Renault Laguna [New]

The all-new Renault Laguna has arrived. Steve Walker reports

So the next generation Renault Laguna is with us and as tends to be the case with new model launches, if its half as good as the manufacturers PR patter suggests, were all in for a treat. The previous generation model was strong on safety and comfort but were told that the latest car is safer and more comfortable than that. Its also greener, more elegant, better to drive, has higher levels of build quality and superior reliability. The car is bigger too.

Its grown in every major dimension but, spookily, it tips the scales 15kg lighter than before. It all looks like impressive stuff on Renaults part. If the Laguna had its own suit, it could run for President.

Build
Comfort
Depreciation
Economy
Equipment
Handling
Insurance
Performance
Styling
Value

The medium range family car sector has always been a tough nut to crack but you get the sense that the manufacturers whose products compete there are having a harder time of it than ever. The market for this type of vehicle is being squeezed from all sides, by the increasing popularity of specialised alternatives like compact MPVs and 4x4s as well as by compact executive saloons from above and premium family hatchbacks from below. On top of all this, the medium range contenders themselves are an increasingly capable bunch, forcing the brands that want to maintain a toehold in this market to work harder than ever for a slice of the fast diminishing pie. Its in to this cutthroat environment that Renault pitches its latest Laguna, priced from £15,990 and offered with an impressive three year, 100,000 mile warranty as standard.

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.

"Renault needed to give the Laguna a big boost and the latest model is the result."

The previous generation Laguna could certainly pound out the motorway mileage but it was never the sharpest of customers when presented with a corner. Renault has pulled out all the stops to address this shortfall on the current model with particular focus on keeping body-roll in check. The suspension set-up at the front and rear is respectively 20% and 50% stiffer while the back end also benefits from a meatier anti-roll bar. The steering has been quickened up a few notches as well while the more tightly-geared configuration provides enhanced feel.

Since Renault knocked everyone for six with the Meganes enormous but ultimately well-judged rear end, its styling direction has veered onto a more conservative heading. The Laguna is unlikely to have people swooning on all sides with 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. The Sport Tourer estate models sloping rear window line suggests only a modest increase in capacity over that hatchback but Renaults Superfold rear seats will help customers make the most of what space there is by providing a flat load floor. 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. 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.

Unusually, its the smallest diesel engine in the Laguna range that will raise the most eyebrows. At 1.5-litres in capacity, it looks an impossibly small unit to power a full-size family car. At least the 110bhp output gives it a fighting chance and the real reason for its inclusion, the headline-grabbing 55.

4mpg economy and 136g/km CO2 emissions, should attract a ready supply of cash-strapped company car users. The fleet market will be pivotal to the Lagunas success or failure and the 1.5-litre engines 18,000-mile oil-change service intervals will help win it admirers in this sector. Renault has undertaken an extensive testing programme to ensure the Lagunas durability in the toughest of conditions.

120 models were put through over six million kilometres of trials at locations around the world chosen for their harsh climates and demanding terrain. The majority of the work was carried out in Argentina, Australia, Malaysia and Russia to test the Lagunas performance in extreme heat, cold and humidity as well as at high altitude, in dusty conditions and on poor surfaces. Even the British road network on a bank holiday weekend shouldnt present a problem. The previous generation Renault Laguna was always safe and comfortable but that wasnt enough to take on the best that the medium range sector had to offer.

With 4x4s, MPVs and junior executive models all eating into the core customer base for traditional family cars, Renault needed to give the Laguna a big boost and the latest model is the result. The manufacturer claims advances across the board with improved green credentials, refinement, quality and a more involving edge to the driving experience. The Laguna will need all of the above if its to make headway but the initial signs are promising.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Renault Laguna range
PRICES: £15,990-£23,900 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 8E-12E
CO2 EMISSIONS: 136-210g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.0 dCi 150] 0-60mph 9.5 / Max Speed 130mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.5 dCi 110] (combined) 53.3mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front,side and curtain airbags, ABS, EBA, ESP.
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [5dr hatch] Length/width/heightmm 4695/1811/1445mm