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Renault Laguna Coupe (2008 - 2012) review

Read the Renault Laguna Coupe (2008 - 2012) car review by Auto Trader's motoring experts, covering price, specification, running costs, practicality, safety and how it drives.

Ivan Aistrop

Words by: Ivan Aistrop

Last updated on 21 November 2014 | 0 min read

The Auto Trader expert verdict:

3.4

The Renault Laguna Coupe is certain to turn heads wherever it goes. With its mini-Aston styling and handsome interior it’s a great car for those after something different.

Reasons to buy:

  • tickGreat styling
  • tickSmart interior
  • tickImpressive manoeuvrability

At a glance:

How good does it look?

The Renault Laguna Coupe is the best looking car to wear the diamond badge for a long time. Not many new cars spark up conversation with complete strangers, but the Coupe had all comers asking questions. Most mentioned the mini-Aston Martin styling of the car, particularly at the rear. In our eyes the only aspect of the car which doesn’t look great is the front grille, which we found a bit too fussy.
Expert rating: 4/5

What's the interior like?

The dashboard is largely the same as the Renault Laguna saloon – no bad thing. Materials feel and look high quality, even if they can’t quite match the best from Audi and BMW. The steering wheel is modern and good-looking, with an aluminium effect insert and flat bottom. The Alcantara seats of our test car were grippy and held us firmly in place without being uncomfortable on longer journeys.
Expert rating: 4/5

How practical is it?

The Coupe has a decent boot measuring 423 litres, but the small opening hampers access. Travelling with bags, shopping and most suitcases will be fine – but don’t expect bulkier items to fit inside. Seating for four is perfectly adequate.
Expert rating: 3/5

What's it like to drive?

Buy a Laguna Coupe in GT trim and the chassis is fitted with Renault’s 4Control system. This steers the rear wheels to aid manoeuvrability at low speeds and high-speed stability. Out on the road the 4Control-equipped car feels nimble, and requires less steering effort than the standard model. This added agility makes the Coupe feel smaller and lighter than it actually is. The quick steering couldn’t make up for the overly firm ride of our test car. We think a softer setup would prove more comfortable for long-distance travel without sacrificing the Coupe’s handling.
Expert rating: 3/5

How powerful is it?

The Coupe is available with two petrol and three diesel engines. The 2-litre dCi produces 150bhp and 251lb/ft, while the punchier version produces 180bhp and 295lb/ft. Acceleration from 0-62mph takes 9.5 and 8.5 seconds respectively. The fastest accelerating car in the range is a diesel too – the 3-litre dCi with 235bhp and 332lb/ft of torque, which sprints from 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds. Opt for petrol and the 205bhp 2-litre turbocharged motor of our test car is available, alongside a 3.5-litre V6 with 240bhp. If you want a decent soundtrack to accompany your driving, go for the 3.5-litre V6.
Expert rating: 3/5

How much will it cost me?

As you’ve probably guessed, the presence of two 2-litre diesel engines in the range means you can have an economical Laguna Coupe. The dCi 150 and dCi 180 return 47.1mpg and 43.4mpg on the combined cycle while emitting 157g/km and 172g/km compared with the 2-litre petrol’s 34.4mpg and 194g/km. Go for one of the large-displacement engines and the 3.5-litre petrol will manage 28.2mpg (238g/km) while the 3-litre V6 dCi can achieve 39.2mpg (192g/km).

How reliable is it?

After poor past performances in reliability surveys Renault is putting lots of emphasis on improving quality and longevity in its new models. The Laguna is one of the first cars to benefit from this, and we look forward to seeing if it can live up to expectations.
Expert rating: 4/5

How safe is it?

The Renault Laguna Coupe has not yet been tested by EuroNCAP, but we fully expect it to perform well. Renault has an excellent safety track record, and the Laguna which the Coupe is based on is a five-star car. The Coupe is fitted with eight airbags and electronic aids for braking and stability.
Expert rating: 5/5

How much equipment do I get?

This is a well-equipped car, with Bluetooth, Thatcham Category 1 alarm, immobiliser, remote central locking, climate control, xenon headlights, electric front windows, leather steering wheel, trip computer, rear parking sensors, automatic headlights and wipers, MP3 connection, 18-inch ‘Interlagos’ wheels, radio and CD player.
Expert rating: 4/5

Why buy?

It has to be the looks. The Renault Laguna Coupe is a real head-turner which is likely to remain a fairly rare sight on British roads and will get you far more attention than an equivalent Audi or BMW. Make sure you test drive a few different engine and gearbox variants before you make your decision as they have a big impact on the character of the car.
Expert rating: 4/5

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