RENAULT'S new small car, Modus, is now available to order with deliveries starting in September and prices starting at £9,250 on-the-road. The new "small car with a big heart" fits between the established Clio and Megane models and is compact on the outside yet spacious on the inside, at home in the city and on the open road, comfortable and versatile. If you could describe a car as charming, friendly and easy-to-use then that description would surely apply to the new Renault Modus.

Modus has been designed to be as rewarding and easy to drive on motorways and country lanes as it is cruising around town. Sitting on flush-mounted 15-inch or 16-inch wheels depending on the version, the accentuated wheel arches give the car a balanced and sturdy stance, whilst the wavy Modus signature which ripples along the door and luggage compartments hints at the car's underlying character.

The creative thinking behind Modus doesn't just stop on the outside. Thanks to its one-box architecture and long wheelbase of 2,482mm and wide front and rear tracks of 1,471mm and 1,450mm, Modus is one of the easiest cars to get in or out of as well as having unrivalled interior space in its class with rear knee room of 226mm and 1,345mm elbow room. When Modus hits the streets in September, it's not just set to rival the competition with its superb driving dynamics and interior space, it will also set a new standard with its price and range of technological features unheard of on a car of this size.

With its vast glazed area of up to 3.56m2, the most notable feature of Modus is its light and airy cabin. The sunroof comes in two guises - with the two-part panoramic sunroof, the front panel can slide or tilt through three positions at the touch of button or, alternatively, the car comes with a unique, manual "pop-out" system, whereby two individual panels above the front passenger and driver can be tilted or removed entirely and then stored in a pouch behind the rear seats.

To keep interior noise levels to a minimum, an automatic folding air deflector is available for the electric sunroof, whilst sunblinds are also available for the rear windows and windscreen to keep the cabin cool. The second major innovation on Modus is its ground-breaking "Triptic" rear bench whose middle seat can be folded up to allow the seats to be moved fore and aft through 170mm to create limo-like legroom in the rear, or else left in place to give three full seats with individual headrests. The rear bench is also 1/3 and 2/3 split and can be tipped forward up against the back of the front seats to leave a large, flat bootfloor for loading large items with a load value of 621 litres.

Another touch of ingenuity on Modus comes in the form of a "boot chute". Penned after a Renault designer couldn't load items into his hatchback in a tight parking space, this innovative feature is incorporated in the normal tailgate, but hinged at the bottom to rest loads on and also to allow items to be dropped securely into the boot in confined city spaces.

Completing the plethora of innovative features on Modus is 'Velofix', a bike rack attachment system which can be slotted into the rear bumper. Capable of holding two adult bicycles (maximum weight 30kg) whilst still allowing access to the car's "boot chute", the lifestyle accessory can be fitted in a matter of seconds and then simply stored in the boot when not in use.

There are five engine choices available from September, with three petrol and two diesels. Recognised as some of the most economical and refined engines in their class, the petrol line-up comprises a 1.2-litre 16V 75hp and 1.4 16V 98, with diesel powerplans including the 1.5-litre dCi 65 and dCi 80 - which have each won Diesel Car magazine's Supermini of the Year Award in Clio.

All of the engines drive through manual five-speed gearboxes, with a four-speed 'Pro-active' "flick-shift" automatic available on the 1.6-litre petrol Dynamique and Privilege models. Orders for Modus can be placed at Renault dealers which started from Friday, July 9, with deliveries due to start on September 10 later this year.