Renault Laguna Estate (2007 - ) review

The Renault Laguna Sport Tourer looks best when viewed in profile, as the pronounced rising waistline gives the car a little dynamism. Details such as roof bars and privacy glass help create an upmarket appeal, but sadly the front is not so convincing and the rear is just plain anonymous. The GT Line edition we tested featured black alloy wheels, striking blue paintwork and aluminium roof rails, giving owners the option of a Laguna Sport Tourer with a performance image.

Renault has improved its interiors significantly in recent years and the Laguna feels well-constructed from high-quality materials. Unfortunately the controls are not as intuitive to use as they could be and items such as the steering column stalks are confusing to operate. But at least occupants will be comfortable thanks to multi-adjustable seats plus steering that’s adjustable for reach as well as rake. The GT Line model is fitted with half leather and half Alcantara seats, which are comfortable and raise the interior quality.

The Laguna’s 1,567-litre maximum load space can’t match the Ford Mondeo’s 1,733 litres. With the rear seats in place the Laguna provides 485 litres, placing it on a par with most of its rivals. Lowering the rear seats is a simple task as they fold flat at the push of a lever. The loading lip is wide and low, while the boot is a practical shape with no intrusions impeding on the load area.

In the past, French car makers have traditionally kept suspension systems soft to provide as comfortable a ride as possible. Recently the trend has been towards firmer suspension and as result the Laguna handles pretty well. Despite this firmer suspension, it still provides a comfortable ride. The GT Line 180 DCi model is fitted with 4Control suspension, which allows the rear wheels to turn in the opposite direction of the front wheels by up to 3.5 degrees at speeds under 37mph. This makes it feel more agile by reducing steering inputs and reduces its turning circle by 10 per cent. At speeds above 37mph the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the fronts, increasing stability.

The 109bhp 1.5-litre dCi is the smallest engine available and it powers the car to 62mph in 12.1 seconds. There’s also a 2-litre dCi diesel in 150, 175 or 180bhp guises. The 175bhp model is only available as an automatic and delivers 134mph and 0-62mph in 9.8 seconds. The 180bhp GT Line version hits 62mph from rest in 8.7 seconds. The only petrol is a 2-litre with 140bhp.

The Laguna Sport Tourer holds its value poorly. Fuel consumption and emissions are competitive though, with CO2 as low as 120g/km and average fuel consumption as high 61.4mpg in the case of the 1.5dCi 110. Even the top-spec 2.0dCi 180 returns 48.7mpg and emits just 152g/km.

Until recently, if reliability was one of your key priorities, you were better off avoiding Renaults. With electrical and electronic glitches highly likely to crop up, along with interior creaks and rattles, your patience was likely to be tested. Over the past few years things have improved significantly though.

The Laguna estate comes with a five-star Euro NCAP rating. It’s fitted with a host of safety kit such as anti-whiplash head restraints, Isofix child seat mountings in the rear, front and side airbags, curtain airbags all round and seatbelt pre-tensioners. Emergency brake assist, anti-lock brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution, electronic stability programme and traction control are also available.

Five trim levels are offered: Expression, Dynamique TomTom, Dynamique TomTom Initiale Lux Pack and GT Line TomTom. Base cars get electric windows, a CD/tuner, air-con and 16-inch alloy wheels while Dynamique adds cruise control, front fog lights and part-leather trim. Higher-spec GT models feature 18-inch alloys, sports seats, enhanced exterior trim, metallic paint, rear parking sensors, climate control plus automatic lights and wipers.

Well equipped, good to drive, spacious and practical, the Laguna estate makes a lot of sense. It feels very solidly built too, however only buy one if you can secure a decent discount as first-year depreciation can be significant.

The Laguna Sport Tourer holds its value poorly. Fuel consumption and emissions are competitive though, with CO2 as low as 120g/km and average fuel consumption as high 61.4mpg in the case of the 1.5dCi 110. Even the top-spec 2.0dCi 180 returns 48.7mpg and emits just 152g/km.