The new E4 diesel is here… and to keep things simple, the new E4 will sport the same 1.5-litre diesel mill and six-speed manual transmission as in the E2 diesel and carry all the goodness of its petrol Fluence…

From the Outside
So, you have a new Fluence E4 D that looks exactly the same as before sans a chrome finish on the window sill and boot lid. There are also rain-sensing front wipers and electrically adjustable ORVMs with integrated turn lamps.  The subtle lines along with a wide body and swept back headlamps and long tail lamps make for an attractive design that grows on you.

On the Inside
Inside, the car does away with the ho-hum blacked-out interiors in the E2 diesel for plush leather upholstery, besides introducing at least 10 new comfort and safety features.

These include a new dual-zone climate control with rear AC vents as against just rear AC ducts on the E2 diesel. Other features to find their way on to the new E4 D are automatic headlamp-on, rear parking sensors, cruise control and speed limiter, and rear sunblinds. The CD and MP3 player will come with an additional USB socket and Bluetooth connectivity.

The driver lumbar support, premium fabric upholstery, front arm rest with storage box and cup holder and the rear arm rest with cup holder are some of the other fantastic features that Renault has included in its diesel variant.

The car is equipped with 4 SRS airbags for driver and passenger, anti-lock braking system with EBD, front fog lamps, ISOFIX, and ESP Electronic Stability program.

Under the Hood
The new Fluence will be powered by the 106PS 1.5-litre diesel which gives just enough power (0-100kmph in 13.5 seconds) and torque for a relaxed and stress free drive while efficiency is a thrifty 15.9kmpl.

In Conclusion
The new E4 Fluence diesel is likely be priced at Rs 14.63 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) as stated on Renault's website.

That’s cheaper by a few thousand bucks than the petrol E4 Fluence that’s priced at Rs 14.80 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). It will compete with the likes of Volkswagen Jetta, Skoda Laura and Toyota Corolla Diesel, which are priced between Rs 15.22 lakh and Rs 16.41 lakh.