Model tested: Renault Laguna 2-litre dCi Dynamique S
Price as tested: £19,700
Range price: £15,990 - £23,400
Insurance group as tested: 10 E
Insurance group range: 7E - 12 E
CO2 emissions as tested: 158g/km
Average range CO2 emissions: 171g/km
Company car tax %: 22%
EuroNCAP result: *****
Date tested: April 2008
Road tester: Andy Goodwin
Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 80%

The third generation Renault Laguna looks set to be the best yet, with a level of quality which raises the bar for the French carmaker.

It needs to be good too; this is a hard-fought class with fierce competitors the Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat all staking a claim in the large car segment.

Read on for the full review of the Renault Laguna, or click the links below to skip to a section.

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Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor

1. Looks

The Renault Laguna is a handsome car from most angles, but it does have some awkward features. Its large boot pushes the rear window high up, and the rear lights are placed high too, making the Laguna look tall from behind.

Fit and finish is good, and our car did look expensive in the car park thanks to its elegant alloy wheels and modern front lights which wouldn’t look out of place in George Lucas’ props warehouse.

7/10

2. Looks inside

Interior style and quality is one of the most improved areas in recent years, and the Renault Laguna hasn’t been left out - it can now compete with the top players. Materials are high quality and there is a sweep of silver across the dash which adds to its style, along with the racy flat-bottomed steering wheel.

The dashboard feels low in the cabin, which gives the driver and front passenger a good view of the road ahead and adds to the sense of space and airiness inside the Laguna. The half leather and Alcantara seats in the car we tested were very attractive.

9/10

3. Practicality

The Renault Laguna isn’t the largest car in this class, but its boot is still a respectable 450-litres in size. The rear bench has three full seatbelts, but the middle position is only really comfortable for short journeys. Leg room for rear passengers is good and front passengers have lots of space.

Not so good is the electronic handbrake which is operated via a switch on the centre console. While it was mechanically sound we found it confusing to use without referring to the handbook - something many drivers will not have done before they drive the car.

The Laguna features keyless entry which senses a ‘card’ in your pocket and unlocks the car as you walk up to it and locks it as you walk away. All you need to do is press a start/stop button to get the engine running. This system felt odd at first, but once you trust the car has locked when you walk away (its lights flash and the horn ‘pips’) it makes life easy. It is great when struggling with the weekly shop not to have to struggle with the car keys too.

7/10

4. Ride and Handling

If you want to arrive at your destination relaxed, the Renault Laguna will hit the spot. The car’s ride is firmer than French cars of the past, which means it corners with little body roll and feels planted to the road. All of the controls are light, especially the steering which is accurate but doesn’t give the driver a feeling of the road.

The Renault Laguna resists understeer well, gripping hard in corners – but cruising in a more relaxed manner suits its calm demeanour better. More enthusiastic drivers should seek out the Laguna GT, complete with four-wheel steering.

8/10

5. Performance

A wide range of engines are available offering performance and economy for most drivers’ needs. There are four diesels, a 1.5-litre with 110bhp and three 2-litre engines with 130bhp, 150bhp and 175bhp. There are also two 2-litre petrol engines with 140bhp and 170bhp.

Our test car was the 2-litre diesel with 150bhp, which impressed us with its refinement. Renault has concentrated hard on reducing engine sound and claims the diesel Laguna models are now as quiet as the petrol cars – and we believe them.

Renault claims the Laguna accelerates from 0-60mph in 9.5 seconds and has a top speed of 130mph. We found it had plenty of power but careful gear selection was needed to keep the engine in its power band.

7/10

6. Running Costs

Unsurprisingly the 1.5-litre diesel engine is by far the most economical in the range, with an average of 57.6mpg and carbon dioxide emissions of just 130g/km putting it into tax band C, with an annual cost of £120.

Our 2-litre 150bhp diesel test car failed to match the manufacturers 47.1mpg claim, returning a 43mpg average after 600 miles of driving including 400 motorway miles.

The 140bhp and 170bhp 2-litre petrol engines achieve 35.7mph and 31.7mpg respectively. The 170bhp emits 210g/km of carbon dioxide placing it in tax band F with its charge of £210 annually.

The Renault Laguna is sold with a 3 year/100,000 miles warranty.

8/10

7. Reliability

Renault has a poor reliability record, but it’s hoped the carmaker has turned a corner with its new Laguna. Renault has spent one billion Euro’s developing the car from scratch and claims to have invested a great portion of this into designing, testing and manufacturing the Laguna to a standard surpassing any previous Renault product. Only time will tell if they have succeeded. 

8/10

8. Safety

The previous generation Renault Laguna was the first car to achieve a five-star EuroNCAP crash test rating, and the latest car does not disappoint in safety. It also gets the full five-stars, and it scored four stars in child occupant tests.

Standard safety features include ABS with brake force distribution, ESP, traction control and six airbags. 

10/10

9. Equipment

Four trim levels are available which offer progressively more gadgets and luxuries.

The entry level Expression has 16-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, electric windows, leather steering wheel, heated door mirrors and aforementioned safety equipment.

Dynamique models get the race-inspired flat bottomed leather steering wheel, leather and Alcantara sports seats, cruise control, climate control, fog lights and chrome trim.

Dynamique S models have 17-inch alloy wheels (as seen pictured), heated and electrically adjustable front seats and automatic wipers, headlights and parking brake.

The range-topping Initiale features wood panels in the dashboard and door trims, beige or dark grey leather upholstery, MP3 compatible CD player, Bluetooth communications, satellite navigation, front and rear parking sensors and directional Xenon headlights which turn into corners.

Our test car didn’t have parking sensors and we found it hard to judge rear distances because of the Laguna’s tiny rear window.

9/10

10. X-Factor

The Renault Laguna is a safe car which will get you to your destination feeling calm and relaxed thanks to its refinement and ease of use. As a family car or a long distance travel companion it makes a great proposition. Its build quality marks a new phase in the evolution of Renault cars.

8/10

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