Renault’s flagship sedan on the subcontinent, the Fluence has all the hallmarks a great French car should have. It looks great, has a wonderfully smooth ride quality, and is built pretty solidly, too. Furthermore, the Renault Fluence comes as a refreshing alternative for many customers looking to buy a car in this segment.
The most important thing about the Fluence is style. The car looks refreshingly different from its European, American or Asian counterparts. Its design is curvilinear and flows from one panel to another seamlessly. The front grille may look rather slim on its own, but overall, it blends in nicely with the rest of the car’s design. Also, this sedan is built pretty solidly and everything feels comparable to its German brethren.
The gasoline-powered Renault Fluence draws its power from a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine that generates 135.5 bhp. But if a customer wants to buy this petrol version of the car, he will be forced to opt for a 6-speed automatic gearbox. This particular transmission has been the Achilles heel of the Fluence. Although the engine has adequate power; While driving it feels like the gearbox is holding the car back from what you can achieve. However, customers can also purchase a diesel Renault Fluence which comes with a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder engine that makes 108PS. The diesel engines are connected to a 6-speed manual transmission.
Once you’re inside the car, you immediately realize that this large sedan is a product of France. The passenger cabin is very nicely decorated and although some of the retro-themed parts may be eye-catching, overall the interior environment is very pleasant. The car also has plenty of storage space, from small cubbies throughout the passenger cabin to a roomy trunk. Overall, the Fluence scores pretty high on the cool list and that should do its part in attracting customers as well.
The more typically French features start to show once you start the car and drive it. Ride quality is smooth; And don’t hesitate, we really do mean incredibly soft! It doesn’t matter if the car drives slow or fast, the suspension soaks up every bump like a giant sponge. The Renault Fluence price range goes from around Rs 16.5 lakhs to just under Rs 19 lakhs for the diesel engines and the petrol version will cost Rs 18-19 lakhs depending on the variant and the city in which the car is located. The Fluence is a very capable car with many strengths and, as we said before, it has positioned itself as a very good alternative to previously available cars in its segment.