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>>The Renault Fluence petrol, we’re driving is a comfortable premium sedan. The design
of the Fluence is very appealing and breaks through the clutter in the segment. The
foxy headlamps, signature Renault grille and wide muscular fenders make the car standout.
Even in profile the car has a smooth flowing, classy design. The high-set boot and wrap-around
tail-lamps give it an elegant look. The Fluence is available in two variants only
– a 1.5 litre diesel version and the 2-litre petrol variant that we are driving. The petrol
car costs 14.5 lakh rupees, ex-showroom New Delhi.
The Renault Fluence competes with premium sedans such as the Toyota Altis, Skoda Laura,
Chevrolet Cruze and Honda Civic. The Fluence is the longest car in its segment and that
gives it that premium big car appeal. However it’s not the best when it comes to performance.
The 2-litre petrol engine in the Fluence puts out 136 bhp of power and 190 newton meters
of torque. It has a constantly variable transmission or CVT that also has 6 preset speeds if you
want to drive in manual mode. Being a CVT, it has a “rubber band” effect, where the
engine rpm rises very fast before the Fluence actually begins to pick up speed. The car
is not a sprightly performer, but does well for relaxed cruising.
What also helps are features such as cruise control, once you get used to the rather odd
placement of controls. The cruise control toggle switch is near the handbrake, while
the cruise control speed settings and mode controls are on the steering wheel. The Fluence
also features a speed-limiter function that’s activated by means of the cruise control toggle
switch. The
suspension set up on the Fluence is slightly on the stiffer side, which is great for handling.
We took a few fast corners and the car held its poise.
It has standard safety features such as traction control and electronic stability program,
ABS and four airbags if things get out of hand.
Renault claims an ARAI-certified mileage of 13.4 kilometers per litre for the Fluence
petrol under standard test conditions. However, during our road test, the fuel consumption
display showed barely 6 kilometers a litre, with our varied driving conditions.
However, when you look at the creature comforts the Fluence offers – the list is quite long.
Legroom is among the best in its class and the seats are comfortable. The interiors are
plush with good quality plastics and nice leather upholstery.
What we found a little weird at first was the placement of some controls. Like the push-button
start which is towards the passenger side. The steering audio controls and Bluetooth
phone controls, are located BEHIND the steering, which takes some getting used to. The Sunglass
holder for instance, can only hold slim designer glasses.
The instrument panel is an example of contrasts – a retro-looking analog tachometer with
a fully digital speedometer and fuel gauge, and modern multi-information display.
And then there are thoughtful touches like the sunblinds for the windows that add to
the feeling of class in this car. The seats also fold in a 60:40 fashion increasing
luggage room for the enormous 530 litre boot that can hold…. Quite a bit !
The Fluence petrol will appeal to buyers who are looking for plenty of space and a comfortable
ride. It’s not a car that you would buy if you were looking for mileage or performance,
but it certainly has plenty of class. It’s a car that will appeal more as a lifestyle
choice for those who appreciate the finer points of life.