Renault Laguna Coupe GT Line TomTom 2.0T 205 2dr Car Review - March 2012

The Renault Laguna has a reliable 2.0-litre, 4-vylinder 16v 1998cc petrol engine, which packs 205bhp and 222 lb-ft of torque. Fast, gutsy and smooth, it gives a brilliant performance. A 0-62mph time of 7.8 seconds and a top speed of 140mph make the Laguna a competent contender in the class.

The car handles well, retaining a high level of stability when revved hard. It has an innovative, four-wheel steering system, which intelligently increases grip and agility depending on the car’s speed to give a smooth ride. The 6-speed manual gearbox is efficient and smooth. Steering is light and somewhat uninvolving. Suspension is firm and makes the ride uncomfortable at low speed. At higher speeds though, the ride is smooth, except on bumpy roads where it turns jittery.

The Laguna has good refinement levels. The engine is quiet at all speeds. Wind and road noise is present at speed, but not to disturbing levels.

The high driving position, large windows and small-sized pillars ensure good visibility all-round.

The Renault Laguna is a 2-door, 4-seat coupe designed as a large family car. It is polished, sharp and stylish. The nose dips slightly and is enhanced by smooth side lines, long headlights and a wide grille. A low, sloping roofline made of bespoke metal adds an expensive touch to its overall look.

Renault has not managed to pull off the exquisite coupe look on the inside yet. The interior is well-designed but the materials, panel quality and neat layout do not match the BMW 3-Series upmarket feel and look.

The Laguna has a class-leading equipment level. It comes with power steering, stability control, central locking, climate control, cruise control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, driver airbag, passenger airbags, front side airbags, alarm, immobiliser, alloy wheels, sat nav, rear-parking sensors, MP3 connectivity, Bluetooth and CD player.

The only thing you will have to pay extra for is metallic paint, which is affordable at £470.

All four seats are individually set, meaning they can only seat four people. There is an abundance of space inside and even though the sloping roof does constrict headroom at the rear, medium-height passengers should have no problem sitting straight.

There is adequate storage space in the cabin. The boot has a capacity of 423 litres and is one of the largest in the class. Rear seats fold flat to increase boot capacity, if you want more space. However, the load lip is high and narrow, making loading and offloading quite a heavy task.

There are lots of adjustments for the driver’s seat and steering wheel, which should help you find a suitable driving position. The dashboard is neat and attractive, and the controls well-arranged and easy to use.

The Laguna upholds Renault’s high safety standards. It is fitted with all the essential safety features, including stability control, traction control, six airbags, anti-lock brakes, deadlocks, engine immobiliser and a host of other anti-theft features. In the Euro NCAP crash test, the car scored the top rating of five-stars, which is indicative of the car maker’s high safety credentials.

Renault has never been a front-runner in reliability. But it has shown consistent improvement over the years; to a level where one can have confidence in most Renault models. The Laguna does feel sturdily built. Its mechanic bits should not disappoint. Should the car develop problems, there is a 3-year/100,000 mile warranty that can take care of things.

The Laguna’s asking price falls within the price range of premium rivals. As a result, the car struggles to get noticed in the midst of the Mercedes, Audi TTs and BMW 3-Series of the motoring world. But it is a strong contender all the same and brings lots of value to the table. Unfortunately, the Laguna does not hold its value as well as these other brands.

Running costs are high, with the Laguna returning a meagre 35.3mpg. High carbon emissions mean you get to pay a hefty amount of tax. It emits 185g/km of C02, which puts the car under road tax band I. You will pay £315 in the first year and £210 every year thereafter. Insurance costs are bound to be high, with the car categorized under group34.

A 12,500 mile service interval means your visits to the service centre will be frequent, adding to your expenses.