Renault Fluence Reviews

Ewan Kennedy reviews the 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 Renault Megane and Fluence as a used buy

Building on its increased sales success in Australia in the last couple of years Renault has announced that the Renault Fluence has been given a mid-life makeover

June 30 is D-Day. The end of the financial year is the best time to buy a new car because there are always special deals in showrooms. As carmakers and dealers aim to clear their outdated stock, Toyota uses a June push to cement its showroom leadership. Some of the special deals are on cars that have done demonstrator duty, or were built in 2012, or are just not selling as well as expected. So they're not the tastiest fruit in the bowl.But there is great buying across the board as demand for new cars fuels one of the longest growth periods in motoring. The bottom line is that you can save money -- and lots of it. So here's a look at the June sales, with Carsguide's assessment of the best deals on wheels.CITROENThe new importer is pushing hard so the Aircross SUV starts at $31,990 drive-away front-wheel drive or $33,990 with AWD, a saving of $3800. There's $5000 off the C4 Seduction turbo diesel auto hatch at $25,990. Carsguide says: The Aircross isn't great, but the C4 discount is tasty.FORDThe death notice for the Falcon and Territory has not helped buyer confidence but a 2.9 per cent finance push on Fiesta and Focus still looks good. The superseded Kuga SUV from $31,990 drive-away is a $10,000 saving. You can save about $3000 on a 2012 Escape SUV from $27,990 drive-away.The Territory gets a $6500 tickle, the TX seven-seater at $38,490 drive-away (third-row seat usually costs $2500). The impressive Mondeo liftback starts at $29,990. Good buying on Falcons, thanks to the arrival of the VF Commodore, from $33,990 and better if you haggle.HOLDENAs the VF Commodore creates queues, the outgoing Z-Series starts at $34,990 with five years' warranty and roadside assist. That also applies to the SV6 at $35,990 and the Cruze SRi and SRi-V at $23,490 and $26,990. Last year's Barina CD hatches are $15,990 drive-away with a sunroof. The Colorado is $39,990. Hard to see past the excellent Cruze SRi.HONDAClipped prices and free on-roads. The City VTi sedan is $17,990 and the (slightly) more lavish VTi-L automatic version starts at $21,990. The bigger Civic sedan is being cleared from $21,990. Free auto on the Jazz VTi at $19,990. The Civic is worth a look at $2500 off.KIAFree on-roads, discounts and $1000 gift vouchers on many models. A five-door Rio S is about $3K off at $15,990 drive-away with a $500 gift card; the three-door Rio is $14,990 and the five-door Si is $18,990. Runout Cerato TD sedans start at $17,990 for the S, saving about $5000, the Si sedan is $23,990 and hatch at $17,990. All get a $1000 gift card. Cerato SLi and SLS have drive-away pricing but miss the gift card. All Optimas have free on-roads. A 2012-build Optima Platinum is $37,990, saving about $4000 with a $1000 gift card. Most Sportage SUVs include on-roads and a $1000 gift card. Carnival and superseded Rondo pricing is drive-away. The Sportage diesel and Optima are top-notch.MITSUBISHIThe manual Lancer gets an old-school value pack on the Special Action Model for $19,990 drive-away. The Mirage is $12,990 drive-away for the ES manual, with a $500 cash-back that also applies to the auto.Driveaway prices also for the compact ASX at $24,990 for the 2WD manual, the Outlander LS 2WD auto at $29,990, Pajero GLX-R auto at $54,990 or $59,990 for VRX. Both come plus $3000 cash-back, saving about $6000.The Triton ute is now tackling Great Wall from China at $19,990 drive-away for a GL single-cab 2WD with alloy tray, or add luxury for a GLX dual-cab 4WD diesel at $31,990 drive-away with $2000 cash-back, saving about $14,000. The utes look good at those prices.NISSANA 2.9 per cent finance package, with agreed value after three years, makes the Pulsar ST sedan look good at $49 a week or $19,990 drive-away. The X-Trail ST 2WD petrol manual cops a $4000 reduction to $25,990 drive-away, while the Navara RX 4WD dual-cab manual is cheaper than ever with a $9500 cut to $30,990 drive-away. The Pulsar sedan deal is attractive.OPELThere are drive-away deals across the range. The basic Corsa is down by about $2500 to $16,990 drive-away, the Astra is from $22,990 drive-away for the 1.4-litre turbo petrol hatch with three years of free servicing, saving about $5500. The top-line Insignia sedan is from $39,990 drive-away with heated leather seats. The Astra is easily best of this breed.PEUGEOTFree on-roads at Peugeot on most models but not the cool new 208. The 4008 SUV cops a $1500 saving from $29,990 