Price: From R199 900
Yet another sensible option within the executive car sector is the very well priced Renault Fluence sedan; with this vehicle you get a lot of bang for your buck. Significantly, it comes with Renaults Confiance package, which consists of a five-year/150 000 km warranty and a five-year/100 000 km service plan. This is important; many South African motorists have previously shied away from French cars (and for good reason). It also comes with a full house of standard features -“ we especially like the Carminat TomTom navigation system.
Renault launched ten new products in 2010, so many may ask what could it possibly deliver this year. Well, for a start, Renault has just launched the Fluence – its first contender in the c-segment sedan market since the 2007 Megane II saloon.
Renault has had a pretty tough few years and by the sounds of things, it still has quite a way to go before it curbs the negative perceptions regarding after-sales service and parts availability that are currently out there. But Renault is doing everything it can to get it right with its brand promise, Confiance. This will hopefully combat the lag between perception and reality.
With this all in mind, I stepped into the 1,6 Renault Fluence Expression and fortunately was really impressed with the interior. The soft-touch centre console and overall packaging was what could be expected of a car in this segment, just think Chevrolet Cruze, Toyota Corolla or Volkswagen Jetta.
The 1,6 is available in Expression and Dynamic derivatives, and are both mated with a five-speed manual transmission and produce 81 kW and 156 N.m of torque. It reaches a top speed of 185 km/h and sprints from 0-100 km/h in 11,7 seconds. Renault claims fuel consumption figure of 6,5 L/100 km and CO2 emissions are rated at 159 g/km. The Expression is priced at R199 900 and the Dynamique at R224 900. Among the niceties ushered in by the Dynamique specification package are dual-zone air conditioning, speed-sensitive automatic windscreen wipers with rain sensor, leather seats and 17-inch alloy wheels, as opposed to the 16-inch alloys on the Expression.
In addition to a handy 105 kW from its 2,0-litre 16V engine, the Privilége adds
such standard features as reverse parking assistance and electrically-heated mirrors. An electric sunroof is optional.
All Fluence derivatives come standard with keyless start and entry as well as ABS with EBD, 6 airbags, and Isofix anchorage points.
A 5 year/ 150 000 km mechanical warranty, 5 year/ 100 000 km service plan and 6 year anti-corrosion warranty is standard across the range. Also included is a comprehensive roadside assistance plan, fixed-price servicing and guaranteed spare parts availability.
