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Consumer Reviews of Renault Fluence | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Very surprising car | Posted on 07 Aug 2014 |
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Review
I brought this car because it was cheap, (had it 2 years now) but did I get a shock. Some how an unmarked and un badged sport version slipped through the net. Will do 150kms in 4th, only need 6th after 185kms. Will 205kms before it'll start to slow and struggle. It's roomy, comfortable, economical, good looks, and fast. Its quicker off the line and around corners than my friends 5.7ltr r8 Hsv maloo. 1 tank of fuel,in the high way does 700km, cruise on 140. Heaps of room in the boot, plus you can fold the seats flat. Nice driving position, well weighted clutch and gears nice and close together. Auto lights, auto wipers, alloys, reverse sensors, hill start assist, auto climate control, CD player, Bluetooth, steering wheel controls, electric mirrors that fold in when you lock it. For $27,990 with metallic paint 3 years capped price servicing at $399 and 5 year warranty and 5 year road side assist. I think it's a good deal.
What I like
The power and response. 90kms in 6th, drop to 2nd well within its rev range and it'll just go. Faster than my friend 5.7ltr V8 through corners and off the line, uses little fuel, can fit everything and everyone in it. Good turning circle, easy to park, looks good, particularly from the back. Light and easy steering, smooth gearbox and clutch. It's just got everything you need in one car, it's a good compromise between performance, comfort, and practicality. And well priced.
What I do not like
Only 2 things. The bonnet release is on the wrong side of the car on the passengers side, and being a manual it's hard to indicate and change gear at the same time; as you need your left had for both. Makes indicating to over take difficult. Other than that it's a good size, capable car..
2nd Review | Posted on 03 Jul 2012 |
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Review
I made a review in June 2011 and here I am sharing my views after owning Fluence for 1.5 years. This car cannot make it!!! In spite of much higher car prices these days, I am prepared to lose money and sell it off but there are no takers. Dealers told me they cannot quote me because I will lose too much and it is hard for them to sell this brand.
I drove to KL last month during school holidays. I struggled so much in North-South Highway. I tried to overtake big trucks on left lane and in midst of overtaking, I could see other cars coming from FAR distance in the right lane. I tried to filter left but this car is so underpowered that I actaully struggled to overtake the slow trucks. Those cars from FAR distance could get so near to me. At 120km/h, that was about the max this car could do. Anything more gave rattling and wobbly feel. Horrible! Just cannot make it!!! I also tried using the manual mode to change gears several times and gave up. Changing to lower gear would only hear louder engine noise but there was NO increase in power at all. Only consolation is this car will forever keeps me within the speed limit and never ever likely to get a speeding ticket.
What I like
Objectively, nothing.
What I do not like
Many, super UNDERPOWERED and unreliable. Start/Stop button is at passenger side at knee level, likely to hit it by accident. Body roll is excessive. Built-in GPS sucks. Audio and Bluetooth system is lousy. Servicing and parts are very expensive. Cannot even get a quote from dealers when I am prepared to sell at a loss (imagine at current market where used cars value risen so much). To sum up, I simply cannot find any driving pleasure with this hopeless car. I regretted over the world in buying Renault Fluence.
Disappointment | Posted on 02 May 2012 |
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Review
By next month, I will have own Renault Fluence for 1 year. Although it is the newest and so-called the best model in Renault line-up here, it seems to be overstated. What a silly choice I made to buy this car and I have to live with this agony for a few more years because I cannot afford to get another car with the high car prices now. I have always been driving Toyota and decided to give a continental brand a try after reading the positive reviews of Fluence in newspaper and magazines. My test drive was ok too. After driving for 1 year, I have to say that all the reviews were overstated. How should I describe how underpowered it is? I have been stretching the engine to work so hard and I wonder how long the engine can endure my hard treatment. Nothing special to talk about the comfort, handling or efficiency of the car. Maybe, it is more consoling to say that the car is my basic transport tool for shuttering family and for personal errands, nothing more.