drive-away and there are deals on the outgoing 4007. Nothing to see here.RENAULTA Koleos from $26,990 drive-away looks even better with interest-free finance. The Megane hatch is from $22,990 drive-away with finance pegged at 1.9 per cent. The slow-selling Fluence and Latitude sedans are available with 2.9 per cent finance. The Megane CC convertible goes from $43,990 including on-roads. The sporty Clio RS is from $34,990 drive-away and the hotrod Megane RS has 2.9 per cent finance.Commercial deals start with the short-wheelbase Kangoo petrol manual with dual sliding doors from $20,990 drive-away, moving up to the Trafic short-wheelbase manual for $29,990 and the long-wheelbase manual for $32,990, while the Master large van starts from $46,990 drive-away. There's a five-year/200,000km warranty on all light commercials ordered in June. Hard to argue against a $3000 bonus on the Koleos but stocks are tight.SUBARUDrive-away pricing -- for savings of $3000 to $4000 -- is the bait, with Impreza pricing from $23,990 (excluding the WRX, of course). The Tribeca from $54,990 now includes on-roads but you need to visit a dealer to get the full story. Nothing outstanding.SUZUKIThe front-drive SX4 gets a Navigator pack with voice-controlled 6.6-inch satnav with Bluetooth for $19,990 drive-away for the manual and $21,990 auto. That also applies to the 2WD auto Grand Vitara at $29,990 drive-away, including reversing camera and satnav with Bluetooth. The Alto GL manual also gets satnav for $11,990 drive-away for the manual, with the Swift GL manual at $17,490 drive-away including cruise control and Bluetooth. The Grand Vitara is a polished piece.TOYOTAThere's 2.9 per cent finance on Aurion and Camry with the Camry Altise looking best at $29,990 drive-away. Other drive-away deals include $15,990 for the Yaris YR five-door, $21,490 for the Corolla Ascent automatic, $39,990 for the Kluger KX-R 2WD five-seater, $60,990 for the Prado GXL turbo diesel auto and $39,990 for the HiLux SR 4WD dual-cab ute. The right time for the cabbies' new favourite, the frugal hybrid Camry.VOLKSWAGENDrive-away pricing on passenger cars and zero finance on commercials. The Polo is $16,990 on-road, the Jetta is down to $25,990 and the Passat $36,690. The Polo is Carsguide's 2010 COTY.VOLVOFuel and servicing for three years or 60,000km plus roadside assistance. There are conditions -- with a pre-paid BP card based on 15,000km a year and $1.50 a-litre pricing -- and the latest V40 hatch is excluded. Clever twist on bargaining but a pity it doesn't apply to the V40.Paul Gover's 10 COMMANDMENTSYou must still do your homework. You must still check the fine print. You must still be prepared to haggle and compromise.But do it right, crunching the numbers and running right to the dealer's deadline, and you can drive away in something special at a special price.The starting point is all the deals, from sticker specials to cheap finance and steak knife-style free extras, being offered by most of the 60-plus brands in showrooms today.If something you want is on special, go for it. But check that the car was built in 2013, and is not a geriatric old-timer from 2012, and ensure your target is exactly what you want - not a stripped-out stocker, perhaps missing an automatic gearbox - that will cost thousands to get the way you want it.Once you lock down a target, don't think the advertised special is the end of the deal. You also need to negotiate for a better price on delivery and on-road costs, and avoid the trap of buying over-priced extras such as paint and upholstery protection, window tinting and extra-long warranties.No-one can expect to go into the ring with a showroom professional and expect to win, because buyers only get a new car occasionally and sales staff are dealing every day. But, by concentrating on the real bottom line - the changeover price - and being prepared to compromise, you can come out ahead.The best tips are the simplest. Run as close as you can to June 30 to sign the deal and get the car, because dealers are all aiming for targets that can mean tens of thousands in bonus money from headquarters. Also be prepared to take a car they have in stock, even if it's not your favourite colour, because dealers are aiming to clear everything they have on the lot.And have your finance in place before you arrive, especially if you're taking up a special deal, because that makes things quicker and you'll also be spared any hassle and potential extra costs.Watch out for 2012 cars because the warranty clock has already been running, don't forget that a big discount today will also mean less at changeover time, and remember that a demonstrator car could have had a hard life already. 

