, 110,695 km, ALCOPA AUCTION PARIS SUD
2026Value today$800–$6,500

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 12 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 14 stories from its legend
    • “First small car with five Euro NCAP stars”
    • “Top Gear's mothers chose the Jazz”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 3 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
Read the full file in SPOT

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Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 32 sources
  1. Renault Modus - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  2. Renault Modus : la citadine oubliée fête ses 20 ans lenouvelautomobiliste.fr
  3. Modus Vivendi – Driven to Write driventowrite.com
  4. Renault Modus 2004: présentation, tarifs, équipements planeterenault.com
  5. Modus erzielt als erster Kleinwagen fünf Sterne im Euro NCAP-Crashtest - Renault Deutschland Presse-Service presse.renault.de
  6. Modus 1.5 dCi 106 ch est associée à une inédite boîte manuelle 6 vitesses - Site Presse Suisse media.renault.ch
  7. Langversion mit mehr Stauraum - Renault Deutschland Presse-Service presse.renault.de
  8. Modus restylé: présentation, prix, équipements planeterenault.com
  9. Renault Modus im Gebrauchtwagen-Check autozeitung.de
  10. Renault Modus 1.5 dCi Dynamique (5-Gang) (09/04 - 04/08): Technische Daten, Bilder, Preise | ADAC adac.de
  11. Luxus pur für den Modus - Renault Deutschland Presse-Service presse.renault.de
  12. Renault Modus "Neue Kollektion" - Presse Website Österreich media.renault.at
  13. Renault lance la Modus Alizé autoplus.fr
  14. Kompakte Grösse - Renault Deutschland Presse-Service presse.renault.de
  15. Renault Modus News & Reviews | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  16. Du nouveau pour la Twingo et la Modus! autoplus.fr
  17. Renault Modus 1.5 dCi Quickshift Alyum - L'argus largus.fr
  18. Une nouvelle série limitée 'Exception' sur Renault Modus et Grand Modus! autoplus.fr
  19. Série spéciale Renault Grand Modus Lafuma : paré pour les voyages - L'argus largus.fr
  20. Renault Modus 1,4 DYNAMIQUE - ROAD TEST - CAR Magazine carmag.co.za
  21. Renault Modus 1.5 dCi face à Nissan Note 1.5 dCi - L'argus largus.fr
  22. Autozine - Autotest: Renault Modus autozine.de
  23. Moins de ventes mais toujours plus de modèles - ladepeche.fr ladepeche.fr
  24. Top Gear: Series 6, Episode 4 topgearbox.com
  25. Renault Modus gwiazdą filmu „Ja wam pokażę” - Moto - NEWSY - samochody i nowe technologie (dlakierowcy.info) - Moto - newsy - Student NEWS studentnews.pl
  26. Les Fils de l'homme (film) — Wikipédia fr.wikipedia.org
  27. Renault Modus For Sale & Price Guide | The Classic Valuer theclassicvaluer.com
  28. Tous les probl�mes sur Renault MODUS 2004-2012 (342 t�moignages) fiches-auto.fr
  29. 2009 Renault Modus 1.2 16V Phase 2 No reserve artcurial.com
  30. LOT:4010 | 2005 (55) Renault Modus 1.5 Dynamique Diesel. Registrati... ewbankauctions.co.uk
  31. Cote Renault Modus : prix du marché · IAutos iautos.fr
  32. RENAULT - GRAND MODUS 1.2 16V 75 ECO2 GRAND…, adjugé 1 200 € adjuge.io
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • lenouvelautomobiliste.fr
  • driventowrite.com
  • planeterenault.com
  • presse.renault.de
  • media.renault.ch
  • autozeitung.de
  • adac.de
  • media.renault.at
  • autoplus.fr
  • autoexpress.co.uk
  • largus.fr
  • carmag.co.za
  • autozine.de

Photo credits

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