Renault Laguna Expression 1.5 dCi 110 FAP 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The 1.5 litre four cylinder diesel engine produces maximum figures of 110bhp at 4000rpm and 177lb-ft at 1750rpm and while it doesn’t have the extra grunt of the 2.0 litre unit it does feel adequately punchy. A 0-62 mph time of 11.9 seconds and a top speed of 120mph reveal that it’s hardly going to set pulses racing but it is surprisingly smooth and refined for a diesel.

The Laguna’s ride is generally comfortable albeit a little on the firm side although potholes and larger bumps can send a jolt from the suspension clonking through the cabin. It grips well in corners though and body roll is kept pretty much in check too but the steering doesn’t provide much feedback as to what is happening down at the front wheels. On the open road at cruising speeds there is very little in the way of wind and road noise making its way into the cabin and overall it’s a pleasant place to soak up motorway miles.

There’s plenty of adjustment in the driver’s seat and the steering wheel so most drivers should be able to find a decent position. The dashboard is nicely laid with easy to read instruments and for the most part it has an upmarket look and feel about it.

The Renault Laguna Expression 1.5 dCi 110 FAP 5dr is a smart if not exciting looking car and there is something quintessentially French about its smooth lines. Inside, you get a CD, MP3 connectivity, Bluetooth, electric windows, electric door mirrors and air-conditioning as standard. It also comes with alloy wheel, an alarm and immobiliser and front fog lights.

Metallic paint is a £470 option, Satnav £600 and cruise control £280.

There is plenty of room in the front and enough to seat three in the back although owing to the sloping roofline, rear headroom does diminish slightly. The boot is quite shallow but still offers a useful 462 litres of space and a good wide opening makes access easy however if you want more space, you can fold the rear seats to increase load capacity to a very handy 1377 litres.

The Laguna comes with six airbags as well as ABS and stability control.

Renault have a questionable reputation for reliability although they purport to have worked hard on improvements, but for a certain piece of mind this car comes with a three year 100,000 mile warranty. Fuel economy is very good for a car of this size and its carbon footprint of 109 g/km means its running costs will be pleasingly low too.

At £19,500 the Renault Laguna Expression 1.5 dCi 110 FAP 5dr is competitively priced in its class. It has a roomy, comfortable cabin and a useful amount of luggage space. It drives well and gives a reasonably refined ride plus it feels sturdy and well bolted together but it’s not the most appealing car in its class and it’ll attract fairly low resale values.

A combined cycle of 67.3mpg is an exceptional figure for a car of this size and with a CO2 emissions figure of 109g/km the taxes and running costs are pleasingly low. Considering these favourable running costs and the decent range of equipment provided, the model represents great value for money.