Review of the new Renault Laguna

Renault's improved Laguna claims to be smarter - in more ways than one. Yes, the styling is sharper, but more important is the technology on offer which sees diesel versions capable of as little as 120g/km of CO2 and a greater availability of the 4Control four-wheel steering chassis. There's a smarter sat nav and sound system too which, added to the Laguna's existing strengths of comfort, space and quality, rejuvenate its offering in the Mondeo-sized medium range sector.

The medium range family car sector has always been a tough nut to crack but you get the sense that the manufacturers whose products compete there are having a harder time of it than ever. The market for this type of vehicle is being squeezed from all sides, by the increasing popularity of specialised alternatives like compact MPVs and 4x4s as well as by compact executive saloons from above and premium family hatchbacks from below. On top of all this, the medium range contenders themselves are an increasingly capable bunch, forcing the brands that want to maintain a toehold in this market to work harder than ever for a slice of the fast diminishing pie. It's in this cutthroat environment where the Renault Laguna competes and the latest version has upped its game a few well targeted areas.

The Laguna's engine range is biased towards diesel but the diverse range aims to cover the full gamut of customer demand for performance and economy. It's diesel which the fleet business that props up this sector of the market will be focused on and that means the 1.5-litre dCi 110 and the 2.0-litre dCi unit that's offered in 130, 150 or 180 states of tune. The petrol collection has been slimmed down to a 2.0-litre 16v engine with 138bhp that was developed jointly by Renault and Nissan. It's a strong unit but that won't stop the majority of buyers choosing diesel. The 1.5-litre engine does a surprisingly competent job and the 2.0-litre dCi options also impress with their lively mid-range acceleration. Six-speed manual gearboxes come as standard on all models but the 150bhp diesel is also available with Renault's slick six-speed auto.

"The ride comfort is tough to better anywhere in the sector"

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 tried to address this with the 4Control 4-wheel steering system now offered on the dCi 180 top diesel variant. This slightly steers the rear wheel for easier parking at low speeds and greater stability and safety at higher ones. Even more humble Lagunas roll less than they did originally and respond better, though this still isn't one of the sportier drives in the medium range sector. Where it does excel is in the areas of ride comfort and refinement. Even with the entry-level diesel installed, the Laguna is hushed at motorway speeds and the suspension irons out poor road surfaces with real aplomb without getting too wobbly through the bends.

From the outside, this Laguna is different - but not too different. The look is certainly more assertive, thanks to revised 'eyelid' headlights, wide foglamps and a long bonnet which slopes gently down to the smart pearlescent black grille. More extensive use of chrome trimming is further supposed to highlight the dynamic credentials of both Hatchback and Sport Tourer estate models. The interior remains unaltered apart from a more up-market choice of upholstery but there was very little wrong with that in the first place, Renault having concocted one of the sector's slickest cabin environments.

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 Hatch and Sport Tourer bodystyles are offered in a slimmed down range of Renault trim designations starting with Expression and Dynamique and extending to the Tom Tom Edition and the range topping Initiale. All variants get alloy wheels, a CD-RDS stereo with fingertip remote control and 3D sound by Arkamys, air conditioning, bluetooth hands free technology, an alarm, electric windows all-round, electrically heated door mirrors and a leather steering wheel.

Improvements include the provision of an upgraded Carminat TomTom sat nav system which can warn of mobile speed checks, access Google's Local Search service and bring you weather forecasts. An even better Bose audio system has also been developed featuring an 8cm-diameter neodymium mid-high range centrefill speaker, four 3.5cm-diameter neodymium tweeters, four 16.5cm wide-range neodymium speakers, an 11.5cm neodymium bass speaker in a Bass-Reflex enclosure and a digital amplifier with Bose digital signal processor and six channel individualised equalizer. Even the most committed audiophile should be satisfied with that.

To help its customers locate the models with lowest emissions, Renault badges any vehicle with CO2 emissions below 140g/km with the eco2 moniker - and there are ten of these across the line-up. Among the most prominent changes are the ones made to the clean 1.5-litre dCi 110, which now emits even less than previously at 120 grams. The 2.0 dCi 180 has also gone down by 13 grams and the 2.0 16V 140 petrol by 7 grams. Two of these same engines have also benefited from particularly noteworthy fuel economy boosts. The dCi 110 is now able to achieve 60.1 mpg on the combined cycle, up from 57.6, while the dCi 180 has risen from 45.6 to 49.5.

Renault has undertaken an extensive testing programme to ensure the Laguna's durability in the toughest of conditions. 120 models were put through over six million kilometres of trials at locations around the world chosen for their harsh climates and demanding terrain. The majority of the work was carried out in Argentina, Australia, Malaysia and Russia to test the Laguna's performance in extreme heat, cold and humidity as well as at high altitude, in dusty conditions and on poor surfaces. Even the British road network on a bank holiday weekend shouldn't present a problem.

This Renault Laguna was always safe, comfortable and well built but it needed a little bit extra. With 4x4s, MPVs and junior executive models all eating into the core customer base for traditional family cars, Renault needed to give the Laguna a boost and the latest versions have been tweaked with this in mind. Certainly, moves to improve efficiency, thus lowering costs, will be greatly appreciated in the all-important fleet sector.

The Laguna won't be the first family car choice that springs to mind for customers seeking the most athletic driving experience, though some of those people might be surprised at how good the 4Control four-wheel steering variants are to drive. But even if you don't agree, you'll be forced to admit that there's more drama to the styling these days and in most other respects, this French contender is an excellent choice. The ride comfort is tough to better anywhere in the sector and the same goes for the cabin which offers space, quality materials and first class build quality. The range is reassuringly straightforward and all models come well-equipped with a full complement of safety kit.