Test Drive: 2015 Renault Fluence Dynamique

Sometime during the end of December 2015 I was handed the key to a Renault Fluence Dynamique. I wasn't really sure it was a key as it basically looked like a fat credit card or one of Victorinox's SwissCard that had a knife, magnifier, toothpick and some other stuff. But it actually was the key as it had buttons on it and you could slot it into the center console of the Renault Fluence and start it up. With a press of a start-stop button. This is a good thing because this was the flattest key I have ever seen and it would fit in my card holder or in my pocket and not make the pocket bulge. Keys should be like this (see the pic below).

Oh. The best thing about this card looking key is that no one would expect a key to look like this and if there was a thief wanting to try steal the Renault he would have no idea that a card sized piece of plastic is actually the key. I think most Renault cars have this sort of key but I thought I'd elaborate a little bit more on its practicality before I start reviewing the car.

So what is a Renault Fluence? The Renault Fluence is a compact family sedan or C segment sized car that actually is sized slightly larger than normal. It is based on the Renault/Nissan C platform but is larger than the Nissan Sylphy but smaller than the D segment Teana sold here. It is also based on the Renault Megane MkIII and is basically sold in markets where sedans or saloons are in demand, like here in Malaysia (and China, India, Western Europe) rather than places like the UK where hatchback rules.

It has been around since 2009 and was facelifted at the end 2012 and again in 2015. Malaysia had the pre - facelift model for a short period before the official distributors TC Euro Cars brought in this latest model last year. The facelift in 2012, which this 2015 car pictured here, was the major one which brought the front end of the Fluence in line with the current Renault family face. Now the Fluence looks like the Megane sold here instead of something that looks so plain and actually uninteresting to look at. This new face works for the Fluence. With the LED lights featured on this Dynamique specced car it does look aggressive enough so that people will move aside whilst one bombs down the highway. This front end has enough road presence to keep me happy.

Of course, the rear end needs more help. It looks sedate. It looks like something from the year 2000. Imagine that, the year 2000 is considered as old. But yes, the Fluence has a rear end that is now at odds with a good looking front end. Of course, looks are subjective. I know some actually dig that old 1999 Ford Mondeo looks. What I can say is that the car does not look that offensive.

This really is an inoffensive car. On the inside too. The person who designed the interior must have also liked the early 2000s. If you took away the fully digital speedometer cluster and the infotainment display screen in the middle of the dashboard you'd think that this was a Renault from the era mentioned above. But it isn't. This is a car from 2015 that is fully equipped. Everything you need and more is here. The quality of plastics and leather used inside feels of the current class standards though.

As for equipment, this car has auto rain / light sensors, reverse camera, GPS, Navigation, things to fiddle around with, a radio, USB, Bluetooth. The car also has airconditioning, cruise control, speed limiter, a fully digital readout and more. But. But all of this is clothed in something plain. How shall I put this. The Renault Fluence is like Bob The Builder. He is solid, dependable, able to do lots of things but he isn't Barney the Dinosaur who is colourful, has teeth, and being a dinosaur, able to rip you to pieces when he isn't singing children's songs.

The only other drawback aside from the slightly plain looks is the fact that when you drive a French car some switchgear is not where you expect them to be. Take for example the cruise control and speed limited switch. It is located at the base of the armrest just behind the cup holders (which are a tad too small in diameter and can only fit drinking cans and smaller sized bottles). The radio controls are also on a stalk with pedals behind the steering wheel. So unlearn what you have learnt and all would be fine if you drive a Fluence. Or vice versa.

The Fluence is also most probably very reliable because it has a Renault/Nissan Alliance engine and gearbox inside it. You can find the same engine and gearbox inside the Nissan Teana 2.0. Therefore, this French car has all the reliability of a Japanese car and this, in my opinion is what a lot of people here in Malaysia want in a car. That MR series of engine, or M series if its a Renault is a 2.0liter normally aspirated 4 cylinder engine that makes 143hp and 195Nm of torque.

The engine is coupled to the Xtronic CVT gearbox which is also a Nissan based thingy. CVTs do not use traditional fixed gear ratios. Instead, it relies on two hydraulically-operated steel pulleys which are connected by a metal chain link. When accelerating, the sides of the cone shaped pulleys either push together or pull apart to move the position of the chain on the pulleys. By completely eliminating the need for gears, CVTs are able to improve fuel economy. CVTs allows the engine to operate at its most efficient point at all times and loves to hold the engine revs at peak power whilst the speed catches up to it. Traditional automatic transmissions move out of the fuel-efficiency zone while shifting and hunting for gears, but as the CVT doesn’t technically shift, it’s able to keep the engine operating efficiently at all times. However, such a gearbox is usually a little noisy the engine revs are held and whilst there is refinement from not having shifting jolts or slurs, the engine management holds engine revs high if you are flooring it. Which is why I don't quite like this type of transmission.

