High on the highway: The new Renault Fluence is coming to India in mid-2011

Renault wants to start a new innings in India and its weapon is the stylish and upmarket Fluence, which is due for launch in mid-2011. The Logan will no longer be a Renault in India and by the end of the year, it will wear just the Mahindra badge. The French carmaker has washed its hands off the struggling Logan and the joint venture with Mahindra & Mahindra and wants to make a fresh start in the Indian market.

But it’s not that easy to wipe the slate clean. Though the Logan is very capable, it’s seen as dull and boring and that’s the perception car buyers in India have about the Renault brand. And that’s the perception Renault is so desperate to change.

So it’s just as well that the first car to kick off Renault’s new innings in India is the Fluence. This all-new saloon sits at the opposite end of the aesthetic scale to the Logan. It’s every bit as terrific to look at as the Logan is terrible and, crucially, it immediately drives home the point that Renault can also make some attractive cars.

The main plant set up for the production of the Fluence is in Turkey but it’s also made by Renault Samsung in Korea, where it is sold as the Samsung SM5. In India, the Fluence will be assembled from CKD kits shipped in from Turkey but you can expect a fair bit of local content too, essential to keep costs down.

STYLE FILE

The Fluence, which was conceived as a Corolla fighter, is much bigger than the Laura or Jetta and in fact, it’s not much smaller than the Passat. Again, the Fluence’s dimensions were arrived at keeping in mind the target of having class-leading passenger space. It’s built on the very capable Renault-Nissan C platform, also the base for the Renault Megane III.

The Fluence looks every bit a Renault. The slot-type grille, headlamps swooping into the fenders and the sculpted bonnet with a Renault badge deeply embedded won’t let you mistake it for any other brand. The pronounced wheel arches and shapely waistline, which rises up sharply towards the rear to form solid haunches, give the Fluence a lot of character while the long wheelbase gives it a balanced stance.

The rear styling is more generic but the two-part lights allow for a generous boot opening. Splashes of chrome around the door handles and fog lamp surrounds add to the upmarket feel of the car. It’s fair to say that the Fluence will be one of the most stylish cars to hit the market.

INSIDE STORY

Slide into the driver’s seat and you are greeted by a chunky steering wheel, legible instrumentation and an uncluttered dashboard, though full of character. The multi-layered dashboard is quite curvaceous and there’s no separate centre console — a unique touch. The navigation screen pops out from the top of the dash but I found the controls for the audio system set a bit too low. For such a big cabin, I expected more storage space, but the door pockets and cubbyholes are big enough to hold most things and the illuminated and refrigerated glovebox is one of the biggest around.

The front seats with their generous under-thigh support are supremely comfortable and adjust in all directions. Short drivers, however, might want a little bit more seat height adjust.

Move over to the rear and you will be in for a pleasant surprise. The Fluence’s back seat is one of the most comfortable around, with loads of legroom, great under-thigh support and a nice, upright sitting position. Neither the Laura nor the Corolla can match the Fluence for rear seat comfort. However, because of the dark trim (the Indian cars should have beige) and the small window area, the interiors don’t feel as airy and bright as they should. Cabin quality is good with hardwearing plastics and nice switches. Despite all this, the Fluence’s interiors don’t have the same quality as the Germans put into their cars and are no match for the Jetta or even the Civic.

The boot is huge and comes with a 60:40 split for added versatility. But in India that feature is hardly used and it’s possible that split seats may not be offered if it saves costs. The equipment level on the Euro-spec Fluence is not particularly generous but the Indian rendition will certainly have all the bells and whistles including Bluetooth connectivity and a keyless start, among others.

UNDER THE HOOD

The engine under the Fluence’s long hood is a more powerful version of the Logan’s 1.5-litre diesel dCi engine and develops 105bhp. There are other engine options as well including a 2-litre 140bhp petrol with a CVT automatic transmission and Renault may consider this model too for the Indian market.

This diesel feels far more refined than the Logan’s engine but that’s to be expected given the extra insulation the Fluence can afford. The Fluence’s engine is reasonably quiet but pile on the revs, and the drone becomes louder. But, for the most part, when driven in a relaxed way, engine noise is hardly obtrusive.

The engine is fairly punchy and has a strong mid-range and the six-speed gearbox, which has a delightful shift, makes highway cruising with the tall fifth and sixth gear ratios quite a breeze.

DRIVER’S DEAL

The big disappointment, though, is the way the Fluence drives in town and in heavy traffic. A drive through rush hour Paris highlighted the infuriating turbo-lag. In fact, at very low speeds, the Fluence feels less responsive than the Logan does because the bigger turbo in this engine takes its own time to spool up. You floor the throttle and nothing happens. Wait for a moment and suddenly whoosh — the turbo kicks in and you rocket forward. The non-linear power delivery will be cumbersome in Indian traffic and hopefully Renault will smoothen out power delivery before its launch.

The Fluence’s suspension has been tuned for comfort and the ride is, without a doubt, outstanding. It’s hard to gauge it in the Indian context, especially against cars like the Jetta and Laura, which have an exemplary ride. Driving around Paris, the Fluence felt extremely cushy and the ride was very comfortable. The handling, however, is a bit dull. The electric power steering doesn’t exactly bristle with feel and the big and soft Fluence doesn’t like to be hurried through corners.

It’s too early to announce any prices but one can expect the Fluence to be phenomenally competitive and undercut cars like the Laura and Jetta by a fair margin. In fact, there are rumours that the Fluence could be priced alongside the Corolla. Pricing will be the key to this car’s success and Renault just can’t afford to get it wrong. Not only is the Fluence a new car for Renault in India but it marks a new beginning for the company too.

Spec Check

Renault Fluence

Price: Rs 12 lakh - Rs 13 lakh (est)

L/W/H: 4618/1809/1479mm

Kerb weight: 1277kg

Engine: 4 cyls in line, common-rail, turbo-diesel, 1461cc/ front, transverse, front-wheel-drive

Power: 105bhp at 4000rpm

Torque: 24.4kgm at 2000rpm

Gearbox: 6-speed manual

Suspension (F/R): MacPherson-type with lower wishbone/ flexible beam

Pix: Clement Choulot