2005 Renault Modus Dynamique review from UK and Ireland

Only fault so far was a badly aligned rear door and a broken boot lock - both repaired under warranty.

The car is roomy and well built -loads of airbags nice heavy doors and feels solid.

Styling is better than the Meriva and Idea and stands out more and is "cute".

The electric powered steering is well weighted and accurate enough - it has a self centering action with a good turning circle.

Roadholding is good and the ride is very refined for a small car - body roll is not bad either.

The room in the front is excellent and going back in even a larger a "normal" car again makes you feel hemmed in. Triptic rear seat is a bit poinless and a proper fold and tumble flat one would have been more useful.

However - the more I have lived with it the more I notice is spoiled by the poor gearing. Its geared so low and short that 1st and 2nd are virtually the same, making pulling out and accelerating a loud and jerky affair. All the power is over 3500 rpm and you don't get this till you hit fifty odd mph. On the motorway in fifth it is noisy and you keep reaching for sixth that isn't there. All this means that in town I manage 34-36mpg and on a run 36-40mph - disappointingly thirsty.

Despite 98bhp it struggles on hills and you don't get any consistent acceleration till motorway speeds at which point it is surprisingly quick picks ups as well as than the 2 litre 3 series BMW I also drive. So it's a town car that's better on motorways? - I do mostly urban miles!

Shame as it ruins a good car - if you are going to buy, avoid all the petrol models and get the larger DCI engines that should make it more liveable.

After a year I'm afraid looking to move to something else.