Renault Laguna   Women's view

Though the looks may be controversial, the car is anything but. June Neary checks out the latest Renault Laguna

Retail therapy is great fun but the kids hate shopping. With the prospect of having to weather this in mind, I was glad of the chance to borrow Renaults latest Laguna, the third generation version of Renaults medium range model, to ferry ourselves and four weekend visitors to a local retail park. The mums had shopping in mind, while the dads and kids were off to the multi-screen cinema, a reasonable compromise all round. We all travelled together in comfort and style, which really added to the success of the expedition.

This car has controversial new styling which initially surprised me but had a growing effect over my time with the car. What you cant argue with is the quality of the revised cabin the equal of anything the prestige brands can offer. Given that youre getting this at Renault prices, I felt the Laguna and I had a good chance of getting on.

The latest Laguna is unlikely to have people swooning on all sides, thanks to bodywork thats clearly derived from its predecessor. Its a neat effort with a certain elegance courtesy of the clean lines that gently flow into each other. Stand-out features include the distinct shoulder line that runs down the flanks and right around the rear, the large headlamps and the high-mounted LED rear light clusters. With no grille to speak of, the front is dominated by the large bonnet-mounted Renault badge.

Child seats were easy to get in and out and there was plenty of space for the weekly shop. More than I remembered in fact than in the previous generation model. This was no illusion as it happened. Around 10mm longer, 36mm wider and 12mm taller, this Laguna is comprehensively bigger than the model that preceded it but Renault takes some pride in the fact that its also 15kg lighter.

Keeping the weight down has obvious benefits in terms of economy and performance but were assured that it has not come at the expense of comfort or, that traditional Renault strong suit, safety. All models get the latest ABS technology with brake assist and ESP stability control. Should that fail, the passive safety provision runs to double pressure, double chamber airbags and dual pre-tensioner seatbelts. Renault has also focused on side-impact protection with thorax and pelvis side airbags fitted along with sensors that determine the force of any impact, adjusting the release time of the safety systems accordingly.

My husband enjoyed the outward drive and was reluctant to swap places to sit in the back to entertain three tired children. However, I did want to get behind the wheel myself and was very glad I did. My first comment would have to be the handling. Even fully laden, the car manoeuvres beautifully.

I'm sure it would literally turn on a sixpence, which in view of the haphazard parking of fellow shoppers was a blessing indeed. The 130bhp diesel model we tested wasn't the quietest car on the road but the engine noise nonetheless is muted compared to other new diesel options around. It cruises well and, around town, thanks to excellent power steering, it was relaxing to drive.

Prices range between £15,990 and £24,350 across the usual line-up of 5-door hatches and Sport Tourer estates. The Lagunas engine range is a comprehensive one with Renault aiming to cover the full gambit of customer demand for performance and economy. Its the diesel engines that the fleet business that props up this sector of the market will be focused on and that means the 1.5-litre dCi 110 and the 2.

0-litre dCi unit thats offered 130, 150 or 175bhp form. The highlight of the petrol collection is a 2.0-litre 16v engine with 140bhp that was developed jointly by Renault and Nissan but a 168bhp turbocharged unit makes the roster to help sate those who prioritise performance. Six-speed manual gearboxes come as standard on all models but the 150bhp diesel and the turbocharged petrol engine are available with Renaults impressive six-speed auto.

The Hatch and Sport Tourer bodystyles are offered in familiar Renault trim designations starting with Expression and Dynamique. All variants get alloy wheels, a CD-RDS stereo with fingertip remote control, air conditioning, an alarm, body coloured bumpers, door mirrors and handles, drivers seat with lumbar adjustment, electric windows all-round, electrically heated door mirrors and a leather steering wheel. At the top of the range, the Dynamique S models will cater for the sporty-set with Alcantara and leather interior trim, metallic detailing and a flat-bottomed steering wheel that references Renaults F1 involvement. The Initiale is the level with most equipment lavished upon it so customers can expect wood and leather as well as the latest technological advances.

Theres a choice of two satellite navigations systems, keyless entry, keyless ignition and bluetooth hands free technology.

I don't normally need such a big car, but whenever friends or family come to stay I would welcome the flexibility afforded by the Laguna in any of its forms. I also liked the look of it but then, thats just me. Maybe Ive a Gallic streak..