CoverCars - Car Reviews | News | Pictures

SHOW ME THE MONEY

Okay, it’s just a Laguna – no fancy packaging and its predecessor certainly hasn`t given it a huge sales boost but we are pretty sure where the one billion Euros has gone and in our opinion it’s money well spent!

Quite frankly the new Sport Tourer is the best yet and when we say this we mean it in the widest possible sense, as Renault is really at the heels of VW and Honda and the blisters are about to set in. By 2009 the French marque has set itself the mission of becoming one of the top three brands for product and service quality since customers deemed this to be its weakest link. If this statement seems a bit woolly then let’s look at the concrete facts; the new Renault-Nissan alliance has resulted in far more thorough processes within European factories so that human era doesn’t threaten electronics, paintwork and suchlike. The manufacturer has also launched a new 24 hour test drive programme which you can book online and dealerships have undergone more rigorous customer relations training so that you get a truly personal service and are talked through how you can make the most of your vehicle. To be sure that they could offer a 100,000 mile warranty (instead of the average 60,000 miles) 120 Lagunas were also subjected to almost 4 million miles of driving through some of the world’s harshest climates including the severe humidity of Malaysia and the big freeze of Russia.

Of course it’s too soon to tell whether all the little glitches have been rectified but there don’t appear to be any tell-tale signs to make us think otherwise. The interior for example is well fitted and stitched and the controls all seem to be in good working order, although a few require a bit of grappling. It would be a real shame if the mechanical bits weren’t as durable as they seem because technically they’re brilliant. The handling is fluid, ride comfortable and despite a bit of chassis movement through corners, its stability is sound. The cabin is spacious and quiet and the Initiale trim even looks chic. There’s large windows and well positioned pillars which greatly improve visibility and you can operate all the main controls via one twistable knob which is positioned on the centre console.
Renault has already made a name for itself in the safety stakes so all it needed to do was keep on the same path and set their bar even higher. The Laguna II was the first vehicle to receive a full Five star rating in the Euro NCAP crash tests and the third generation Laguna is likely to follow suit. All models will feature curtain and thorax airbags as standard as well as aids like stability control, traction control and Brake assist. You can specify rear seat airbags on the options list and to ensure its pretty thief proof there’s also a category 1 alarm and deadlocks.

There’s 501 litres of boot space with all the seats in use and 1593 with them folded flat which is significantly more than its predecessor. Folding them requires one-touch and the seat backs fold completely flat. The width is slightly compromised by the new tailgate design but it won’t be like a crystal maze challenge positioning all the objects you want to fit in. The parcel shelve is also more versatile; it can be slid back or stowed under the boot floor. The slickest feature though is the split tailgate which is standard on Initiale models and an £150 option for the others.
The new Sport Tourer comes in both hatchback and estate guises and there are a range of engines to choose from. If economy is top of your list then the 1.5dCi diesel with 110bhp is your best bet. There are also 130bhp and 150bhp versions of the 2.0-litre diesel as well as the top 175bhp unit. In the petrol line-up there’s both a 140bhp and a turbocharged 170bhp engine. A standard automatic transmission is offered with the 170bhp petrol engine but you can opt for it with the 150bhp diesel. Then you’ve got your four trim levels to consider which start from Expression and move through to Dynamic, Dynamic S and Intiale. It’s worth going for the top trim as it is well laden with standard equipment such as wood trim, leather seats, top grade alloys as well as a sophisticated sound system and sat nav. Metallic paint and Xenon directional headlamps are also thrown in together with parking sensors and a driving seat that is intelligent enough to remember your favourite preferences. The engine of choice would be the 150bhp diesel which is both frisky and economical, although all units are smooth and capable.

For those of you who can’t bare to be bullied out of the way; there’s a 3.5 V6 petrol version and a 3.0-litre dCi V6 diesel expected later this year. The coupe body style will match the sportier engines and the new Active Drive suspension (available this spring) completes the package.

Verdict

FOR: The ease of driving it; optimum position for piloting, tactile gears and superb handling.
AGAINST: It’s not exactly catwalk material is it? The smaller controls aren’t that user-friendly either.
CONCLUSION: Renault’s huge effort has resulted in a strong all-round family car; its quality has improved ten-fold and it has all the hallmarks of a front runner.

Spec

ENGINE: 2.0-litre dCi
POWER: 150bhp
TORQUE (lb/ft): 340Nm
0-62mph (sec): 9.7
TOP SPEED: 131mph
TRANSMISSION: Six speed manual
PRICE: £23,150
RIVALS: Ford Mondeo, Volkswagen Passat, Honda Accord