Introduction

The Fluence has a difficult job. It lies in a segment of the market that covers a range of nearly ten lakh rupees. At the bottom end are the likes of the Honda City and Hyundai Verna, that offer more legroom and gizmos than ever before. At the other end lies the Skoda Superb – and these are only the sedans. We haven’t considered the Maruti Ertiga and Honda Mobilio, and the cars that are generating the most sales in the price bracket: the SUVs. Sure, one of the most successful is from the Renault stable itself, but that only makes the Fluence’s job harder. How, then has Renault managed to update the Fluence to battle a shrinking segment?

Looks

We’re used to the Fluence being a good-looking car, but it has always been less flash and more elegance. The facelift corrects that. The front has changed, beginning with the extra-large Renault diamond logo on the grille. It gets thin horizontal chrome strips on either side that run into the larger, more horizontal headlamps. These headlamps now sport projector lenses but are halogen headlamps unlike the European version. The front bumper has also undergone major changes with large chrome surrounds for the fog lamps and the new daytime running lamps. The side profile is the same as before except for the now 16-inch alloy wheels. The other features that grab your attention from this angle are the mirror-mounted indicators and chrome door handles. The rear is exactly the same as before. It is a pity that the Fluence is offered only in sober colours; someone purchasing this car will do it with more heart than head, so it would be interesting to appeal completely to the prospective owner’s desires rather than logic.

The Fluence always was a very pretty car, but now it is arguably the best looking car in the segment besides the Hyundai Elantra. However, the rear should have got an update – at least LED lamps – to match the refresh from the other angles.

Interior

Nothing on the interior has changed, save for a patterned silver finish on the piece of the dashboard that runs from the left AC vent to above the centre console. This used to be a wood finish before. The steering wheel has actually lost a couple of bit of chrome, but it is better for the fact. Everything you expect from this segment is present: dual-zone climate control, rear blower, steering mounted controls (of the Duster kind) and an auto-dimming mirror. New for the 2014 model is the ‘Arkamys’ audio system, which offers four component speakers on the top-end E4 Fluence. This is a very capable system, but strangely it refuses to work the front two tweeters hard unless you allow the signal processing to focus on the driver. The instrument cluster also remains the same, but the monochromatic backlighting of the centre gauge now has a blue surround that fades into the centre, giving it a very ‘3D’ effect. The tacho needle and redline have also switched from yellow to red and the fonts have become a little smaller and more sophisticated. The driver’s seat offers a telescopic steering wheel and seat height adjustment, so finding a comfortable driving position isn’t hard. The pedals do feel a little too close together for comfort, so if you have big feet you may have an unintentional ‘heel-and-toe’ moment while braking.

The seat covers have the same beige as before, but the beading now is a contrasting colour, giving it an extra touch of class. The rear seat also remains the same but the cover has changed to the same beige leather all over. The boot remains massive at 530 litres, but it doesn’t offer as much convenience as the Skoda Laura when loading because the latter is a notchback.

Engine & Gearbox

Nothing has changed with the driveline of the Fluence: it remains the 1.5-litre dCi mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. Like the Duster, it generates 108bhp but a little less torque at 240Nm. It is enough for an ARAI-specified rating of 20.4kmpl (no doubt helped by the MRF ZV2K tyres) which is among the best in the class, but it is the second-least powerful diesel in the segment, after the Toyota Corolla Altis diesel. The Chevrolet Cruze puts out 164bhp, so if it is power you want, look elsewhere. The engine also exhibits the same characteristics of turbo lag that one experiences in the Duster – moving away from walking pace demands a downshift to first, or waiting a while until the engine reaches 2000rpm, which can take a little while. In essence, the Fluence needs to be driven like a petrol and not a diesel if you want decent pace from it. The engine is refined , pulls cleanly when in the powerband, and the six-speed shifter is light and positive.

Ride & Handling

Again, nothing has been changed with the steering and suspension of the Fluence, so it offers one of the best ride/handling compromises we’ve come across. Stability at highway speeds is brilliant, and it goes through potholes like they aren’t there. It is very progressive on the limit, with controlled body roll. The electrically assisted steering is a little vague even when it is turned, but I suspect it is partly due to the MRF ZV2K tyres – this is a compound that is geared towards fuel efficiency more than anything else, which is why you will find it on hatchbacks like the Ford Figo. It would have been nice if Renault had seen fit to shod the Fluence with nicer tyres that complemented the handling better, but when the Chevy Cruze is using a similar compound in the form of the JK Vectra with so much more power, I don’t think I can complain about Renault’s choice of tyres. The brakes are up to the job, but driving down the steep hills from Udagamangalam, I wished they had a little more bite and power.

Verdict

The Fluence is surprisingly priced at Rs 15.49 lakh ex-showroom Delhi for the E4 diesel. This places it near the top of the segment, with only the Toyota Corolla Altis, Volkswagen Jetta and Skoda Octavia outdoing it on that front. It is efficient, looks really pretty and has a great ride/handling compromise. However, the Renault brand doesn’t have the premium pull that is required to justify high sales figures of a D-segment sedan. This one is for those who let their heart rule their head – which brings me back to my wish of the Fluence being available in bright colours, or even a limited-edition RenaultSport version. However, in a shrinking segment that, price-wise, contains the Duster as well, it seems highly unlikely.