Renault Laguna Hatch (2007 – ) expert review

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.

Interior style and quality is one of the most improved areas in the family car of recent years, and the Laguna hasn’t been left out. 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 layout of controls is poor, however, with too many confusing buttons dotted around the cabin and on steering wheel-mounted stalks. The half-leather and Alcantara seats in the car we tested were very attractive.

The Laguna isn’t the largest car in this class, but its boot offers a respectable 450 litres. The rear bench has three proper seatbelts, with good leg room for passengers. The Laguna features keyless entry which senses the keycard in your pocket and unlocks the car as you walk up to it and locks it as you walk away. It takes a bit of getting used to, but once you trust the car has locked when you walk away (its lights flash and the horn ‘pips’) it makes life much easier.

If you want to arrive at your destination relaxed, the Renault Laguna will hit the spot thanks to its comfortable ride. The car’s ride is firmer than French cars of the past, which means it corners with little body roll and feels planted, but it’s still softer than most of its rivals. All of the controls are light, especially the steering which is accurate but doesn’t give the driver a feeling of the road. We also found the gearbox less slick than many of its rivals, making the auto the top choice for driving in stop and start traffic. 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 4Control four-wheel steering for improved agility.

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 150bhp, 175bhp and 180bhp. There’s also a 2-litre petrol with 140bhp. Our first 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 it’s true. We have also tested the 1.5-litre dCi, which felt quicker than its 11.9 second zero to 62mph accelertion time suggests and is also smooth and quiet.

The 1.5-litre diesel engine is the most economical in the range, with an average of 61.4mpg and CO2 emissions of just 118g/km. The 2-litre 150bhp diesel should achieve 54.3mpg and 136g/km of CO2, while the 140bhp petrol engine achieves 37.7mpg and 173g/km. As is common in the large family car class, the most substantial ownership cost is likely to be steep depreciation. All Lagunas come with a three-year/100,000-mile warranty.

Renault has a poor reliability record, but it’s hoped the company has turned a corner with the Laguna. Renault has spent one billion Euros 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. There has only been one recall – affecting cars built between January 2007 and August 2009 – to replace a seatbelt pretensioner cable which could fail through fatigue.

The previous generation Renault Laguna was the first car to achieve a five-star EuroNCAP crash test rating, and the latest model does not disappoint in terms of 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, electronic stability program, traction control and six airbags.

The entry level Expression has 16-inch alloys, front fog lights and a radio/CD player with 3D sound. Dynamique TomTom models get sat-nav, dual zone climate control, rear parking sensors and a stereo with MP3 compatibility and an AUX input. The GT Line TomTom specification comprises 18-inch alloy wheels, BOSE sound system with ten speakers, Bluetooth connectivity, aluminium pedals and 4Control four-wheel steer if the dCi 180 engine is fitted.

The Renault Laguna is a safe car which will get you to your destination feeling calm and relaxed thanks to its refinement and comfort. As a family car or a long-distance travel companion it makes a great proposition.