Renault Latitude from a different longitude

The Renault Laguna is no more. Just a few units remain in local dealer stock.

In its place is the new Renault Latitude, a vehicle that introduces an extensive equipment list in a well conceived package -- and at an affordable price.

The importer has a lot riding on the Latitude and has introduced it with a new five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty -- including roadside assistance for that period. That initiative and the establishment of Renault Financial Services for Aussie buyers are aimed at broadening the appeal of the brand locally and perhaps boost the prospects of Renault selling 3000 units into the local market this year. The extended warranty also applies to Renault's other passenger cars (with the exception of Renault Sport models) and the finance arm will support buyers of all Renault products.

As for the Latitude itself, the new car is positioned right in VFACTS Medium Segment Central. It's a car that Renault has aimed at similar sedans in the segment (and also in the large car segment, in the case of the Honda Accord). Principal rivals for the car will be the Mazda6, the Volkswagen Passat and the Accord, according to Renault's newly appointed Marketing Director, Chris Brown, who supplied a brief on who he sees as the target buyer for the new model.

"We're working a lot longer, we've got long commutes, the traffic's terrible," Brown said. "I think that the solution the Latitude offers is a very comfortable, relaxed environment that really means you're not going home and kicking the dog...

"It says volumes for the target audience we see for this car. Of course we want to attract discerning people -- [and] to the Renault brand; people who look beyond the obvious and the everyday and the mundane -- something a little bit special and something of brilliant quality.

"Latitude drivers... are professional people between 35 and 50; ambitious, working hard... they need that comfort in their car. They don't want to be stressed in traffic, they want to have a pleasant, comfortable drive.

"They're likely to be looking at the VW Passat, Mazda6 or the Honda Accord -- and we think we've got a really compelling reason for them to step out of those more common choices, into something that's going to suit them a little better."

Unlike the Laguna, the Latitude is a much more competitive offering, on the base of spec-adjusted purchase price, which immediately places the new Renault at an advantage over the three rivals mentioned. Just how affordable the new model is can best be illustrated by the price: $36,990 for the leather-equipped entry-level Latitude and $42,490 for the Latitude Luxe.

For that sort of dosh, the base model comes with an Arkamys 3D audio system, integrated satellite navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, keyless entry/start, electric height adjustment for driver's seat, heated front seats, rake/reach adjustment for steering column, dual-zone climate control, 17-inch alloy wheels with full-size (alloy) spare, electric parking brake, electrically-adjustable/heated mirrors with fold-in facility, sun blinds for rear window/rear side windows, black leather trim and 60/40 splitfold rear seat.

Adding $5500 to the purchase price, the Latitude Luxe features a Bose audio system, three-zone climate control with 'toxicity sensor' and active carbon filter, Samsung Super Plasma air ioniser/fragrance diffuser, full electric adjustment for driver's seat (including lumbar support), electric two-mode massage function for the driver, electric height adjustment for front passenger's seat, 18-inch alloy wheels with full-sized (alloy) spare, boot spoiler and panoramic electric/glass sunroof.

Safety features across both grades include front/rear parking proximity sensors, ABS/EBD, emergency brake assist, automatic hazard light activation in an emergency, stability control, traction control, cornering brake control (to reduce understeer), rain-sensing wipers, auto-on/off headlights, electrochromatic external mirrors, speed limiter and six airbags -- dual front airbags, dual thorax-protecting side-impact airbags for front-seat occupants (two-stage deployment) and side curtain airbags.

Additionally, the Latitude Luxe gains a reversing camera, a tyre pressure monitoring system and an electrochromatic rear-view mirror.

The Latitude range comprises four variants. Equipped in either of the two grades, the Latitude is available with two power units: a 2.5-litre Nissan VQ V6 from the Maxima or a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel sourced from Renault. Both drive through a six-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels.

The petrol V6 develops 133kW of power and 235Nm of torque, for a combined-cycle fuel consumption figure of 9.7L/100km. Producing comparable peak power (127kW), the diesel develops useful torque of 380Nm and consumes 6.5L/100km of fuel, according to the combined-cycle test. The petrol engine is Euro 4-compliant and runs on recommended 91 RON unleaded, in contrast with the Euro 5-compliant diesel.

Built on Nissan and Renault's D platform, the Latitude uses the local Maxima's IRS system. The current American model Maxima -- not to be confused with the Maxima sold here and known as the Teana elsewhere -- is marketed in South Korea as the Samsung SM7. Confused yet?

The current (US) Maxima/SM7, the local (Teana) Maxima, the SM5/Latitude and the Murano are all built on the D platform, but dimensions vary and the Teana platform is also coded FF-L, as a subset of the D platform.

As mentioned, the base model rides on 17-inch alloys -- with 225/50 R17 tyres -- while the Latitude Luxe wheels measure 18x7.5J and are shod with 225/45 R18 tyres.

Brakes are ventilated discs all round, with the front rotors measuring 296mm in diameter for the V6 or 320mm for the diesel.

The Latitude is already available for sale, although Chris Brown advised during the car's local launch this week that the first shipment here comprised the Luxe flagship model only. Brown also anticipates that the petrol V6 models will account for about 60 per cent of sales.

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