Renault Laguna Coupé becomes reality

Expert Rating:

What is it?

Renault has been teasing us with its sleek Laguna Coupé Concept for long enough and now we finally have the road-going car. In transition from concept to reality, little has been lost of the Coupé's swooping lines and distinctive lights. The French firm has timed the arrival of its coupé well, as the mid-sized saloon, hatch and coupé markets are experiencing a revival in fortunes as many buyers abandon their SUVs in favour of more economical - but still stylish - ways to drive. Renault claims the Audi A5, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes CLK are among its rivals, but in reality the Laguna Coupé is up against the Mazda RX-8, Peugeot 407 and Volkswagen Scirocco.

Is it any good?

If you like your coupés with grip and vim, you'll be glad to hear that the Laguna Coupé is surprisingly agile, though we've only tried it in upscale GT form. There's plenty of front-end grip, despite the top-spec cars using heavy V6 engines in petrol and diesel forms. Order your car in GT trim and it comes with the '4Control' chassis that allows the rear wheels to move by up to 3.5-degrees to help with the steering. It makes the Laguna Coupé easier to park and helps it turn in to corners more nimbly, though the steering feels too remote from the front wheels when pressing on. The 3.5-litre V6 serves up swift performance with 0-62mph in 7.4 seconds, but it's the 3.0 dCi V6 turbodiesel that is quickest off the mark, covering 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds. This is despite both V6 models coming with a six-speed automatic gearbox as standard. The petrol V6 wins back some pride with a higher top speed, producing 153mph to the diesel's 151mph. We'd take the diesel variant every time out of this pair as it's the smoother, more refined unit and suits the Laguna Coupé's grand touring nature more comfortably. Renault also has a 205bhp 2.0-litre turbo petrol offering and a pair of 2.0-litre turbodiesels in 150- and 180bhp forms. Only the two petrol units and two more potent turbodiesels will be offered in GT spec. Inside, the Laguna Coupé is well made; though it's a shame the dash is lifted lock, stock and ignition barrel from the hatch. There's reasonable space in the rear for this class of car for passengers, but you can forget carrying a couple of six foot-plus adults over any distance in the back. Refinement is good and the diesel V6 is turbine smooth with oodles of low- and mid-rev power, Its 39.2mpg combined economy and 192g/km carbon dioxide emissions make it a reasonable choice if you must have a large capacity engine. All Laguna Coupés come well kitted out with climate control, eight airbags, CD stereo and 18-inch alloy wheels, with the GT upping the spec with standard leather upholstery, electronic parking brake and the 4Control chassis. We wouldn't bother with the petrol V6. Its 28.2mpg average fuel consumption and 238g/km carbon dioxide output may not be any worse than many rivals', but it's still a bitter financial pill to swallow when it comes to paying at the pump or to the taxman. The engine has plenty of get up and go, but it rarely feels as brawny as the power figures would suggest. The clincher, though, is the six-speed automatic gearbox attached to the engine. Where the diesel V6 has the grunt to make up for the auto box's deficiencies, the petrol unit highlights them. The gearbox is too slow to react when the driver presses hard on the throttle for some added forward momentum or, if using the manual override function, it malingers too long before deciding when and if it will drop a gear as requested. On top of this, there are no steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, which would be a welcome addition. Throw in a ride that has trouble coping with even the smoothest roads - giving occupants a jittery time - and the Laguna Coupé in petrol V6 form has some serious flaws.

Should I call the bank manager?

Renault is kicking off prices at £20,995 for the 2.0 dCi 150, which will be the most attractive car to company car users and many private buyers alike. For that, you get a great looking car with very affordable running costs, though it's not nearly as good to drive as a VW Scirocco, which also has a more spacious cabin. Move further up the range and the prices bring the Laguna Coupé into conflict with too many more capable machines for it to survive, so we suspect the Renault will be a rare, if pretty, sight on UK roads.

Summary

Good looks, decent handling and grip should be enough for the Renault Laguna Coupé to win over some buyers, but the Renault 'Lozenge' badge simply isn't enough of a draw for those considering an Audi, BMW or Mercedes. All models are well equipped and the smaller diesel engines should prove seductive for some company drivers. However, the unsettled ride would steer us towards one of the Renault Laguna Coupé's more entertaining and more satisfying to drive rivals.

Alisdair Suttie