When Renault introduced the New Laguna in December 2000 it was aimed firmly at the company car driver. The impressive list of standard equipment, attractive styling and reasonable list price made it an instant hit. Three years on and decent numbers of used Laguna’s are now appearing on forecourts and at around half the price it was new now could be an ideal time for private buyers to pick up a bargain.
Externally the car is a radical departure from the previous model Laguna. The cars wide track and long wheel base give the car a grown up, solid look. And those beefy curves aren’t just for show; under the skin the car is extraordinarily strong. Renault were determined to shed the reputation French cars have for flimsy build quality the Laguna is packed full of safety features. All models boast ABS brakes, front, side and curtain airbags together with ISofix rear seat belts. This impressive combination enabled the Renault Laguna to be the first car ever to achieve a maximum 5 stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests. .
In addition to high levels of safety the Laguna also boats an impressive list of standard and optional equipment. Air conditioning and keyless entry systems are standard and options such as tyre pressure sensors, automatic wipers and headlights are common place on the higher specification Dynamique models. But all this advanced technology does not come without its problems and several owners have reported a wide range of problems with faulty tyre pressure sensors, leaking sunroofs and reoccurring electrical problems. Buyers are also well advised to checking the cars heating and air conditioning systems closely, if they aren’t covered by a warranty they can be eye wateringly expensive to repair. But there is better news for Laguna buyers if they are looking for a comfy car, then the Laguna is unlikely to disappoint. Motorway miles are dispatched with disdain and when you get to the twisty stuff its chassis displays impressive levels of grip. Sit inside and the Laguna feels a big car, with generous seats both front and rear. Front legroom is superb and both seats are height adjustable. Rear passengers, whilst not cramped, are a little less well accommodated and tall passengers will find that headroom is compromised due to the cars sporty roof profile. Boot space isn’t enormous but all models have a useful 60:40 split fold rear seat. Shelling out another £600 for an estate (or Sport Tourer as Renault calls it) may be an option if extra space is important but the car offers only a tad more space than the cheaper, prettier hatchback.

Power for your used Laguna comes from a big range of both petrol and diesel engines. The 1.6, 1.8, 2.0 and 3.0 litre petrol units are all pretty durable (although the 3.0 V6 does gobble fuel at a rapid rate) with either the 1.8 or 2.0 litre being the most popular. But as is so often the case with French cars it is the diesel units that feel the best. Even the least powerful diesel engine with 100 bhp feels comfortable with the cars 1,320KG kerb weight. Spend just a few hundred pounds more on the more powerful 120 bhp unit and the car feels positively sprightly. Either way both units are ridiculously economical, thanks in part to the long legged 6 speed manual gearbox. Driven carefully the cars 70 litre fuel tank gives it a theoretical range of nearly 800 miles, that’s London to Glasgow and back without the need to visit a fuel station for any thing more expensive than some wine gums. The majority of late plate low mileage cars are still handled through the Renault network but earlier cars are a popular choice for non franchised dealers to retail. But be sure to check the cars history carefully, particularly on diesels. The car is capable of covering huge mileages in short periods of time and the unscrupulous seller may be tempted to ‘correct the mileage’ to a lower figure. With an 18,000 mile service interval you need to be suspicious of any car that is missing service stamps and does not come with the original service invoices.

• Seats – Height adjustable driver and passenger seats standard on all models
  Automatic – 4 speed autos gets much needed 5th gear on post Nov 2002 built cars
  Engine – Laguna is best suited to diesel engines, 3.0 V6 petrol is thirsty and not particularly quick
  Safety – front, side and curtain air bags as standard – first car to achieve 5 star Euro NCAP rating
• Rear Seat – 60:40 split fold rear seat on all cars
• Brakes – ABS standard
• Keyless entry – ‘credit card’ style key slots in dash board and requires driver to push a start button rather than turn an ignition key
• Service history – beware gaps in history, the cars 18,000 miles service interval is already long enough
• Radio aerial – mounted in rear side screen on Sports Tourer is prone to give poor reception
• Tyre pressure sensors – several owners report false readings and intermittent faults
• Warranty – manufacturer’s 36 month/60,000mile warranty on new cars
• Throttle – pre September 2001 built cars recalled for revised carpet clips to stop the potential for the accelerator jamming under the carpet edge
  

• Renault Laguna 1.9dCi 120 Expression hatchback

• 6 speed manual gearbox

• 2001 ‘X’ with 30,000 miles

• Pay £7,650 at a dealer with 12 months warranty £6,750 privately