Is the Renault Fluence the modern day Cielo to an aspiring family car buyer?
The Renault Fluence is one of the only two original Renault cars to be on sale in India. Every other product is either a rebadged Nissan or Dacia.
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The D Segment sedan scores high on styling and quality, and makes do with the popular 1.5 litre K9K engine. The D segment is not the place to be for the sedans since it is reigned by SUVs currently, nevertheless the Fluence is one of the worthy contenders.
Launched in India way back in mid-2011, the company quickly reacted to customer feedback by bringing an improved version in April 2012 which came with more driveablity and added equipment (diesel variant).
Here is the new TV commercial of the sedan for the Indian audience. The tag line of the car says, "Status Redifined". The ad urges mid size sedan users to do away with their old car and upgrade to the fine Renault Fluence!
In the new advert, the stranded middle aged executive sets his old Daewoo Cielo alight shortly after being driven to a fuel station by a kind by-passer in a Fluence, that leaves him mightily impressed.
The Cielo was arguably India's first "prestige" car, a car that could fulfill the dream of an upgrading Maruti 1000/Esteem customer with a stylish design, premium interior, excellent comfort and a fabulous powertrain package. The Cielo didn't compromise on the aspect of everyday driveability even though there was nothing like it on the roads back in the mid-90's.
Would you agree that the attributes or the ingredients of the Fluence come close to being a Cielo in today's context? Or should Renault have blown up a less familiar model?