By 2020 it's predicted that 1 in 10 cars will be electric vehicles. At the moment there's only a smattering of electric vehicles or EVs as they are called in Australia and not all of them are for sale to the public yet.There's the tiny Mitsubishi i-MIEV, the Lotus-based Tesla sports car and Nissan's hatchback LEAF, 16 of which are being trialled by the Victorian Government.Joining them soon will be the Renault Fluence ZE, an electric, zero emissions version of the French car maker's mid-sized sedan. The big difference between Fluence and other EVs is that it's entire battery can be swapped for a fully charged one greatly extending its range.Range or more specifically lack of it is one of the major drawbacks of EVs that can normally travel only 100km or so before they need to be recharged.Also, being new technology, until now EVs have been prohibitively expensive. Due to to arrive in showrooms towards the end of next year, we travelled to Portugal this week where we were able to drive the Renault Fluence ZE.VALUERenault has not set a price yet but has indicated it will be under $40,000 and that it will be generously equipped. To that figure, however, must be added the cost of the battery which will be supplied separately under a lease arrangement by Better Place based in Melbourne.With branches in the Israel, Denmark and the United States, the company has been formed to provide the necessary infrastructure that will make electric vehicles possible.It's not talking prices either, but overseas customers are paying $110 a month which includes the power itself but there could be an additional charge for the home charging station. The power by the way is all `green' power.TECHNOLOGYAt 4.75m the ZE is 180kg heavier and 13cm longer than the standard model. The extra length accommodates the battery which sits vertically behind the rear seat. The electric motor generates 70kW of power and 226Nm of torque.There's no gears or gearbox as such, just forward and reverse and it has a top speed of 135km/h. Full torque is available from zero revs and it can accelerate to 100km/h in 13.0 seconds (petrol model does it in 10.1).With a capacity of 22kW/h the car has a range of 185km on a single charge, but this varies a lot depending on conditions and the way you drive. Apart from a smallish boot, it's in all other respects just a normal car.DRIVINGNot bad. It's certainly no golf buggy. It feels and performs like a real car, not some pretend one and could easily replace that gas guzzler in the driveway. It's much quieter of course and throttle response was slow at times but generally okay, providing you're not expecting a V8. It can even be punted hard through corners without coming unstuck.We particularly like the braking effect provided by the engine going downhill. But we suspect the hard, low roll resistance Goodyears could be harsh on our roads. A sophisticated GPS-based management system keeps track of power usage and let's you know when and where to find a charge or battery swap station if needed.RECHARGINGRenault and Better Place believe 90 per cent of customers will charge the car when they get home at night. This takes from 6 and 8 hours but for longer journeys the idea is to call into one of the Quick Drop stations that will be established where a depleted battery can be replaced with a fully charged one, a process which takes about five minutes.Both the power supplied this way and at home is provided free as part of the lease deal. If you spend $80 or more a week on petrol Better Place claims it will save you money.VERDICTYou better get used to the idea. It's the way of the future and as the technology gets better so will the cars (and their range). The price of oil is only going to go up, not to mention the environmental consequences of continuing to pump CO2 into the atmosphere.The very fact we've been driving this car suggests the change is closer than you think. It's simply a matter of making the decision to switch.

A lot of numbers are thrown around in talk about electric cars. But there are only three that really matter: range, recharge time and price.And with the Renault Fluence ZE plug-in that will start arriving next year, we only know two of those three, with the final price depending on a battery lease program for which we don't yet have details.Renault is racing to be first to market with an all-electric sedan, and is partnering in Australia with Better Place, who will provide the battery and 'distance subscription' and also roll-out battery swap stations and fast-charge points around the country.You can think of the strategy as being similar to buying a mobile phone and subscribing to a pre-paid plan - except that you are also leasing the phone battery from Telstra.The program will start with "select customers" in Canberra in the second quarter of 2012, with cars arriving at Renault dealers towards the end of the year.VALUERenault says the Fluence EV will arrive in a single high-specced version priced under $40,000. But that doesn't include the cost of leasing the battery.Nor do we yet know if the cost will include charges for swapping batteries over, or how long the lease terms will be.The French brand wants to make a mark with the car, so the price will be as strategic as they can bear. At the moment Mitsubishi is offering the tiny i-Miev for $48,000, so an unscientific calculation for the total cost of the Fluence would be: somewhere under $40,000 + $8,000 wriggle room + possible extra amount because the Fluence is larger. Not much help at this stage, we know.What buyers will have to weigh up when the Better Place