Test drive by Renault Laguna 1994 - 1998 hatchback

Renault Laguna 3.0

Laguna was first represented by the public in December 1993 and aroused great interest to both journalists and potential buyers. It was even assumed that in 1994 Laguna would become a car of the year. But she took only 5th place, losing Fiat Punto, VW Polo, Opel Omega and Audi A8, however, having ahead of all the cars of her class. With some stretch Laguna can still be called a car of the year.
 
I met Laguna in Italy, in Moden. I arrived in the city by rail and decided to take a taxi to the hotel. What was my surprise when the brand new Laguna drove up to the parking lot - this happened almost immediately after the official performance of the car. The driver told me that he ordered it six months ago, and she came only yesterday. When asked why the Italian preferred the French machine to Italian, he first said something about prices, but then categorically stated that French cars are more reliable. My first impressions mainly concerned the comfort of the back seat.
 
For a car of this class, the place there is quite enough, even with excess, especially if the driver or the front passenger is not too long. The closer communication with Laguna took place six months later. At its French training ground, Renault represented a complete range of cars. But only Laguna was a real novelty. At first glance, Laguna resembles another Renault - Safrana model. This is not surprising. Renault designers have always tried to maintain continuity in style. There is nothing frivolous in Laguna’s design: most likely people are measured and calm. Its front part is similar to a person’s face with shifted eyebrows. Such a harsh person, fatherly.
 
The salon made in calm colors is quite spacious and looks quite solid. In the car we got, it was full of everything: electrical adjustment of the seats, climate control, but I was especially struck by the radio-car-CD block in the same bottle of Philips. A very serious device, which we, however, could not turn on, did not know the code.
 
In France, we rolled a 2-liter version of Laguna, the engine of which then seemed too noisy. This time we dealt with a 3-liter, the most sophisticated modification. In the engine's cabin, I can hardly hear. The good year NCT 3, which the car was equipped, too. I don’t know if they are part of the standard configuration, but if they are not included, I advise you to purchase.
 
The technical characteristics of the engine at the first glance caused surprise - the volume of 3 liters, and the power of only 167 liters. With. In Honda NSX, for example, with the same, but 24-valve, V-shaped six-liter six-liter, power reaches 273 liters. p., however, with much higher (7300) revolutions and compression degree (10.2). But this is NSX - the car is sports. The cars closer to Laguna selected from the directory at random (Mazda 929, Pontiac Grand Am, Toyota Camry-Avalon) had almost similar characteristics. The advantages of relatively low -speed engines are elasticity and a larger resource. In addition, 167 forces are enough for a car weighing 1370 kg. To a hundred Laguna accelerates in 9 seconds and is able to move at a maximum speed of 212 km/h.
 
I also liked Laguna in France with my pendant. And now, when driving at high speed along our roads, the car reacted only to serious coating defects. But even when the car was thrown strongly enough, the suspension instantly extinguished unwanted vertical vibrations of the body.
 
On a winding highway from driving, you get true pleasure. The combination of a well -chosen gear ratio and the power of the amplifier makes the steering wheel very informative. A fairly rigid reptile stabilizer prevents a strong roll in steep turns, and comfortable seats are reliably held in the saddle. Laguna has a rather large wheelbase for its class, which positively affects the behavior of the machine. If the speed of turning clearly exceeds the reasonable one, Laguna does not break off as sharply as you could expect based on the characteristics of the suspension and the quality of the rubber. The car with all its behavior, as it were, warns that it is time to lose the gas.
 
When resetting, the gas is noticeable, but this happens smoothly and widely. But we should not forget that Laguna even with a 3 -liter engine is not for too active drivers. They would rather suit a turbocharged 900th Saab or 155th Alfa Romeo. Laguna with all its appearance, and with behavior shows that a calm, judicious driver is sitting behind her steering wheel.
 
This car can be called family. In addition to the driver, his family will easily accommodate in it. And running qualities will not force the owner of Laguna to blush at a traffic light at the moment when green lights up.
 
 

Source: Motor magazine [No. 9/1996]