For The Renault Fluence is a good-looking electric saloon car with space for five and a decent boot. Zero emissions and no petrol mean it’ll cost peanuts to run. It’s quiet and comfortable, too.
Against Like all electric cars, you’ll have to live with limited usage and range anxiety. We’ve observed that the range drops drastically in very cold weather, too. The dash layout could be clearer.
The Renault Fluence is as comfortable and as refined as any of today’s electric cars, but we think range-extending EVs like the Chevrolet Volt will be a more realistic electric solution for most people
The Renault Fluence has a 94bhp electric motor, which provides a mighty 167lb ft of torque the instant it starts spinning. That means it feels really quick off the mark, and when you’re picking up speed on the move, the Fluence accelerates with impressive immediacy and strength.
The car comes with lots of luxury kit, including 16-inch alloy wheels, climate control, cruise control, built-in TomTom navigation, and charging sockets on both front wings.
The Fluence costs a lot less than its biggest rival, the Nissan Leaf, but you have to pay a monthly charge on top to lease the Fluence’s battery. However, this arrangement does have advantages. You’ll get a free replacement battery when yours comes reaches the end of its lifespan, and it can be easily upgraded when battery technology improves. It also helps protect residual values. Before you buy, however, make sure you can live with the car’s (very) limited range, which drops drastically in cold weather.