prices are revealed next year is how quickly the total cost pays for itself compared to their weekly bowser bill. Better Place spokesperson Alison Terrey says any driver paying an average of $80/pw at the bowser will be better off with a Fluence EV. So if that's your bowser bill for a compact small/medium sedan with a touch of le style Francaise - le electrique could be the answer. As long as you don't live far from town.The internal-combustion engine (ICE) Fluence sedan is $29,990 for the top-spec Privilege, with CVT transmission, 'smart card' key, dual-zone climate-control airconditioning, Bluetooth with music streaming, satnav, premium audio with multimedia connection, electric sunroof, leather upholstery, passenger seat height adjustment with lumbar support, rear parking sensors and 17-in alloy wheels.So the electric could get pretty much all of that - except for the smart card, which has been replaced by a normal key because the transponder system location has been cannibalised by the battery. However the nav system will include locations of charge spots and battery swap stations.TECHNOLOGYLet's look at those other two crucial numbers first.Range is claimed to be 185km with careful driving, but without having to be a green zealot about it. Zealotry will apparently get you to 200km. Our Aussie approach gave less than 100km on the test drive.Recharge time will be six to eight hours with the special 16amp fast charger Better Place will fit at your home - and in public places - but that blows out to10-12 hours if you plug into a normal 10amp household socket. Alternatively, a complete battery exchange will take less than four minutes, once the swap stations are built.Renault claims a 0-100km/h time of 13 seconds while the top speed is limited to 135km/h.With a continuously-variable transmission driving the front wheels, the effort comes from a high-revving 70kW/226Nm electric motor powered by the 22kWh lithium-ion battery pack, mounted behind the rear seats - which has meant a strengthened structure to cope with the 280kg weight.Although Renault and Nissan are partners, the motor is not the one from Nissan's electric Leaf, but a coil-rotor one that Renault says gives better range.The drivetrain has to haul 184kg more than the ICE car, but several strategies are used to keep the drain on the battery pack low, including low rolling-resistance tyres on the 16-in wheels and an 'eco' mode that stops the airconditioning. You can precool/heat the car - and check charge and battery life - through a smartphone app.DESIGNThe ICE Fluence on sale in Australia is a very roomy small sedan, but not roomy enough to cater for both the massive battery pack and usable boot space. So the electric version has grown about 13cm - but that still drops the car's 530-litre capacity to 317 litres, leaving you about enough room for a single large suitcase. So if you're having a weekend away with the family, you might be buying clothes at the other end.Apart from the bluff butt's even longer rear overhang, the clean styling is much the same as the non-electric - and just as unlikely to either raise your pulse or offend you - with the main cues being larger air intakes to boost cooling, a charging socket behind both the front wheels, black rear diffuser and the blue-tinted light surrounds and badges.Inside is a well-built cabin with quality materials and switches, but with the instrument cluster's tacho has been replaced by a power meter that lets you know much charge - and distance - you have left in the battery pack.SAFETYThe Fluence is yet to be crashed independently, but Renault has done internal testing to demonstrated the safety levels - including piercing the battery with a large nail.Safety equipment includes six airbags, stability control, cruise control with speed limiter and anti-skid brakes with brake assist for help in panic stops and brakeforce distribution to counter uneven loading.DRIVINGDelivering all its torque right from the start, the electric motor is reasonably snappy, and the whisper of noise when you set off builds quickly to a Jetson-esque whine as you demand more from the system. Unfortunately it also demands more drain, and will savage the claimed range.Lifting your foot off the pedal helps by recapturing energy -- although it doesn't capture from braking like some other system - and also deccelerates so strongly that you can often use the effect in place of brakes.Over smoother surfaces, the ride is as composed as a much larger car, and well-balanced -- helped by the fairly even distribution of weight, with a bit of bias towards the rear.But the suspension and tyres transmit rough patches to the steering wheel and into the cabin, and you notice it more because there's little noise from the motor.Steering is very light at city speeds - which makes for easy parking - but some faster driving through hills showed that it firms up as the speedo rises, although it still lacks feel.But the hill run also showed that the Fluence changes direction deftly, and sits flat even when pushed through corners at speeds well beyond your everyday commute.VERDICTIt's aimed mainly at fleets, of course, and at families who want to drive without emissions. And it works well as a tractable clean sedan - if a little short on family luggage space. But any verdict on how well it will suit a private household will depend on how the final price fits that household's budget.It will come down to how much you're prepared to pay to reduce emissions. So you might not buy one, but there'll come a time when you'll wish the driver blowing smoke in front of you had.