What I like
1) A couple more features compared to most 1.6 Japanese brands.
2) Relatively quiet and smooth drive at 80-90 km/h.
3) Quite a large trunk.
What I do not like
1) Extremely underpowered car. CVT gearbox is unresponsive and it takes a few seconds to get going at traffic stops. Driving upslope is a burden on the car. Avoid driving to Genting Highlands if you can.
2) Overall body roll is very evident.
3) Unstable and very noisy drive when exceeds 120 km/h.
4) Over-selling of the high-tech features. Built-in GPS is not user-friendly, built-in Bluetooth is more of a 3rd grade quality (poor sound clarity with frequent breaking-up) and the auxiliary audio is compatible with iPods only although the manual states that it is compatible with MP3, WMA and OGG formats.
5) Poor resale value. Seems that nobody likes this brand and value is pressed down.
6) Very expensive servicing packages for a 1.6L mass model. Also, many parts are chargeable and expensive, and not covered by warranty.
Choosing between Fluence, Altis or Sylphy | Posted on 15 Nov 2011 |
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Review
I manage to test drive these 3 cars all in the same day not too long ago, to provide a consistent opinion for my review. I chose these 3 cars as they are roughly in the same price range and probably what fresh grads out of uni or budding parents are planning to buy.
When I first saw this car, I must say it has the "showroom appeal". It stands out in the crowd for sure (from the likes of Altis, Sylphy, Civic and the ubiquitous Chevvy Taxi Cruz which is actually Holden Cruz in Aussie) and as the salesgirl claimed, it is a "continental" car. The interior is actually not bad for its price and this Fluence offers good space both front, back and in the boot. Equipments are quite on-par or slightly better than market. Subsequently, I requested for a test drive and was not expecting much from the various reviews I have came across. I would say cornering is prob the best out of the 3 cars I previously mentioned (prob due to the heavier weight) but there is probably nothing much else remarkable about the drive.
Now, let me talk about the issues. This Fluence is seriously underpowered. With only 110 Bhp (compared with Altis which has 120+ Bhp and with lighter body), it needs alot of prodding to get moving. For instance, I was trying to make a right turn at a cross junction (with green lights but no green arrow) and I came dangerously close with the oncoming traffic. FYI, i drive a 1.5L auto vios but not M3 or what AMG so i believe I am a relatively slow but safe driver and I never had such issues before. Next, its the quality. Though it feels nice in the showroom, out on the road, i started hearing rattling noises coming from ?? which then I asked the salesgirl who then gave me the ?? look. I drove my cheap vios for 3 years and have never encountered this issue. In addition, its the price. Mind you, this car is being sold as samsung SM3 in Korea and as Fluence in other countries, all of which are cheaper than its Japanese rivals. We are actually getting the cheaper of the 2 versions (if you google online, the other version has slightly differnt bonet and grill) which comes with NO door pockets on backseats, NO proper AUX/USB port, NO proper silicon wiper (they provide the old school skeleton type wiper)
What I like
-space
-unique (not necessarily good) looks
-stable drive
What I do not like
-Korean car selling at Jap car price
-Super lack of power (esp pickup but cruising is ok)
-questionable quality
-questionable durability
-very questionable resale value and ease of selling (I saw a few Fluence ad for months already. If its T, they would have been gone months ago)
Renault is not a lemon as what people think! | Posted on 04 Nov 2011 |
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Review
This is the second Renault car i have owned. Before this i was driving a Megane II, which was a superb car as well. I still like the Megane II design more, as it offers more executive look. Fluence has a mix of Korean DNA, so design is slightly less uniquely french in certain ways. After driving Renault cars for 6 years, i like to say they are not lemon as what most people think. However, you need to know which workshops you need to go to, and also which are the more vulnerable parts to be replaced. Most of the workshops can't service Renault well, as their built can be slightly different from other makes.
What I like
- Big car. Big space.
- Stable car at high speed.
- Rear air con vent.
