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Renault Laguna 1.9dCi 130 - Diesel Road Test

DIESEL MOTORING

Renault Laguna 1.9dCi 130

Despite the fact that their popularity is wilting, Renault has rejigged its traditional saloon, the Laguna, and added this pacier version of the 1.9 diesel. Priced from £16,875, it's got ten horsepower more than before and boasts fresher breath, thanks to a particulate filter that keeps the car in line with lung-friendly EU 4 legislation.

So if it's faster, is it thirstier?
Damn, you spotted its nemesis. Well, Renault seems to think it's a great idea that, every time its engineers rework a diesel engine, they prioritise power over economy. So while the dCi 120 used to eek out 58.8mpg from a gallon, this one splutters at just 55.4mpg. Not a big difference though - and to be fair you can still buy the smaller-engined option. This newcomer arrives this summer, while shortly afterwards there'll be a 2.2-litre option with 150 horsepower. Unsurprisingly, it'll average a thirstier-still 52.3mpg. And take all these figures with plentiful pinches of salt: in real-life driving, 'official' diesel averages are typically optimistic to the tune of 10mpg.

Blimey, you're putting me off
Well steady on, because while it might not be the planet's saviour, this new Laguna is very nice where it counts: behind the wheel. It's audibly a diesel when idling though no bad vibes make it through to the steering wheel and gearchange is smoother than Craig David gargling cream, once you're on the open road. That extra 10 horsepower seems to have been concentrated on the mid-range band, so you have more ease for overtaking (it reaches 60mph in 10.5 seconds, against the previous model's full 11). So a modest increment of power really, but this is the perfect motorway muncher and, maybe surprisingly, it handles a twisty road with gusto, too.

Any other good points?
Plenty. Some cynics say Renault designers make cars to fit their own jobs: perfect to take you to a two-hour lunch, with a nice sleep while driving back to the office afterwards. It's true: this is a real armchair, so despite the power, you'll feel nicely relaxed (and you could always drink more espressos). Best of all, you can admire the 2005 styling updates, not least the expensive-feeling half-wood steering wheel and the new, neater, dash garnished with a chic marquetry wood trim. It's all inspired by sister model, the Vel Satis (Renault's luxury exec hatch thingy - a bit of an experiment alongside the even more outlandish and doomed Avantime, a car with the sales potential of condoms in the Vatican).

Pedestrians get some flattery, too: the revamped Laguna now has a neater one-piece front bumper and grille to coo over while the headlamps are more sharply defined and, for some bizarre reason, the maker's badge is more staunchly upright. Opt for the estate version and the rear lights are the same as before; on the saloon they're tweaked, too.

What would you change?
Though it's rewarding to drive, it could do with a slightly shorter throw between the gears. And that allegedly nifty card system to replace a conventional remote fob and ignition key... hmm, maybe it's a personal thing, but I've yet to sample one that works perfectly all the time. Feels like an unbroken idea pointlessly fixed.

So who'll buy it?
By and large, this is a car built for business. Some 75% of sales will be to reps. Against the Mondeo and Passat, this is arguably the sexiest option, brimming with charisma and suavity. But if you detect the slightest measure of a caveat, it's over all-round practicality. For families, there are better solutions out there, not least the wonderfully capable... Renault Scenic.

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