2013 RENAULT Fluence 1.6L dCI 6MT FWD (130 HP)

Vehicle Overview

After the dismissal of the second generation of the Renault Megane sedan, the three-box version of the compact sedan vehicle was named Fluence. It was a car built mostly for the East-European market.

In some markets, the three-box vehicles are considered more attractive than the hatchbacks or the station-wagons. A sedan company-car was considered a business vehicle, not just another vehicle from the lineup. Due to that reason, Renault had great success with the first two generations of the Renault Megane Sedan (three-box). For the third generation, it changed the strategy and the sedan was named Fluence but shared most of the parts with the Megane.

The simple look of the Fluence was drawn for a minimal cost with the production. The front parts were similar to the Megane. A new design for the LED daytime running lights was adopted to offer a more exclusive image and to comply with the European regulations.

Inside, there was a five-seat cabin with some parts carried over from the Megane III base trim levels. The cloth upholstery and plastic panels were stamped to look like stitches. The flat seats and bench didn’t offer too much grip while cornering and, unlike the rest of the Megane range, it featured a hydraulic power-steering. The top trim level featured an R-Link infotainment system. The Bluetooth connectivity was offered from the entry-level.

Under the hood, there was a choice of two engines: 1.6-liter gasoline, or a 1.6-liter turbodiesel. Both versions were mated as standard to a manual gearbox with 5-speed or 6-speed respectively. A CVT or an automatic was on the options list as well.