The brand has re-launched more times than it perhaps cares to recall, but the Renault crew keep chipping away at the Australian new car market, with a new five-year warranty and some attractive finance deals to spark interest in the French brand.One of the key weapons for the breed is the new Megane range, a sleeker, svelte beast to replace the angular big-bottomed model. The sedan part of the Megane has been slotted into a sub-range - called Fluence - and it's built by the company's Korean arm.VALUEThe Fluence Privilege is the top-spec sedan, starting from $29,990, and gets an electric glass sunroof, continuously-variable auto, electrically-adjustable folding heated exterior mirrors, 17in alloy wheels (with a similarly-sized steel spare) and the very chic and pocket-friendly Renault smart card key.There's also black leather trim, a leather-wrapped reach/rake adjustable steering wheel and gear shift, height adjustment and lumbar support for the driver's seat, dual zone climate control air conditioning with rear vents, satellite navigation, Bluetooth link for phone and music, power windows and 60/40 splitfold rear seats.TECHNOLOGYAt first the auto-locking and unlocking system can catch a rookie Renault driver unaware - if you've locked the car with the lock button on the key-card, then you have to unlock it the same way. But if you rely entirely on the hands-free unlocking, then the car automatically locks itself as you walk away.The tech-heads will like the Bluetooth connectivity for phone and music player, but with the back-up of a USB port and a 3.5mm auxiliary jack - enough plugs for several devices, but perhaps not enough storage in the centre console for all of them.DESIGNAs Renault models go there have certainly been more controversial in the looks department, as well prettier production cars, but the new Fluence is less likely to offend the eye. The four-door sedan won't stir emotions to the same extent either way, but it's not an uninteresting sedan.The cabin has good room - at least in the front half - and Renault says there's more storage space than before, including a cooled glovebox. There could be a little more in the centre console, which possesses miniscule cup holders, but by contrast the boot is large at 530 litres (more than a Holden Commodore) although the lid is held by old gooseneck hinges which intrude on the space a little.SAFETYThe Renault has - as you'd expect from one of the first brand's to ever score a five-star crash test rating - no shortage of safety features for its $30,000 pricing. There's stability control, anti-lock brakes, dual front, side and full-length curtain airbags, lap-sash seatbelts with load-limiters (plus pre-tensioners for the front seats), automatic lights and rain-sensing windscreen wipers.DRIVINGAs not much of a fan of CVT I was pleasantly surprised at the Fluence's drivetrain - there was less of the "rev-flare" than I expected and the powerplant provided more forward impetus than its numbers suggest. The seating front and rear is comfortable - although the cloth sports seats of the sports-hatch RS250 Cup feel better-cushioned - but adults in the rear will want to be closer to jockey-size than basketballer, as headroom (like it is in the hatch sibling) isn't great.The smooth and quiet drive in the Fluence is only let down by jittery ride quality over smaller road imperfections - something easily found on Australian roads.Some Renault folks blamed the top-spec wheel-tyre package with low profile rubber but I'm not sure that's entirely to blame. The payoff is decent body control in corners, but the light power steering, which is fine for inner-city wheel twirling, is dead in the bends.The quality of the interior materials has improved and - unlike previous Renault experiences of old - everything seemed to work. The brand's fondness for the remote control stalk for sound system behind the steering wheel is admirable, but it's certainly something that will require considerable time behind the wheel for familiarity.The sound system button on the dash are on the small side and having to use a remote control for the satnav is a bit complex - the satnav screen is easy enough to see but it needs a bigger cowling to limit the reflection on the windscreen at night and sunlight issues during the day.The big-rump remains, which is great for cavernous bootspace but the high bootlid makes rear sensors a must-have - thankfully they are standard. The sedan's gets analogue instruments instead of the hatch's digital readout - the latter is easier to read - and the hatch also gets the auto-filter recirculation system that's not on the sedan.VERDICTThe price is keen and the features list is also competitive, which means Renault has given itself every chance - with good warranty and finance offers as well - of making a greater impact on the Australian market than it has thus far. Sales so far this year suggest the Australian buying public are taking a shine to the new-look Renault range - including the Fluence sedan - and it's easy to see why.