DRIVING THE CAR

The Fluence has a CVT type of gearbox. Whilst it can do 0-100kmh in about 10 seconds (as tested) it is not meant for someone who wants to drive fast all of the time. It could cruise all day at higher than usual speeds though. But just don't accelerate through the gears all of the time. The CVT will do what CVTs usually do and hold peak engine revs whilst the road speed catches up to it or if you ease off the accelerator once you desire a certain speed or decide that you have had enough of listening the engine growl at you at 5,000rpm. So you end up driving like a very good person. You are gentle on the accelerator so that the CVT works efficiently and quietly in the background. You could also say that luckily the Fluence has a 2.0liter engine with close to 200Nm torque. It makes being gentle not that hard to do. And add the fact that this is a C segment car with adequate soundproofing, the engine noise is kept away. The CVT isn't as good as the ones fitted to the Mitsubishi Lancer or the B8 Audi A4 1.8 which somehow works better. Anyway, one should be gentle when driving this car. I managed to only get 13liters/100km which is quite on the high side for something with a CVT.

The Fluence as you know it is a family car. So it isn't stiffly sprung. It has something which is basically a family car suspension with lots of travel – take a look at the space in between the tyres and the wheelarch. Bumps, ripples and undulations are easily dealt with and everything feels secure on the highways at around 150kmh. It is without a doubt that the Europeans, even the French, make cars that cruise well at high speeds. Wind noise and road noise is kept in check too at this sot of speeds. The Fluence basically drives adequately well and everything is predictable in the handling department. Push the Fluence round a bend hard and the car will roll on the edges of the 17inch wheels, tyres will chirp in protest quite early into the corner with understeer coming on early into the picture. It does not handle like a RenaultSport car in any way whatsoever. Just the usual traditional French answer to how to make a decent family car drive.

So you add the nature of the CVT gearbox and the very comfort sprung suspension (that handled most thuds and thumps very well for a C segment car) what we are witnessing is a car that is more suited to ferry the family around comfortably rather than bomb through the corners or Sepang F1 circuit at that.

What this car has is space. According to the specs this car sits between the usual C segment car and the upper medium D segment cars. It is as long as some D segment cars but it isn't as wide. In terms of width, it is the same as any C segment car. So you get lots of legroom front and rear to stretch out your legs. I can imagine a family of four doing long trips outstation in this and being quite comfortable inside it due to this fact and that it has better than average refinement for its class.

So who should buy this car? The family man or women who wants something reasonably priced, that isn't a Honda, Toyota or Nissan yet is as reliable as one of those mentioned. In some ways the Fluence is actually a better proposition than the three brands mentioned due to the equipment, styling and price ratio. Only one of the three mentioned would drive as good as this Fluence (the Honda Civic) but all of these cars have less driver comforts. If it came against the Mazda 3 however it would be a difficult call. You have space in the Fluence but the Mazda's looks, driveability is hard to ignore. Against the Koreans you could even go up a whole class by buying a Kia Optima K5. So what the Renault Fluence has got going for it is the complete package for the average family who wants space, equipment which is nicely hidden away and a bit of French quirkiness. I have to conclude that for the price, all is fine and dandy with the Fluence.

2015 Renault Fluence 2.0CVT (A) Dynamique

Pros : Interior space, lengthy equipment list, Japanese reliability, front end looks (great highway presence from a family sedan as you sneak up on unsuspecting cars from behind...huhu) , comfortable ride, refinement, price, service & warranty package is the best seen so far

Cons: Rear end looks, French ergonomics, plain interior styling, digital speedometer is either a hit or a miss, CVT does what CVTs usually do, fuel consumption could be better, the sound system by Arkamys is good but could be better if it had a proper enclosed space for the bass to kick as it rattles at higher volume.

Conclusion:

Well equipped larger than usual C segment family car (which could explain why the consumption is slightly high). Slightly different from the usual suspects and with its price (RM108,888 for the more basic Fluence Expression – only lacks the leather seats, LED lights and has different alloy wheels but keeps all other goodies like GPS, the stereo system etc & RM119,888 for this Fluence Dynamique).

Add the 5 years manufacturer warranty, 5 years free servicing and parts (T&Cs obviously apply..like the mileage you do, keeping with service schedules etc etc), house or office pick up for normal servicing and a courtesy car if repairs last longer than usual make this car an interesting proposition indeed.