Renault introduce the Fluence – a good car at a competitive price. Will it succeed in a market that shows signs of becoming more and more conscious about the car as a whole and not just the cost factor?
We drove the renault Fluence brieFly back in June and were impressed by quite a few things in this car. however, we did not get an opportunity to test it thoroughly, which included performance testing and fuel-efficiency. as we got hold of the diesel variant this month, we put it through our set of tests to evaluate where exactly it stood and if it really had the potential to shake the competitors.
The Fluence is a good looking car. renault deserve a pat on their back for the design, especially after having looked at the logan all these years in india. after that disastrous styling, the Fluence comes as a big leap forward for the French brand. the combination of smoothly flowing lines, curves and edges in the right proportion make the Fluence a stunner. its long, elongated headlamps make a bold statement while the thin grille makes the front end look chic. at the back, the long tail-lamps and a slightly tall boot make the Fluence look big. its coupé-like roofline gives the car an aggressive and sporty stance.
Inside, the Fluence is a little disappointing with its black interior. apart from the lower part of the dashboard (which is in beige colour), everything else is black in the cabin – the upper part of the dash, steering wheel, plastics and even the fabric used on the seats – giving the car a rather dark and boring feel. the steering wheel has been moulded excellently and offers a good grip to the palms. the driver’s seat has been positioned well to ensure comfort during long drives.
coming to the more important aspect of the car, let us talk about the engine. a 1.5-litre oil burner (106 PS of peak power and 240 nm of peak torque) powers the Fluence. there is no doubt that the engine feels quite refined, but for a car of this size, the 1,462-cc, four-cylinder engine feels a little underpowered. the 0-to-100 km/h acceleration figure in 12.79 seconds is not too encouraging either. the engine, like a typical diesel, kicks in a little late – after 2,000 rPM, to be precise. below that the car feels quite sluggish and makes for a rather boring drive. the mid range is strong with all the 240 nm of torque coming in with full force. another big positive of the drivetrain is the six-speed transmission mated to the engine. Firstly, the gear shifts are very smooth. Secondly, with a sixth gear available the Fluence can cruise at three-digit speeds at very low revs, making sure that the engine runs relaxed even at high speeds.
With moderate performance, the engine fares satisfactorily. However, the Fluence’s chassis and suspension score brownies. The well-sorted set-up lends good handling to the car while not compromising on the drive comfort. This car has been equipped with McPherson type suspension with coil spring, a stabiliser bar and double acting shock-absorbers at the front while a trailing arm type suspension with coil spring and double acting shock-absorbers do the duty at the rear. The steering wheel is well weighted and becomes accurately heavy as the speed increases.
On the handling front, there is absolutely no complaint about the Fluence. With the minimum of body roll and very good high-speed stability, a drive in the Fluence proves very engaging round the corners and in hilly terrain. The braking duty has been assigned to disc brakes at each wheel.
That said, let us now consider the minor bits. Basically, the Fluence is available in just one trim and, honestly, we were not too happy with it. There is no leather upholstery option. To keep the cost low, the company has also compromised on certain features, evidenced by the lack of parking sensors or side airbags. Somehow it feels that Renault are trying to walk the tightrope, trying to strike the right balance by offering good engineering to a cost-sensitive market while compromising on certain fronts. One could not help feeling that optional additions wouldn’t come amiss.
Finally, let us consider the cost. At Rs 15.01 lakh (OTR, Pune), the car is decently priced. However, its running cost is a little high with the car returning just 13.25 km to a litre of diesel. At strictly Rs 15 lakh, the only alternative is the Toyota Corolla Altis, which is a fairly good car and delivers better efficiency. If one is ready to extend the budget to about Rs 16 lakh, the options open up with the Skoda Laura and Volkswagen Jetta, which have more powerful engines and more appealing drives.
Story: Adhish Alawani
Photography: Sanjay Raikar
