Renault relaunches Laguna

Renault has relaunched its Laguna Down Under. The relaunch comes after around 18 months 'in the wilderness' for the stylish if-quirky near-premium medium car.

The original Laguna was launched in 1995 to supplement local Volvo models but Renault has struggled to define a local niche for this capable and well-liked medium contender. Six years after this first local model was withdrawn, the 'new' Renault organisation launched an all-new Laguna series in 2002 only to withdraw the range again during 2005.

This week the heavily-revised Phase II Laguna arrives as a single diesel hatchback model priced from $46,990.

The relaunched Laguna gains a new look with strong styling links to the latest Megane and a heavily revised cabin featuring a new dash design and combination leather and cloth seats as standard. Extra detailing includes 17-inch alloy wheels, rear spoiler and chrome exterior door handles. Indeed, the sole top-shelf specification includes sunblinds, dual-zone climate control, electronic parking brake that applies and releases itself and a new Renault 'card' ignition and locking system.

The big news is it is Renault's first local diesel passenger car and a slick new five-speed automatic transmission is fitted as standard. Originally developed for Renault's pioneering Espace peoplemover, the Laguna's new 2.2-litre turbodiesel is well suited to Australian conditions with a reasonable 102kW at 4000rpm and a healthy maximum torque of 320Nm at just 1750rpm.

The combined fuel consumption figure of 7.7lt/100km generates a range of over 1000km.

Renault explained the narrow diesel positioning of the new Laguna range as a by-product of what it discovered in recent Clio III market research. Earlier clinics of Laguna owners, who fall in the mid-30s to mid-50s age group, revealed very limited knowledge of diesel engines and most associated them primarily with heavy-duty commercial usage.

This has changed significantly in a very short period as more Australians experience the performance and economy of the latest diesels while travelling in Europe. Renault claims that owners and customers increasingly began asking for a diesel Laguna.

The Renault Laguna is from the same Euro market segment that has delivered various Holden Vectra, Ford Mondeo, Peugeot 406/407, Citroen Xantia/C5 and VW Passat models. All have struggled in Australia at various times when the petrol engine versions are not the primary focus in Europe. Because the most popular diesel versions did not offer automatic transmission options until recently and would not run on Australian diesel fuel until this year, manufacturers were forced to either abandon these models or adopt a holding pattern.

Although Renault's initial sales estimates are very conservative at just 15-20 per month, the company is hoping to replicate the renewed sales success Peugeot and Volkswagen are now enjoying with their diesel versions of the 407 and Passat. Renault says it held over the release of the new Laguna diesel until it could offer a comparable automatic transmission.

Renault also has another agenda. Like the 407 and Passat diesels, the Laguna is intended to be Renault's flagship model for a new diesel range based on the Phase II upgrade of the Megane and Scenic that will include manual and automatic versions due for local release in the first quarter of 2007.

The Laguna is more compact than several of its European rivals and is actually closer in size to the Mazda 6, Honda Accord Euro and Subaru Liberty. It continues with a full complement of benchmark five-star safety features that made the Laguna the first European model to achieve this level.

The car also offers a very different styling direction to its Japanese and European rivals as one of the few hatchback models in this class.  The cabin and dash are pleasantly free of gadgetry with a simple, clear presentation while a wide range of equipment is standard.

Renault argues that there was little point continuing with the four-cylinder and V6 petrol versions when the diesel is more frugal than the four and more than a match for the V6 in performance. The latest pricing is $11,000 under the comparable Laguna V6 version of just 12 months ago which must place it on the shopping lists of a new range of buyers.

Early drive impressions reveal that it is a full class above its Japanese rivals in ride comfort and noise suppression over broken Australian road surfaces. Handling is taut and balanced. Inside, there is no audible indication that there is a diesel under the bonnet even when proving that it is a willing performer.

In short, the new Laguna II deserves to be taken more seriously than its projected 240 sales per year would indicate. Look out for CarPoint's full launch report soon.