Fluence? It's an odd sort of name and one that seems to be missing an `in' or perhaps an `af' at the beginning. But let's not sell Renault's stylish new Fluence short because it happens to be one of the better offerings from the French car maker. Reintroduced to Australia in 2001, it's fair to say that Renault has failed to make a major impact in the last 10 years.But, of late, it seems to have pulled out all the stops in what it describes as the "revitalisation" of the brand. With driveaway deals and offers of free scheduled servicing it could well be a last roll of the dice.For those not up to speed Fluence is the sedan version of the well regarded Megane hatch with its rouned bustle shaped back. The two cars share the same engines and many of the same underpinnings.But rather than the current Megane, Fluence is in fact based on Samsung's SM3, which in turn is based on the previous generation Megane. The Samsung branded car made its first appearance at the 2009 Seoul Motor Show.PRICE AND FEATURESPriced from a driveaway $22,900 you can have either the Fluence or Megane hatch for the same price. Despite being described as small, Fluence is actually quite a large car, bigger and with a longer wheelbase than the Holden's Cruze. Our test vehicle, the $29,990 Privilege, is powered by a 2.0-litre engine paired with CVT style continuously variable auto.The car comes with six airbags, electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution. As well as leather and climate air, a sunroof and satellite navigation are both standard with this model. Bluetooth is also included as well as AUX and USB connections for music players which can be controlled from the steering column.There's also cruise control with speed limiter, automatic lights and wipers, as well as fog lights and rear parking sensors. Fluence is offered with a five-year/unlimited kilometre factory warranty -- the longest of any European brand. You also get five-years of 24/7 roadside assistance.The design of the audio/airconditioning modules is ordinary at best. Fluence is yet to be crash tested but is likely to score a full five stars for safety like other models before it.TECHNOLOGYThe four cylinder petrol engine, shared with Nissan's Dualis, produces 103kW of power and 195Nm of torque, and will run on standard unleaded, although 95 is recommended. With a 60-litre tank, fuel economy with the CVT is rated at 7.7 litres/100km but we were getting about 9.2 litres. The CVT is designed to optomise power and economy, with no discernible gear changes.DRIVINGLike the previous Megane sedan, this one is a good size, drives well and has a good-sized boot with a full-sized spare. But rear headroom is compromised by the stadium-style elevated seating position.Inside, more thought needs to go into the instrument layout, like the location of the cruise/speed limiter switch marooned between the front seats. We'd also suggest ditching the remote control that goes with the built-in TomTom satnav system.VERDICTOverall Fluence is a more convincing offering but we were left wondering whether it has that "je ne sais quoi" that will attract people buy it? Time will tell . . .

JUST as the Jetta is a Golf with a boot, so too the Renault Fluence is a Megane with a boot.But it is so much more. With a 4.6m body length and 2.7m wheelbase, this is a genuine five-seater that puts this "small car" closer to the medium-sized category.Yet this isn't the replacement for the Laguna. That's the even larger Latitude which is coming early next year. New Renault Australia boss Justin Hocevar is optimistic that the Fluence will rank alongside the new Megane Hatch and Koleos compact SUV as the biggest sellers in their range.The Fluence is arriving in our showrooms now in the company's new strategy of two trim levels, Dynamique and Privilege. Hocevar says the two-trim strategy will be less confusing for customers.VALUEThe Fluence sedan will sell for the drive-away price of $25,990 for the Dynamique manual. It is listed at $22,990, the CVT is an extra $2000 and the top-spec Privilege with CVT is listed at $29,990. That aligns it more closely with the Japanese competitors than its Euro counterparts.Yet Renault hasn't cut corner on features. The Dynamique includes a smart key card for keyless unlocking and engine starting, Bluetooth connectivity with music streaming and dual zone climate control air conditioning.Privilege adds satnav, a 3D sound system, electric glass sunroof, black leather upholstery, passenger seat height adjustment with lumbar support, multimedia connection box (aux input socket and USB), rear parking sensors and 17-inch alloy wheels.TECHNOLOGYThe Fluence shares engine and drivetrain with the Megane Hatch. It's powered by a two-litre four-cylinder engine with 103kW and 195Nm of torque, married to a six-speed manual or a six-step CVT.Satnav is included on the Privilege trim, but because they have run out of room for buttons on the centre console, you get a remote control. This could easily get lost under a seat and it's fiddly to use, although it does allow back-seat drivers to really tell you where to go.STYLEThe new Fluence is an elegant small sedan with a generous 4.6m body length and 2.7m wheelbase creating a lot of space for five people.Streamlined, horizontal headlights and taillights give the vehicle a feline look. It's elegant in its simplicity, but a little