Renault is back on course, stylewise, with its new Fluence. The name's weird but a good deal is a good deal whatever it's called and you'll get it in South Africa in the second half of 2010, so read on.
Renault is getting its styling back on course after a period when "la derriere" was everything but those in-your-face backsides across its model range didn't do anything for any pretensions to a sense of elan.
Now you're likely to be struck by just how stylish Renault can be after years of lagging way behind its compatriots, particularly Peugeot.
Citroen can cut the mustard at times but can also veer into great eccentricity. Renault 's setting its sights very high and in many ways the Fluence reaches those heights, not least because it is very well priced - in Ireland, from €18 890 (about R180 000) for the Royale to €23 500 (about R225 000) for the range-topping Tom Tom.
I liked the roominess and specification of the Fluence. It is definitely a level above the Focus and the like. In fact, if you're being guided by price and comfort, then this sedan can be compared at every level with the best out there. It feels well made and drips with features.
The level of safety is first class, a constant part of the Renault programme in recent years. The engines include a 1.6 petrol unit and two versions - 86 and 106bhp - of the diesel 1.5. An electric version will become available in 2011 though it will need more range than the prototype's 100km.
There isn't much to excite you about the present engines. In fact the media kit has more words on the "Plug and Music" option than performance and handling. But then this hasn't ever been where Renault has excelled despite its Formula 1 ambitions.
The engines and handling are adequate and that's about it. It's more important that the diesels have low emissions and sufficient power to be the leaders of the pack. As well as being clean they are amazingly frugal.
This car is about space, spec and price. It looks pleasant without being stunning. Yet it doesn't have some of the brutal ugliness that has marred some other low-priced saloons - think Nissan Tiida.
FIVE-YEAR WARRANTY
I had the car for a week but wasn't able to sample everything about the Fluence.
For many people this could be the car they need. I'm not wedded to the normal three-box sedan (they don't have the versatility I demand) but if you want a well-specced and priced saloon with the advantages of a five-year warranty and very high levels of safety equipment, then you would be mad not to try out the Fluence.
It might be a rather odd name and seem to be either missing an "A" or being part of something a plumber would put in but a good deal is a good deal whatever you call it. - Irish Independent