- Mixture of French with Korean DNA, but looks unique.
- Reasonably priced.
What I do not like
- Dashboard design can be better.
- I don't like the grille design (too Avante), but they don't bring in the original Turkey made version.
- FC is not that fantastic, but it is a big car for 1.6L.
- Pickup is still below expectation. Just the same as Megane II.
Speaking as a Owner for 6 Months | Posted on 29 Jun 2011 |
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Review
I was pleasantly impressed with this new model when it was 1st launched in Nov last year. As a 1.6L car, it contains the features of a 2.0L make such as keyless entry, built-in GPS, bluetooth, etc. Overall styling, cabin space and value-for-money were great. Test drive experience was decent and I booked the car.
Having driven it for 6 months, I can only say this car really under-powered. Overtaking in any condition is always a challenge. I have somehow changed my driving habit to drive slower and always use the slow lane. I become wary when I am the 1st car in a traffic junction. Maybe its a CVT engine and the power is so lacking for a car of this size. I really have doubt if this car can take me on Malaysia roads.
On the after-sale, it leaves so much to be desired. My 1st servicing at Wearnes costed me $406. Bearing in mind that this is a 1.6L model, comprises of Japanese engine and assembled in Korea, its amazing that the servicing cost is exorbitant with sub-standard service. The staff sounded so cold when I called to make the service appointment. At the counter, the staff was hardly friendly. There was no smile and I was served like their routine job, simply to get their jobs done. When asked question about the car, the staff's response was "this is a new model, we are not sure". Looks like I have to live with this until I have the next change and this is a hard lesson learnt.
Nevertheless, having invested so much money in this car at the prevailing COE, I have to like my car regardless. For those who have bought this car or who are considering it, good luck and hope that you have a better experience than me.
What I like
Styling, features, cabin and trunk space.
What I do not like
Very under-powered car, more suited for people who prefer slow or leisure driving. After-sale service sucks and agent's service charges are exorbitant.
A car that I would seriously consider for my next replacement | Posted on 21 Jun 2011 |
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Review
Got a chance to drive the Fluence the second time. This time round I can judged the car better as I have noted the details of Fluence compared to other Japanese or Korean rides.
The drive feels the same as the first time I drove it. Though it is a CVT, move off is pretty responsive. Overtaking is sluggish due to the gearless feel of CVT, hence no kick down to feel the immediate response. Road noise is pretty well suppress, engine noise insulation is impressive under normal driving condition, as good as silent, if one doesn't observe the speedometer to drive within the speed limit of 60km/h, this car refinement can easily mask the actual speed you are driving.
Ride is on the firm side but still very comfortable. Steering is very light at low speed but gradually firm up as speed rises, a good setup to have.
Even though there are newer rides and great styling cars like Forte and Elantra, I like the Fluence styling very much over the two mentioned, much more over the overdone design of Elantra. What I like most is the solid feel of the metal around the car, because they are of thicker steel compared to all Japanese and Korean makes these days, even the Opel Astra lost out the solid feel too. How I know it? Because I have done the palm test and knock test on the metal of the cars, Fluence gives the best solid feel.
What I like
- Great styling
- Big body
- Spacious interior
- Huge boot
- Good insulation
- Solid build, thick steel body
- Interior simple and comfortable, just feels different from Asean makes, even though it is build in Korean
- Thought local fitted leather seats, I like the colour combination, i.e black, beige or red, options to choose from
- Very smooth and comfortable drive
What I do not like
- Uses Octane 95 onwards
- Big fuel tank (more weight to the already heavy body, hence affect fuel economy)
- Rear seats are mounted high, good view out front but affects rear headroom. Sloping rear roof adds on the disadvantage to it too
- CVT response during overtaking, even manual mode doesn't help to sharpen the response
- Noisy operation of locking mechanism during activation and deactivation, spoils the otherwise refine ambience of Fluence
- Very high pricing
- Aftermarket servicing and maintenance
- Parts not widely available
A nice and comfy car | Posted on 10 Jun 2011 |
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Review
Been driving my fluence for the past 5 days. Its a cool car. Most of the features i want in a car are all there. Something quite disappointing is that it does not come with usb port or iphone compatiable port. Other than that it is a nice ride. A very big car for 1.6cc category.
