Renault Laguna New Car Review - Car Reviews

Renault Laguna

VERDICT:

The Renault Laguna is well-specced, packed with safety equipment and actually pretty good to drive

Performance

With the smallest current engine a 95bhp 1.9-litre diesel, the Laguna isn't in short supply of performance. All the diesels are punchy, but especially the 173bhp two-litre DCi. The two-litre petrol is good, but for blistering performance you need the GT. Fitted with a version of the Megane 225's engine it produces 202bhp, which equates to a top speed of 146mph and a 0-62mph time of 7.2secs. The power is delivered with punch and without hesitation, while the two-litre engine makes a throaty growl. For motorway cruising, though, buy the 207bhp V6.

Driving

The seat-of-the-pants experience can be a bit fidgety and the steering, though nicely weighted, kicks back over ripples in the road. However, for the new GT model, the chassis has been substantially modified and the suspension lowered by 10mm for performance driving. While it's no BMW 3-Series, it clings to the road well enough, and the grip is a match

Space

The Laguna is reasonably, but not massively, roomy in the back, and adults might find their heads brushing the ceiling, thanks to the angled roof. Still, in the best French tradition, seats are comfy and the boot is big, with the 60/40 split rear seats folding flat to increase this to 1,334 litres.

Build Quality

On the face of it you would think the Laguna would be highly reliable. The interior is impressively constructed, feels tight and uses good quality plastics. Plus the engines are strong and durable. However, the car finished a disappointing 143rd out of 152 in Top Gear's latest reader survey with owners saying that it's a costly and frustrating car to fix when it goes wrong.

Equipment

Every model comes with a CD player, alloys and either air-conditioning or climate control. The top-of-the-range Initiale is kitted with satnav and leather upholstery. The V6 is the only Laguna to have an auto gearbox as standard, but it is an option throughout the range.

Safety

No problems here. Every Laguna trim level comes with four airbags plus side curtains and anti-lock brakes as standard. More importantly it was the first car to score a maximum of five stars in EuroNCAP's crash tests.

Owning

Maintenance and insurance costs are average and there's a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty. Choose the right engine, such as the 1.9-litre diesel, and the fuel bills will be small, but expect crippling depreciation, especially on the V6 versions.

Value

Although there's no small engine, the Laguna still has the same starting price as the Ford Mondeo. The V6 version is costly for a mid-range saloon, mind.

Verdict

It may be on the way out, but the current Laguna is still a comfy and competent saloon that's more about passenger safety than it is about driver engagement. Still, you won't regret buying one when you're in the middle of a crash. Plus it's well-equipped and quite keenly priced.

Fancy something bigger?

Sport Tourer