Review
Talk to anyone at Renault these days and the word 'quality' keeps dropping into the conversation. The company bosses know that iffy build and niggling faults have blighted some of its models - the old-shape Laguna included. The new car promises much better.
It's far too early to judge reliability, but slip behind the wheel and you can certainly tell Renault has put a lot of effort into making the parts you can see and feel more upmarket. Soft-touch plastics and a real sense of solidity go hand in hand with an appealing, elegant cabin design.
The driving experience is also much improved. The steering is sharp and accurate, for example, although the strong self-centring action and lack of feel make the Laguna less fun on twisting roads than a Ford Mondeo. There's plenty of grip, and body roll is well contained, too, so it's just a shame the ride isn't more comfortable: there's a firm edge to the suspension and a fidgety feel, even at motorway speeds.
In every other respect, though, the motorway is the Laguna's natural habitat. It's one of the quietest family cars around, with little wind or road noise and a choice of refined engines. The diesels are especially strong, blending strong performance, good economy and low emissions, and the 1.5-litre engine is the star. You'd think a family car with such a small engine couldn't get out of its own way, but Renault has squeezed a surprising amount of power and torque from such a small capacity. Economy is even more impressive, managing 55.4mpg on the combined cycle.
As far as passengers are concerned, though, those in the front seats will be happier than those in the back. True, it's far from cramped in the rear seats, but there's noticeably less legroom than in giant family hatches like the Mondeo. The sloping roofline steals some headroom, too.
The hatch's boot has 462 litres of luggage space, whereas the forthcoming Sport Tourer estate has 508 litres. That's pretty much what you'd expect, although the space is rather shallow and there's a high lip to lift items over.
If space and practicality are no better than you'd expect, safety provision is top notch. Even basic cars come with enough airbags to float the Titanic and an Electronic Stability Programme to help keep the car on the straight and narrow.
Overall, there's a lot to like about the new Laguna. Renault's drive for improved quality is clearly heading in the right direction, the rather wooden drive of the old-shape car has been banished, and the cabin is hushed at speed. Even so, the disappointing ride and modest rear-seat legroom hold the Laguna back. It's a good car, but not a class leader.