Comfort and quiet | Posted on 25 May 2011 |
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Review
My wife and myself test drive the Renault Fluence on a hot Sunday noon. We've also tested the Chevrolet Cruze LS model a few weeks back. On comparison, both cars have their perks and flaws. No car in this world can satisfy an owner.
I believe that you need to know what you are looking for in a car.
Firstly, Exterior. The Fluence gave a very luxury car feeling compared to the Cruze, which is sporty. The design of the Fluence design looks a bit older than the Cruze's modern design. The wheel base of the Fluence is wider than the Cruze, which helps passengers to have a more comfortable feeling.
Secondly, Speed. The pick-up from the 6-speed CVT engine for the Fluence is smooth with minimal drag feeling. The Cruze needs a little more 'stepping on the pedal' to get the car moving. But comparing both cars, they both give a decent 156NM and 155NM respectively with top-speed of 185km/h. The engine of the Fluence is smooth and less noisier than the Cruze. The change in gear is smoother too.
Thridly, Interior comfort. Being a driver, the first entry into the car is the most important. The seat most be able to fit the body length, body size and the self, before turning on the engine. The passengers from the front to the back must allow free movement, being children or adults alike. Both cars give a very generous space for legs and movement. No claustrophobic feeling. Comfortable leather seats. Both I must say the Fluence edge the Cruze out a little when comparing the interior comfort. The additional air-con vents for rear passengers really helps, especially in our hot and humid climate in Singapore and Malaysia.
Fourthly, Technology. I must say that the Cruze takes all the advantages of technology compared to any other cars in the 1.6L range. I've not seen any other car having that much technology like iPod connectivity, factory fitted DVD player, GPS navigator system (generic), bluetooth connectivity with head system, USB pod, etc. The Fluence is also not far behind though. A build-in TomTom navigator, bluetooth connectivity with head system, RCA terminal for mp3 player.
One big difference is price. For a key-less entry and push start button of the Cruze, you are expected to pay an extra $2k. But the Fluence comes with it inclusive.
Overall, both cars offer a different feel, comfort and drive. It all depends on the driver and his co-pilot.
What I like
Comfortable.
Smooth drive.
Well thought design for passenger (interior)
Excellent sales consultants
Easy steering
6 Air bags that spill over to the passenger side
Safety features
Telescopic steering wheel
Renowned GPS brand
What I do not like
No reverse camera
Exterior needs slight improve in design
Upgrade of stereo head and speakers
The FLUENCE that can In-FLUENCE you to buy it. | Posted on 10 Apr 2011 |
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Review
I tried this a few weeks back and must say for a 1.6L car to find so many features in it is hard to get nowadays.
For this range, you can find so many accessories that can only be seen in higher price makes and models like keyless entry, start stop engine, auto headlights and rain sensors, etc...
The drive is ok as not much complains due to its a 1.6L..gear changes are smooth and no noise at all.
Steering is light and cornering have a bit of body roll. Boot space is also pretty big for this size of car too.
Its definately a BEST choice to get comparing to other makes in this 1.6L category for the price you are paying for.
What I like
Keyless Entry where you can only see in higher range of cars
Rear aircon
GPS built in
Reverse Camera built in
Auto rain sensors
Auto headlights
Bluetooth connectivity
6 Speed gearbox
Auto climate aircon
Standard given as 16-inch rims
Boot space
What I do not like
Squarish design...should consider rounder or sportier look in the facelift.