fussy around the lower door sills.Inside, it is an identical setup to the new Megane, except for a larger rear bench, much more legroom and headroom, and, of course, a boot. That cargo area is one of the biggest in its class at 530 litres and the access is wide and low with a flat boot floor and a 60/40-split folding rear seat for carrying long items such as a surfboard.The cabin is airy and comfortable with plenty of soft-touch surfaces, especially where you might want to rest a bony elbow. There is a lot of chrome around the door handles, instrument surrounds and gearlever knob, and a choice of light or dark leather upholstery in the Privilege.There are also some practical touches such as a chilled glovebox. Inside and out, the car has a high-quality fit and finish.SAFETYAll Renaults have a high specification of active and passive safety systems for their class. Standard safety systems include the now-standard ESP, all the usual braking systems and six airbags.It also features cruise control and speed limiter, automatic lights and wipers, fog lights and rear parking sensors on the Privilege.DRIVINGThe Fluence makes the refined new Megane almost seem harsh. It is eerily quiet, sophisticated and rides with the composure of a much bigger car.Steering is ultra-light at low speed for easy parking and firms up as speed gathers with a nice weight and feel. Despite its comfy rid, it still swaps direction on twisty roads with aplomb.Renault claims the Fluence's specific roll angle is 0.42 for lateral acceleration of 1m/s2 compared with a segment average of 0.45. It's all technical gobbledygook, but it means it sits flat in corners and won't make the kids sick in the rear bench.While the CVT makes the engine scream, the noise is fainter than in the Megane thanks to sound insulation. Inside, it is identical to the Megane, except for the extra room front and back.VERDICTThe elegant Fluence should win some customers in the growing small-to-medium sedan category with its high levels of features, its sophisticated looks, its quiet ride and its attractive price tag.Renault FluencePrice: $22,990 (Dynamique man, $25,990 driveaway) $24,990 (Dynamique CVT), $29,990 (Privilege CVT)Engine: 1997cc, 16-valve, 4-cylinderPower: 103kW @ 6000rpmTorque: 195Nm @ 3750rpmTransmission: 6-speed manual, 6-step CVTTurning cycle: 11.1mWheels: 6.5 J 16 and 17 inchTyres: 205/60 R16 and 205/55 R17Brakes: 280mm ventilated discs (front), 260mm solid discs (rear)Suspension: MacPherson struts (front), flexible beam (rear)Economy: 7.8L/100kmCO2: 184g/km (185 CVT)Fuel tank: 60 litresKerb weight: 1328kg (man) 1369 (CVT)Dimensions (mm): 4618 (l), 2037 (w), 1501 (h), 2702 (wheelbase), 156 (clearance)

THE “under new management” sign has been hung out at Renault Australia. In the third relaunch of the French brand in Australia in recent years, new boss Justin Hocevar promises new models, a 400 per cent increase in financial investment from the parent company and a “fresh” management team.The former Mini boss also brings with him a couple of his former Mini colleagues, immediately jumping into the deep end with the Australian International Motor Show, annual budget reviews, a national dealer meeting and the media launch of four new models – Megane Hatch, Megane RS250, Megane Coupe-Cabriolet and Fluence sedan, a joint venture with Nissan.“These are the basis of the recovery of our brand in Australia,” Hocevar says. “Renault has been underestimated for too long in Australia.” According to the latest sales figures, the company is “underestimated” by about 30 per cent.VALUEHocevar says the new models arrive with “more equipment, but not inflated price tags”, simplified two-trim variants (Dynamique and Privilege) and charming Euro styling. Renault has announced a drive-away price of $25,990 for the Megane Hatch Dynamique manual listed at $22,990. The CVT auto adds $2000.Compare that with the 2003 launch of the Megane which started at $31,990 for the two-litre Dynamique with five-speed manual. The entry model 1.6-litre model was $25,990.Renault spokesman Sylvain Martin-Villa says the new Megane Hatch comes with “a lot of standard equipment” not included on the original model such as six airbags, cruise control, ESP, hands-free key card and music-streaming Bluetooth which is standard in all the new models.The top-spec Privilege adds leather upholstery and trim, sunroof, sat nav, rear parking sensors and is listed at $29,990.The Coupe-Cabriolet comes in Dynamique only, with sat nav, heated seats and a folding glass roof from $45,990.The Mégane Renault Sport 250, which features in the latest Need for Speed computer game, arrives in Cup from $41,990 and Trophée from $46,990, adding Recaro seats, remote key, tyre pressure monitor and 19-inch alloys.The Fluence sedan will sell for the drive-away price of $25,990 for the Dynamique manual. It is listed at $22,990, the CVT is an extra $2000 and the top-spec Privilege with CVT and sat nav is listed at $29,990.TECHNOLOGYThe Megane Hatch, Coupe-Cabriolet and Fluence share the two-litre four-cylinder engine with power figures of 103kW (102kW in the Megane Dynamique manual) and 195Nm of torque, married to a six-speed manual or a six-step CVT, although the Coupe-Cabriolet is CVT only.The RS250 also features the two-litre engine, but turbocharged to 184kW/340Nm mated to a six-speed manual transmission with a limited-slip