Review of the new Renault Laguna 2.0

Diesel, diesel, diesel, the whole automotive world seems besotted by the stuff at the moment. The fuel that was once a byword for smoking exhausts and traction engine refinement has been reinvented as the answer to the company car driver's prayers and the saviour of the planet. Where does it all leave petrol though? Pushed to the margins as a fuel for tiny city cars and high-end exotica? The 2.0-litre petrol models in Renault's Laguna range certainly have a tough job on convincing buyers in the fleet-focused medium range sector.

Nowhere has the relentless march of diesel been felt more strongly than amongst motorway pounding medium range models. The vast majority of Ford Mondeos, Vauxhall Vectras and Volkswagen Passats are chosen either by company car users themselves or by their penny pinching fleet managers. It's no surprise then that the low running costs of diesel dominate here. That's not to say that petrol power is without its advantages but it will take a show-stopping performance from the Laguna 2.0 16v to convince the masses.

With 140bhp from its four-cylinder 16-valve configuration, there isn't anything wildly exotic about the Renault Laguna's 2.0-litre petrol engine. Unlike the diesel alternatives that do their best work over a narrower section of the rev range, the 2.0-litre feeds its power in gradually up to the 140bhp peak at 6,000rpm. Torque arrives at the wheels in a progressive fashion with the 195Nm maximum produced at 3,750rpm. It means that the 2.0-litre petrol engine lacks the punchy low end of the Laguna's 2.0-litre dCi 130 diesel which sends 320Nm coursing forth at 2,000rpm. Even the 1.5 dCi option has superior torque but the petrol serves up a smoother experience in the Laguna than either diesel, and a more refined one. The 2.0-litre 16v is impressively hushed across the full gamut of driving conditions and if you really value your peace and quiet, you might be tempted. The 0-62mph sprint takes just over 9 seconds and the top speed is 130mph so it's not slow.

"The Laguna 2.0 16v is noticeably easier on the ears than the oil burners"

The previous generation Laguna could certainly pound out the motorway mileage but it was never the sharpest of customers when presented with a corner. Renault has pulled out all the stops to address this shortfall on the current model with particular focus on keeping body-roll in check. The suspension set-up at the front and rear is respectively 20% and 50% stiffer while the back end also benefits from a meatier anti-roll bar. The steering has been quickened up a few notches as well while the more tightly-geared configuration provides enhanced feel.

Since Renault knocked everyone for six with the Megane's enormous but ultimately well-judged rear end, its styling direction has veered onto a more conservative heading. The Laguna is unlikely to have people swooning on all sides with bodywork that's clearly derived from its predecessor. It's a neat effort with a certain elegance courtesy of the clean lines that gently flow into each other. Stand-out features include the distinct shoulder line that runs down the flanks and right around the rear, the large headlamps and the high-mounted LED rear light clusters. With no grille to speak of, the front is dominated by the large bonnet-mounted Renault badge. The Sport Tourer estate model's sloping rear window line suggests only a modest increase in capacity over that hatchback but Renault's Superfold rear seats will help customers make the most of what space there is by providing a flat load floor.

Some 10mm longer, 36mm wider and 12mm taller, this Laguna is comprehensively bigger than the model that preceded it but Renault takes some pride in the fact that it's also 15kg lighter. Keeping the weight down has obvious benefits in terms of economy and performance but we're assured that it has not come at the expense of comfort or, that traditional Renault strong suit, safety. All models get the latest ABS technology with brake assist and ESP stability control. Should that fail, the passive safety provision runs to double pressure, double chamber airbags and dual pre-tensioner seatbelts. Renault has also focused on side-impact protection with thorax and pelvis side airbags fitted along with sensors that determine the force of any impact, adjusting the release time of the safety systems accordingly.

The 2.0-litre petrol engine is widely available across the Laguna trim level range. You can have one in Expression, Dynamique, Dynamique S or Initiale form. Prices start around £15,500 for the Expression version positioning the 2.0-litre engine £360 below the 1.5-litre dCi option - an indicator of how far petrol's stock has fallen in the modern marketplace. The Sport Tourer estate versions are £950 more expensive so the top price for a 2.0-litre 16v Laguna is well over £21,000 for the Sport Tourer in Initial trim.

The Expression models get air-conditioning, a CD stereo and alloy wheels but the Laguna feels that bit more special in Dynamique guise. Here there's aluminium detailing and part leather trim for the interior plus chrome window surrounds and front fog lights outside. Cruise control with an automatic speed limiter is also included. The Dynamique S gets climate control, 17" alloys and electric seats while the Initiale adds satellite navigation, full leather trim and Xenon directional headlamps amongst other things.

Fleet customers invariably look straight to the bottom line when choosing their vehicles and here diesel power options tend to exert a marked advantage. The 2.0-litre petrol engine achieves around 36mpg on the combined cycle while the 2.0-litre dCi unit turns in a 47mpg showing and the 1.5-litre dCi tops the charts with 58mpg. It's a similar story on the emissions front where the 2.0-litre petrol engine produces 185g/km of CO2 compared to the dCi 130's 158g/km and the 1.5 dCi's 130g/km. On costs, there is no contest in the Petrol Vs diesel match-up but in comparison to petrol powered rivals, the Laguna actually holds up very well.

The Laguna comes with Renault's 3-year/100,000-mile warranty with the first two years of cover having no mileage limit. The car also has lower insurance groupings than the model it replaced. The 2.0-litre models come in at 9E which is far from unreasonable.

Petrol's problem is that it used to sit on the right side of a gulf in refinement and performance with diesel languishing on the distant bank. In recent times, new diesel technology has bridged the gap while the economy advantage diesel has always held over petrol has grown. It's hardly surprising that diesel sales have rocketed, especially in the cost-conscious mainstream market sectors but petrol power still has much to offer. The Laguna 2.0 16v is noticeably easier on the ears than the oil burners, its power delivery is more progressive and for most it will prove a more enjoyable car to drive when the road opens up ahead.

The Laguna itself definitely lacks a touch of visual drama when you first catch sight of it but the styling isn't going upset anyone and the interior is quite a piece of work. The materials and the quality of construction in the Laguna really stand out. It feels like a premium product and sat behind the wheel for a year's worth of traffic jams, contra-flow systems and motorway marathons, company car users are going to have very little to complain about - except the obvious.