A little body roll when cornering
CVT gearbox although is a 6-speed
Surprisingly Good | Posted on 21 Dec 2010 |
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Review
Just test drove the Fluence today and I am amazed that a car of this size and weight can pick up effortlessly. Even when I step hard on the accelerator the power came instantly unlike other cvt gearbox which is very laggy(eg. Mit Lancer ex2.0 GT). This car has very good insulation where you can barely hear the road and wind noise. Pretty good audio system. Basically this car has everything you want in the car. Handling of this car feels solid enough although the steering is very light.
What I like
Push start
Keyless entry
Auto headlights and wipers
GPS
Spacious interior
Long leg room at the rear
Quiet engine
Good acceleration (best among 1.6L NA cars)
Fixed audio controls on steering wheel
What I do not like
Overly light steering
Small rims.
Low headroom at the rear. (due to higher seating at the rear.
No electric seats.
Excellent Service At Renault | Posted on 16 Dec 2010 |
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Review
Went around Toyota, Kia and Renault the other day with my 3 kids looking for a replacement car for my 4 years old Honda Airwave.
The sale rep was very polite and i told them that i need to rush off because w 3 kids, just taking a look at New Fluence. However the guest officer came up and approach my kids and reassure me that they will be taken care of while i'm talking to sales rep.
I'm delighted because my previous visit at other showroom when i told them i just browsing with kids not convenient and they just simply pass me the catalogue and go back to their counter.
What I like
Spacious leg room front and back seat.
Folding seat at the back which create super bigger room for transporting bulky item.
keyless entry and start engine.
6 airbags (other maker 4 airbag)
Built in Gps.
But then when i ask what type of engine and i realise its a co made by Nissan & Renault at Japan.
After much asking then i realise Renault was owned by wearnes Org and lately they bought over shares of Japan nissan.
Then i found out parts from origin Renault, Engine from Japan and assemble in Korean.
Again i'm puzzle- as what i understand from sales rep Renault was the so called Mother of MPV in many years back. (and other maker start to follow)
And they mark the history again to cross the border to be the first to launch Fluence mapping Korean, japan and european technologies.
Sound Impressive.
What I do not like
No sunroof.
Original Tyres by Korean.
No cruise control
Slow pick up.(not for driving up to Malaysia)
Price abit up especially with COE keep going up.
I would wait till COE price drop and hope the price go down since i still can afford to wait.
Made in Korea | Posted on 13 Dec 2010 |
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Review
Guys, what is happening nowadays?
A Renault but made in Korea?
Do the Sales Reps actually tell you this very important FACT; or you have to ask to find out?
What I like
Styling; 6 Speed Gear Box
What I do not like
Made in Korea but Selling as a European Car.
To me, that is cheating!
Most spacious & value for money | Posted on 03 Dec 2010 |
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Review
Being a current Megane sedan owner for coming 4 years, I was indeed waiting for a new range of Renault cars. Though did encounter small issues here and there, I must say the Megane sedan has served me & my family well in comparison to the japanese cars I used to own. After reading the impressive review from Christoper Tan dated 13th Nov, I decided to check out the Fluence last weekend with my family of 5. Though my previous sales consultant is no longer with Renault, my family was very well received by the sales consultant, Adeline the moment we stepped into the showroom. She patiently went through the car with us though I had intentionally raised lots of objections. Even my negative mindset wife was impressed with her service as well as the features, the drive and most importantly-the price. And of course, we booked a unit & my kids are indeed looking forward to receive our Fluence.
What I like
-$$$$$ a very affordable family sedan
-Much better pick up
-spacious leg room for me & my family sitting behind
-modern design
-6 speed transmission on 1.6 sedan
-impressive boot room
-rear aircon vents for my kids at the back seats
-the keyless start, keyless entry:-)
-Integrated bluetooth
-6 airbags which is only available in premium segment:-)
What I do not like
-no more anti whiplash head rest but actually not very important
-no more cruise control but though I have it on my Megane Sedan. I barely use it
Review
I must say I am very surprised. However I have driven the auto as a hire car. I think it's the CVT gearbox that wrecks the car. And 1.6 is tinny for that size body. Glad I got the 2.0T in manual. I thing that cvt gearbox is flawed.