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Road Test: Renault Laguna Coupé

Posted on 12 July 2010 by Scott Hayes

It’s Renault South Africa’s flagship model which, the company boasts, offers exceptional levels of comfort, luxury and advanced technology.

The Renault Laguna Coupé certainly has an eye-catching design. The broad mesh grille in the front looks reminiscent of an Aston Martin, as does the boot-line and tail-lights, while the 10-spoke 18-inch wheels add some masculinity to the car’s appearance. A steeply raked bonnet and overall wind-cheating profile gives the Laguna Coupé a drag coefficient of 0,3 – equal to the Koenigsegg CCX supercar.

However, that’s where any references to supercars end, because inside, the Laguna is no stripped out, speed focused machine. Echoing the flowing lines of the exterior is the dashboard with a bold chrome accent and soft-touch. In the centre lies a Carminat TomTom satellite navigation system, which provides day/night colour maps, voice guidance, traffic information, alternative routes and more. We particularly like the warnings for any fixed speed cameras that are usually fast approaching.

Below the sat-nav unit, the centre stack offers concisely arranged controls for the 10-speaker Bose radio/CD-player and dual-zone climate control. The satellite controls for the sat-nav, located on the transmission tunnel, are within easy reach. The gear selector has a smooth and solid feel to it and the same can be said of the leather covered steering wheel.

All controls are at your fingertips and have a quality feel to them. Our only reservation is that of the satellite control cluster located behind the right side of the steering wheel. It has nine different buttons for controlling the various audio settings, as well as bluetooth connectivity to your phone, which feels a bit cramped and takes some getting used to.

Passengers travel comfortably in the leather covered sports seats, which are electronically adjustable, heated and offer good lateral support. In the rear, two individually sculptured seats are separated by a centre armrest with integrated cup holders and storage tray. Rear head and legroom is limited, but there is enough space to accommodate two adults if the need arises.

As Renault’s current flagship model, the Laguna Coupé comes with a few more creature comforts and conveniences, including park distance control; bi-xenon headlamps with directional beams that turn up to 15 degrees for improved visibility around corners; keyless entry via a key card, as well as automatic headlight and windscreen wiper activation. However, the headlight washers are too enthusiastic, which means a sparkling clean Laguna Coupé could be covered in soapy water droplets, from front almost to rear, in a matter of seconds.

Safety-wise the Laguna comes equipped with all the features you’d expect these days, including ABS with EBD; ESP with traction and understeer control; eight airbags and ISOFIX child seat anchor points. Of course, what you may not know is that the Laguna Coupé is the first model in the local line-up to include Renault’s ’4Control’.

Simply put, 4Control is four wheel steering. At speeds of less than 60 km/h, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the front, up to an angle of 3.5 degrees. This has two benefits: a tighter turning circle for greater manoeuvrability, and smaller steering wheel angles. From 60 km/h, the system’s focus changes to offer greater steering precision and stability. The rear wheels now turn simultaneously in the same direction as those in the front, simulating the effect of a longer curve radius, thereby countering the centrifugal force that tends to push the rear outwards around bends.

Although subtle, at low speeds the tighter turning circle is noticeable and initially may require you to adjust your steering inputs as you inadvertently carve a line closer to the curb than planned. During spirited driving around tight bends you are also aware of the rear end’s adjusted attitude and the slightly less-than-expected body roll. Grip levels are noticeably higher, but there’s a level of uncertainty as to what the rear end is doing when you start approaching the limits. Technology aside though, the Laguna Coupé steers accurately and handles well. When you factor in the firm but compliant suspension, Renault’s flagship coupe makes for a comfortable and stylish cruiser.

Under the swooping bonnet lies a 3,5-litre V6 petrol engine, developed in conjunction with Nissan. The 24-valve unit produces peak power of 177 kW at 6 000 r/min and maximum torque of 330 N.m at 4 400 r/min. These figures give the coupé decent get-up-and-go, but are a little less exciting than anticipated. This is partly due to the car’s 1 952 kg gross weight and partly because of the 6-speed automatic gearbox that links the engine to the front wheels. Renault claim a 0 – 100 km/h sprint time of 7,4 seconds and a top speed of 244 km/h, but it’s the transmission’s role in achieving these figures that can be disappointing at times.

In conventional ‘Drive’ mode the gearbox selects each successive cog smoothly enough, likewise when changing down through the gears. However, it’s not one that likes to be hurried. It responds somewhat lazily to throttle inputs when you need a quick pull-off and this usually results in the car jumping from a crawl to lifting its nose in the air, which is out of character to the coupé’s otherwise graceful conduct. Shifting the gear stick into sequential mode in anticipation of some performance driving might leave you a little frustrated. There’s a long-winded delay between initiating the change, disengaging the gear and hooking up drive in the next. It’s as if the transmission’s software has been written in Latin, when all it needed was a few Khoisan clicks to get the job done. Shifting down through the gears can also unsettle the car depending on the speed as there is no rev-matching to iron out engine compression.

The Laguna Coupé’s best talent is the way it cruises on the open road. It has enough power for effortless overtaking and maintains its speed on steep hills, while fuel consumption proved far better than expected with a combined cycle figure of 11 l/100km over the 450 kilometers we travelled. It’s comfortable, luxurious and well equipped, not to mention stylish with some unconventional design cues. Just don’t rush it.

What we like…

Comfortable and relaxed ride.
Power to match.
Stylish French flair and quality feel.

What we would like…

A quicker and smarter gearbox.
Less wind noise from the gap between the front and rear side windows.
Chilled out headlight washers that don’t ruin an otherwise clean car.

Quick Facts
Base Price	R499 900
Warranty	5 year / 150 000 km
Service Plan	5 year / 100 000 km
Engine Capacity	3 498 cm³
No. Of Cylinders	6-cylinders, V-formation
Aspiration	Naturally Aspirated
Power	177 kW @ 6 000 r/min
Torque	330 N.m @ 4 400 r/min
Transmission	6-speed automatic
Drive type	Front-wheel drive
Acceleration	0-100 km/h in 7.4 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed	244 km/h (claimed)
Fuel Consumption	10 l/100km (claimed combined)

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