Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
THERE is nothing more annoying for a driver than having to bend awkwardly to one side in a desperate attempt to read the speedometer or to check the petrol gauge.
It's normally the steering wheel that gets in the way because it can be manoeuvred up and down on most cars nowadays to ensure it is placed in the most comfortable driving position.
Of course, in my experience that normally results in it blocking my view of the dashboard. Not so, in the rather elegant Renault Fluence - one of a succession of welcome surprises this new, four-door saloon has to offer.
Firstly, its size and generous levels of standard equipment place it halfway between the compact family car segment and the more executive one immediately above.
The instrument panel is angled in such a neat way, offering absolute visibility. In fact, all the essential driving functions and useful accessories all fall easily to hand. They are concentrated around the steering wheel and centre console, making the car even more user-friendly.
The Fluence also offers an extremely responsive touch which makes handling and essential lane-changing on Bahrain's mad highways an absolute joy and it's not far off the sensation I enjoyed reviewing the Audi TT a few months ago.
This Renault is comfortable too and it's not surprising to find out that it boasts the greatest interior space in its category.
The front seats offer excellent support and in the back, the knee room is extremely generous. The back seat is inclined at an angle of 27 degrees for bespoke comfort.
Changes for the better appear to be Renault's modus operandi nowadays because in the past there have been some issues over the standard and reliability of the air conditioning units. No such problem nowadays; tailored temperature control with regulated dual-zone air conditioning ensures the atmosphere on board is perfect. What's more, with the adjustable air vents in the back, passengers really feel the benefit of the air-conditioning, whereever they sit.
It's quite a nippy little number too. The Renault Fluence boasts the newest 1.6L 16V 112 hp engine in the Renault-Nissan alliance, which benefits from all the recent technologies available.
Its status-enhancing appeal too is heightened by its sculptured wheel arches and long bonnet. At the rear, the horizontal, two-part lights allow a generous boot aperture and reinforce the car's thoroughly modern styling.
It packs several opulent upgrade touches: the lower window and boot trims, fog lamp surrounds and door handles are finished in chrome, while the B-pillar uprights are gloss black along with body colour side protective mouldings.
But, don't just take my word for it; motoring correspondents have been heaping praise on the car. One described the Renault Fluence as an 'incredibly roomy and, given its low price tag, a surprisingly classy car' and another said it was designed with the aim of 'standing out as the most attractive car of its class' suggesting that several features set it apart from rivals: 'beneath its strong, sporting exterior, Renault Fluence features a barrage of impressive technological aids'.
Did someone mention a 'low price tag'? The 1.6L model I test drove costs just BD5,500 (insurance and registration extra, as usual). Contact YK Almoayyed & Sons on 17732732 for more details or visit the Sitra showroom.
