Renault Korea SM3 History
Renault Samsung's entry-level compact — first a rebadged Nissan Bluebird Sylphy, then a Renault Fluence twin, plus a pioneering battery-electric variant.
Photo: “Renault-Samsung SM3 1” by Damian B Oh / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
History
The SM3 launched in September 2002 in Busan as a rebadged first-generation Nissan Bluebird Sylphy (Sunny platform), powered by 1.5- and 1.6-litre Nissan QG-series four-cylinders. A facelift known as 'SM3 New Generation' arrived in August 2005, extending the first generation's run.
A second-generation SM3 debuted at the 2009 Seoul Motor Show as a notchback saloon version of the Renault Mégane 3 — sold in other markets as the Renault Fluence. This Renault-derived generation brought modern safety and interior standards and continued in production until late 2019, when ICE-engined SM3 and SM7 production wound down simultaneously.
At the 2011 Seoul Motor Show, Renault Samsung unveiled the SM3 Z.E. — an all-electric variant based on the Renault Fluence Z.E. The SM3 Z.E. entered mass production at the Busan plant in October 2013 and briefly led South Korea's small but growing EV market with a 58 % share and 453 units in its second marketing year.
Generations
First generation · N17 (Bluebird Sylphy-based)
Photo: “Renault-Samsung SM3 1” by Damian B Oh / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Rebadged Nissan Bluebird Sylphy with 1.5 / 1.6 QG-series engines; facelifted 2005 as 'New Generation'.
2007 Photo: “Samsung SM3 1.5 SE 2007” by RL GNZLZ / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Second generation · L38 (Mégane 3 / Fluence-based)
Photo: “Samsung SM3 Z.E L38 FL Cloud Pearl (5)” by Damian B Oh / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Renault Mégane 3 notchback platform — also sold as Renault Fluence in export markets.
2013 Photo: “RENAULT SAMSUNG SM3 Z.E. 2013 SMS 02” by CEFICEFI / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Body styles
- Sedan
Notable special editions & performance variants
SM3 Z.E.
All-electric variant based on the Renault Fluence Z.E.; entered mass production at Busan in October 2013 and led Korean EV sales in 2013.
Related models
Collect the nameplate
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