[manualManuel]

Man, disappointed with the car after reading the review. I was looking at some choice other than for the Civic and the Cruze. Based on the pics of the Fluence, I thought this was the car. But the review has set out the car's shortcomings. Stratos thank you for the good review and the awesome pics. Think, I will now have to wait for the new Civic, whenever that is launched.

[libranof1987]

Holy moly, what has Renault done here?!

The step-motherly treatment for the diesel is so glaring!

And seriously, what is with the RCA input; wonder if anyone even uses devices compatible to it. It's been USBs since years now!

Given the pro-diesel shift in the Indian market that'll soon trigger off in the Indian market, they should have kept the diesel variant just as competitive as the petrol one.

For so long, we've been discussing how manufacturers compromise on safety features in lower variants; here the diesel version itself is compromised!

Somehow, I like the upholstery (again, only on the petrol version); the dash looks nice.

I think this is the first car with the glove-box being at an angle (the upper portion is curved); no wonder the storage capacity is so less.

About the wiper blade, could it be to avoid damage when people leave it standing?

[anxx]

Saw the Fluence on the Western Express highway yesterday (Mumbai).
Not very far from the Mahindra Setup in Kandivli East.
Surprisingly it had the red "HR" number plate.
The car definitely has great road presence.
It caught my eye from a multitude of vehicles in peak traffic.
However, as seen in the review, it does not offer anything exciting for 15 L.
In some ways, the Renault India website reflects their state of affairs.
And why are the dashboard buttons and knobs so small?
I hope to make a purchase in the 12-15 L segment in the next couple of weeks.
Was eagerly awaiting the fluence based on inputs from some fellow TeamBHPians. However i think it is safe to say that, the deal breaker for me would be the price.

[amitkb]

Am in the market for a new car. I need to operate the boot frequently to remove/replace my golf bag. With the bonnet release lever in the passenger foot-well, I wonder what contortions the car maker might want me do to access the boot release switch!

[kiku007]

Excellent review!

When will French and Italian automakers understand Indians?!!?

Renault has lost an excellent opportunity. The cruze is going to just cruise along happily.

[PAVAN KADAM]

What a well detailed review, Wow Fantastic.

Pricing might be a lac on the higher side or might be right considering others in the similar segment.

The car looks a Head Turner for sure.

And the Autobox.

Looks like Renault has hit the Bulls eye in its First launch.

[raul]

This car is adequate only if it is priced right, at these prices all its shortcoming are magnified. At 10-11 for the diesel, it is a 1.5 dci and locally manufactured so pricing should not have been difficult, and 12 for the petrol should have been Renault's strategy. At these prices it will remain a very niche car.

I don't like Hyundai pricing of the diesel either, these prices are not only out of whack with global prices but also this markets purchasing power. The market or volumes cannot grow at these prices.

Some of the car marketers seem to be over exaggerating the number of people and failing to understand the segment of people who pay 12-15 lakhs for a car, their demands are different than a commuter car and the car must provide those.

Renault needs to get the 1.9/2.0 dci for these prices matched with better interiors and features for the diesel to at least be competitive at an already inflated C+ segment in my opinion. The petrol at 14.4 is simply not realistic, it needs to be 12.

[sidindica]

Great In-fluence-ial review stratos! Rated 5 stars.

Overall I like the design and just thats it. The price to size to features ratio does not look to be very in-fluence-ial. This car doesnt have any unique USP...poorly equipped diesel motor and underwhelming interiors...its gonna be a flop. But don't be surprised if some takers may pay for so called exclusivity.

[roy_libran]

Renault first came here with the Logan, which was not a Good Looker, but was a solidly built, reliable and fuel efficient car. They priced it wrong by a whisker and PAID for it.

Renault comes again, with the Fluence. This time, a Fantastic Looker (IMO), maybe based on their past experience with the Logan, but rotten packaging and even worse pricing.

Never really thought that the French could be so foolhardy - repetitively.

[punkuz]

The designers of Fluence need to take some crash courses in ergonomics design - it is all flawed! Cruise Control near the hand brake?! 'The case of almost missing glove box'needs to be solved by Monsieur Poirot himself!
With so many glaring omissions and wafer thin service network - I will give this car a silent obituary. R.I.P Fluence !

[vishygk]

Seems to be a classic case of "lets get something launched somehow!"

The only positive IMO is that it will attract some eye balls as the styling is kinda new, It doesn't seem to be a 15L+ car in any other apsect.

Hope to see some good discounts/increased kit on the diesel shortly.

[normally_crazy]

No pictures of the diesel interior ? Black one ? Why ?

[HammerHead]

Though I'm not a fan of French car design, somehow I liked the way Fluence looks!!

Originally Posted by Stratos

• Audio & Phone controls oddly placed behind the steering wheel. Ergonomically poor:

• Cruise control switch is weirdly placed next to the handbrake:

They really messed up here. One would not be able to use Audio & Phone controls without taking hand off the steering.

• Passenger airbag On / Off switch. Located on the driver side of the dashboard!

IMO nothing wrong with it. I mean its the driver who decides to turn it off in case he is the only one traveling.

Originally Posted by basilmabraham

Are the airbags any different than the normal ones we see. I nothiced that the airbags have a 'SRP' nomenclature than the normal 'SRS'. Is this any better, how does it compare with SRS. Sorry if this is too noob a question.

Edit: googled and found the answer in the following link. Any more info would be appreciated.

Wiki says "System for Restraint and Protection" (SRP), is essentially a system of careful optimisation of occupant restraint by interaction of the seat, seatbelt, pretensioner, load limiter and airbag.

That means some additional sensors to control the way Air Bag is deployed?

[vvvinod]

Nice Unbiased & Very Detailed review . Thank you ! 5 Star all the way

I feel this is going definitely Honda Jazz way, Failure from day one just because unrealistic pricing, Even Yellow board market doesn't consider it . So waiting for the special editions

[StrangeWizard]

Originally Posted by Thilak29

why step-motherly treatment towards diesel variants!?

All manufacturers do this. Maruti doesn't offer Airbags in the swift or ritz diesel. Hyundai offers 6 airbags as optional in the petrol variant but only 2 in the CRDi. Nissan doesn't offer ABS or Airbags in the diesel micra.
Actually diesel cars are the ones which have more running than petrol ones on the highways and so they are more prone to accidents. But manufacturers can't seem to understand this so we can't do much.