In the process of increasing its network and sales in India, Renault has officially launched the facelift version of its trendy sedan Fluence on 25th March 2014 which has also been unveiled by the company already at 12th Auto Expo held in Feb 2014. The sedan has already been dispatched to the dealerships across country and bookings have been started too at Rs. 50,000. This new and trendy sedan is getting a major makeover in its look and features, remains untouched at under hood, though.
Price:
The facelift Fluence is carrying only diesel fuel as of now and available in two variants namely E2 and E4. The price tags of Fluence diesel E2 and Fluence diesel E4 are 13.99 lakhs and 15.49 lakhs, respectively.
Engine details:
Renault has removed the petrol fuel from the updated sedan model; the diesel unit will be same as the ongoing-one though. The facelift Fluence is powered by the 1461cc, 1.5 liter 4-cylinders Direct Injection diesel engine churning out the max power of 108.4bhp and peak torque of 240Nm. As mentioned above, it gets two variants named as E2 and E4; the engines of both the trims are same and mated to a 6-speed manual transmission gearbox.
The facelift Fluence is a fuel efficient model, but still it could be improved a bit. The mileage figure offered by Fluence facelift is 20.4 km/l (ARAI Certified).
Performance:
The drivability of ongoing diesel Fluence is decent and noiseless and we expect the same from this facelift model coz it has not gone from any mechanical changes. The electronic multifunction steering wheel performs smoothly and assists the sedan in balanced as well as smooth handling.
Space & Dimension:
The Fluence offers the seats for five adult persons and carries the same dimension of its predecessor. It is 4618mm in length, 1813mm in width and 1488mm in height and also gets the wonderful wheelbase of 2703mm and clear height of 168mm.
Interior:
Renault’s this sedan already got a feature-rich interior which has become richer after this renovation coz of adding few more features like new infotainment system with satellite navigation, modified instrument cluster etc. Other than this, the entire requisite features are available in it which includes rear sunblind, soft touch dashboard, fabric/leather upholstery (as per the variants), 4 speakers, Bluetooth connectivity, USB, Aux-in, cruise control, dual zone automatic climate control, engine start/stop button, rear AC vents etc, some of these comfort features are only available in its top variant though.
Exterior:
With this updation, the Fluence gets a refreshed and refined look with modified bumpers, lustrous black grille highlighting the Renault logo in chromed beautifully, redesigned 16 inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights with projector headlamps at front etc, which all are making the sedan’s glimpse more attractive.
Verdict:
Fluence is a luxury sedan which is rich in almost every aspect whether it’s mechanical powers or its equipments list but the drawback is its price range which is much high as compared to other same segment models. This is the reason Fluence disappoints the Renault in its sales figures. Company should have given a thought towards this point.
“The New Renault Fluence offers bold styling and onboard features that are perfectly in line with the needs and aspirations of Indian customers,” said Mr. Sumit Sawhney Country CEO and Managing Director, Renault Operations in India. “With drivers increasingly looking for cars that project their personality and style, while at the same time, provide a comfortable and enjoyable ride, the New Renault Fluence makes a statement that cannot be ignored.”