differential. It also comes with Brembo brakes, lowered and stiffer Cup suspension and a performance data monitor that displays lap times, engine performance, G force and more.There are no diesel Meganes available at launch. “Diesel doesn’t fit our philosophy,” Hocevar says. “Customers want high-revving engines and we don’t want to dilute the business case at the moment with diesel.” He says the high demand in Europe for diesel would create supply problems here. “The Australian diesel market is increasing, but it’s still not high,” he says. However, Hocevar says a diesel Megane will arrive in the next 12 months when the new double-clutch gearbox is available.STYLING“These are still not conservative designs,” Hocevar says. However, the Megane Hatch has gone on a diet and finally loses its controversial flabby bottom. “It’s a less polarizing design,” Hocevar admits.The hatch now looks more like a Peugeot 308 hatch. CC is marked by a glass sunroof and a boat-like rear end. Renault claims the roof goes in 22 seconds, but it takes about five seconds more and must be done while stationary.The RS250 looks better from the rear with its massive diffuser and centralised single exhaust pipe that should please the hot hatch fans. Inside, it’s a little gaudy with yellow seatbelts, seat stitching and tacho.The new Fluence is an elegant small sedan with a generous 4.6m body length and 2.7m wheelbase creating a lot of space for five people. Inside, it is identical to the Megane, except for a larger rear seat, more legroom and, of course, a boot.SAFETY All new models have a long list of safety features such as six airbags, automatic headlight and wipers, ESP, ABS, emergency braking assist and on the CC there is rollover protection.There are also energy-absorbing bumpers to protect pedestrians.DRIVINGWith four cars to get through in one day at the national launch in country Victoria, it was difficult to gain detailed impressions. However, the Megane Hatch distinguished itself as quiet and comfortable with solid road manners and the ability to boogie when the roads get a little twisty.It’s always had sporty front-wheel-drive handling characteristics, but now with a little less understeer and torque steer. It also handles the sudden jolts in road surfaces a little better. The CVT makes the engine scream when pushed and you are better advised to use the six-step selector for shuffling through the “gears”.Inside is a pleasant environment with plenty of soft touch surfaces, especially where you rest your elbows. However, the seats are short in the base and the winding mechanical adjustment is archaic. The switches and controls are typically quirky like most French cars such as the audio controls on a stalk hidden behind the steering wheel. Surprisingly there is no passing indicator function that flashes two or three times. Front-seat passengers will enjoy the high “command” position and the sense of space.The Fluence makes the Megane almost seem harsh. It is eerily quiet, refined and rides with the composure of a much bigger car. Steering is ultra-light at low speed for easy parking and firms up as speed gathers with a nice weight and feel. While the CVT still makes the engine scream, it is fainter in the Megane. Inside, it is identical to the Megane, except for stacks of leg room front and back.In Coupe format, the CC has more structural integrity than most folding hard tops. It handles without drama and there are no groans or creaks from the roof joins. The glass roof only has a gauze cover which is not enough to shield passengers against the sun’s harmful rays, glare and heat.The top goes down when stationary in 27 seconds, not the claimed 22. Once down, the dashboard and steering vibrate and the weight of the folding roof with its heavy glass in the boot makes the front light and the steering vague.We experienced the RS250 only on the Broadford motorcycle track, a challenging, undulating circuit with off-camber and blind corners. Hocevar says “this is how it should be driven”. The RS250 joins the recently released Clio Sport 200 Gordinio edition in Renault’s venerable sport stable that goes all the way up to Mark Webber’s work car. “This is not just stick-on badges, but ground-up reworking,” says Hocevar.On the track, even hard-core sports machines can feel soft. Here the RS250 feels sloppy, the brakes soft, the steering vague and it’s simply too quiet until it’s hitting the rev limiter. It would probably be quite good on the open road where the bumps can unsettle more highly strung hot hatches. At least the LSD ensures there is little wheel spin, while there is virtually no torque steer.VERDICTRenault has hit the spot with pricing, features, styling and refinement. Megane Hatch is now a much more approachable design and the Fluence should win some customers in the growing small-to-medium sedan category.There has always been a market for Renault Sport products, but the RS250 will win few converts, even though it looks the part. It remains to be seen whether the company can restore some faith in this quality Euro marquee.New Renault modelsMégane Hatch: Dynamique man. $22,990 ($25,990 drive away), Dynamique CVT $24,990, Privilege CVT $29,990Megane Coupe-Cabriolet: $45,990Megane RS250 Cup: $41,990Megane RS250 Cup Trophee: $46,990Fluence: Dynamique man. $22,990 ($25,990 drive away), Dynamique CVT $24,990, Privilege CVT $29,990