Renault clearly anticipated the rush towards downsizing which has been accelerated by the combination of soaring fuel prices and a harsher road tax regime.

Over the past few years the French car maker has constructed a comprehensive line-up of small cars to try to appeal to just about every possible taste.

Fresh to the fray is the revamped Modus and the appearance of the longer wheelbase and more versatile Grand Modus.

The Grand Modus, which is about 6in longer than its smaller sibling, offers more luggage space, a roomier interior and plenty of storage space.

Despite its compact dimensions, with neat touches such as aircraft-style overhead lockers and flip-up tables, it has got pretty well everything you could ask of a main family car.

Sharing the same platform as the Nissan Note, the Spanish-built Grand Modus certainly has looks that will get you noticed.

And its street presence is matched by its environmental credentials, with the car winning the Small MPV' category in the Environmental Transport Association's recent Green Car Awards'.

The ETA looked at more than 1,300 models of car on sale in Britain and examined their power, emissions, fuel efficiency and even the amount of noise they produce, to create a guide to buying the greenest vehicle.

Renault's Modus and Grand Modus range has a strong focus on low emissions and economy with 13 eco2 versions. Renault eco2 vehicles must emit less than 140g/km of CO2, operate on E85 ethanol or on B30 biodiesel, be manufactured in a plant that has been certified ISO 14001, and be 95 per cent recoverable at the end of their lifecycle and include at least five per cent recycled plastics.

Being green' does not mean the Grand Modus sacrifices either comfort or luxury. On the move, the test car, which uses a suspension system developed from the Megane II and was powered by a perky 106 horsepower turbodiesel engine, was smooth, relaxed and remarkably quiet, even at motorway cruising speeds.

Couple that comfortable ride with a low insurance group and the prospect of 60 miles per gallon and you have an attractive offering.

WHEN the cost of just about everything is going sky high, Renault has pitched in with a family car that is right down to earth, writes Marie Duffy. With low fuel consumption, low insurance ratings and low emissions, the Renault Grand Modus ought to be high on any potential small multi-purpose vehicle buyer's shortlist.

That is because, despite its compact size, Renault has packed in plenty of neat touches to make the Grand Modus much more versatile than a standard five-seater car.

Rear seat passengers are treated to an aircraft-like experience, without the cramped leg space. The back of both front seats are fitted with fold-down tables and running down the centre of the car are two roof-mounted storage lockers.

The rear seats slide backwards and forward to allow you to adjust the amount of boot space, or rear seat legroom. In the front, there is plenty of storage too, with door bins, an underfloor compartment and underseat storage tray on both sides, and on the driver's side, there is extra storage space in the top of the dashboard So there is plenty of space to pack, but can the Modus move it? Switch on the diesel engine, but don't be put off by the initial evident sound - once you are moving the vehicle is remarkably quiet inside, giving a calming atmosphere to the interior, The six-speed manual gearbox took a little bit of getting used to, as it seemed to be set for economy rather than racy performance, which is no bad thing. Once you have mastered the optimum point to change gear, it all becomes nice and relaxed and the diesel had plenty in reserve, making motorway driving a breeze.

To top off its attractions, the Modus has very low door sills, making it especially easy for children and less-mobile adults to climb on board.

Auto facts Renault Grand Modus dCi 106

  • PRICE: £13,720
  • INSURANCE GROUP: Four
  • FUEL CONSUMPTION (COMBINED): 60.1mpg
  • TOP SPEED: 115mph
  • LENGTH: 158.8in/403.4cm
  • WIDTH: 67.3in170.9cm
  • LUGGAGE CAPACITY: 12.3cu ft
  • FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 11.2 gallons/51 litres
  • CO2 EMISSIONS: 124g/km
  • WARRANTY: Three years/60,000 miles