carindia.in

Article Index
WALKING THE TIGHTROPE - RENAULT FLUENCE
Page 2
All Pages

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.