The New Renault Laguna Coupe - Review

Renault rediscovers quintessential French sex appeal to breathe fresh life into the disappointing Laguna. Not only is the elegant Coupé a head turner, it promises not to be a flop.

By re-inventing the Laguna, Renault have added spice to the Coupé with a plenty of va va voom and a little oo la la. The sleek bodywork is road eye-candy and the stylish rear, arguably it's most alluring feature, has the James Bond-esque influence of an Aston Martin. The steeply raked roofline, shallow windows and 18-inch alloy rims give the Coupé an athletic side view whilst the low grille and xenon headlamps are racy and dynamic. With a flirtatious road price of less than £30,000, it promises to be hot property.

It may come as a surprise to find a sporty looking car spacious and comfortable, but the interior is fundamentally an upscale version of the minimalistic Laguna with low, hugging seats, leather trim upholstery, climate control and Bluetooth connection. If the Coupé does have a fault some would argue it's the unimaginative design and individual rear seats which restricts the ride to just four people - though on the flip side allows plenty of leg and headroom.

Of course, what really matters about a car is the performance and buyers of the Laguna Coupé will not be disappointed. The engine is powerful and reliable and with smooth acceleration speeds of 0-60mph in around 7.4 seconds driver's can overtake with confidence. Renault offer buyers a variety of engine, with two petrol units - the 202bhp turbo charged 2.0-litre or the 236bhp 3.5 litre V6. Diesel fans can opt from the 148bhp or the 177bhp both with the standard 2.0-litre dCi powerplant. Top of the range is the 232bhp 3.5-litre V6 with a six-speed automatic gearbox which delivers 0-60mph in 7.3 seconds and only 39mpg at the pump.

Not only does the Coupé look good on the road, it also performs well. The secret of its agility is the hi-tech four-wheel steering system and sporty suspension making the car dynamic whilst ensuring safe handling and easy manoeuvrability through bends. At speeds below 37mph the rear wheels spin in the opposite direction allowing the car to pivot and negotiate tight corners comfortably. At higher speeds the wheels turn the same way allowing for minimal under steer and maximum stability when negotiating winding roads. Standard petrol and Diesel models are equipped with traditional two-wheel steering systems.

Equipped with 18-inch alloys, xenon headlamps, climate control, six airbags and Bluetooth connection as standard the Laguna Coupé's French owners have not scrimped on kit. The best option for cost conscious buyers is the 148bhp 2.0 litre Diesel. Whereas performance levels are almost identical in both fuel types, the Diesel's oil burning economy at a return of 47mpg is far greater than the petrol's. In addition, the tax is cheaper and the model requires less frequent servicing.

Renault's reputation for producing safe vehicles has won awards and whilst the emphasis with the Coupé is image, its road worthiness can be assured. All models come equipped with airbags and electronic stability control as standard. For an additional £250 there's the option of an electronic tyre pressure monitor. For the environmentally friendly, steer clear of the V6.