Test drive by Renault Laguna 2001 - 2005 hatchback

Firestarter

Having implemented the program under the X74 code, Renault has replenished the class of medium -sized cars with the Laguna II model. The novelty, which remained within the limits of the reasonable price, is striking in an abundance of artistic and technical advantages. This also applies to the Laguna II Sport Tourer station wagon.
How much grace is in this silver car! The thin features of the noble face, the smooth line of the roof, the longitudinal faces, emphasizing the expressiveness and purity of the design, with such data can be on the podium. Confidence that comes from Sport Tourer thanks to the wheels placed along the edges of the body, complements the list of its aesthetic advantages.
The previous generation station wagon - Renault Nevada - was also good, but practicality prevailed in its image. The continuity of generations can be traced only in the stylized beak of the hood. But the station wagon retained the compactness certainly compact, although it lengthened relative to the predecessor by 80 mm.
New lagoon is a car without a key. It is replaced by the original Renault electronic card (the size of a credit card and four millimeter thickness), which is entrusted with many responsibilities, including the gatekeeper. The station wagon recognizes the owner and automatically unlocks the locks, it is worth it to take up the door handle.
An initial set of configuration is unlocked and locked using buttons on the map. For more advanced (like our) versions, the function of free hands is provided. For any fireman there is a mechanical master line implanted into the end of the map. The keyhole is located under the folding cap on the door handle.
To revive the engine, you need to insert the card into the gap on the central console and press the Start/Stop button. Electronics identifies the card, decrypts the floating start code (billion of combinations), will turn off the electromechanical lock of the steering column and then give the good to the starter.
Laguna II with a traditional thoroughness for Renault is protected from uninvited guests. The mechanisms of the door locks are hidden in special covers and have a cable drive that is difficult to reach crackers. The steering column is also strengthened by metal, and its electric drive opens the jaw only in response to the introduction of a password into the processor.
Renault's magic card is also a carrier of service information. With each launch of the engine, a mass of parameters (VIN-code, the oil level remaining before the prevention of mileage, the characteristics of the motor’s work and much more), which, being considered a computer, give a complete picture of the state of the car are made in memory.
Thanks to a kind of layout and decoration, the universal salon is filled with air and light. The place is enough to accommodate a five -time. Not only the front passengers fell under the custody of the developers (as often happens), but also the rear. For the sake of their convenience, the designers donated the luggage compartment in size, creating a reserve of legs space (the distance between the rows of seats reaches 214 mm). Another manifestation of concern for the gallerys is drawing sunscreen on the windows of the rear doors.
Despite the victim, the luggageman's volume is expressed a worthy value of 475 liters. If there is a need to transport large -sized goods, it can be increased three times, folding the rear seat.
The practicality of Sport Tourer is emphasized by numerous secretaries for trifles (in the doorway, under the steering column, under the front seats, etc.). Inside the front armrest there is a special shelf for a mobile phone, in which a hole for a wire stretching to a burst rosette located at the bottom is made.
In general, the interior of Sport Tourer seems rustic, but its large structured elements create a composition that perfectly combines with an external design.
The front panel is distinguished by uncomplicated elegance, and the quality of finishing materials makes us recall a higher class machines.
Sport Tourer is equipped with the same comparisons. Our station wagon is equipped with a climate installation with separate adjustment for the right and left halves of the cabin. The automatic air recirculation system prevents fogging of glasses and eliminates unpleasant odors.
And how do you like xenon headlights and rain sensor for automatic control of wipers? And six (two front adapted, four side) airbags and two inflatable curtains? Wipers, and they have insurance from pinching!
Serial for all modifications is, in addition, a unique air pressure control system in tires. The mechanism of its action can be schematically represented as follows: from the sensors located in the valves of each wheel, the information with the radio signal is transmitted to the receiving device under the bottom of the car, and the message about the air leak is displayed on the dashboard. The device is undoubtedly comfortable. Somewhat confuses something else - that a special machine is needed to disassemble the wheel.
As options for Laguna II Sport Tourer, automatically obscuring rear-view mirrors, ultrasonic parking sensors, cruise control with a speed limiter, when the car does not respond to the accelerator, and much more, is offered.
The Renault Laguna II install four gasoline and two diesel engines.
The nature of our station wagon, equipped with a new two -liter four F5R with variable phases of gas distribution, is assertive, but balanced. 85% of the maximum motor traction are provided at the driver’s service in almost the entire speed range - from 2000 to 5600 min -1, so a fairly acceptable car (9.9 seconds to 100 km/h) is not subject to surgery of emotions during acceleration. Universal is characterized by even and cheerful acceleration.
How much such an engine disposition reflects the Sport characteristic stated in the model name is a question, but the type of car is completely consistent.
The suspension conscientiously extinguishes a shaking from the flaws of the road surface and even reacts to the most insidious of them without trepidation and trembling. The front, as before, was used by Mcpherson, but in the back instead of the usual torsion, from savings, a semi -dependent beam was used (as on front -wheel drive vases).
All versions of Sport Tourer are equipped with an ESP traffic stabilization system. Without in any way, without replacing the driver, it helps to keep the course in the event of a sudden loss of wheel clutch with the road. At a sharp start to the case, a trakeshn control is connected.
The composition of the disk brakes of the anti -lock system includes an effort distributor and an assistant, squeezing the pedal in an emergency. You can safely slow down in any conditions. In the case of a sharp deceleration, the emergency woman automatically turns on to attract the attention of others.
A reliable connection between onboard electronics (some computers here is 12 pieces) is carried out using multiplex wiring.
In passing, noting the convenience of the seats, an excellent circular review, high fuel economy and excellent sound insulation, we inform that Laguna II was the first to rated five stars at EURONCAP Crash tests. This means that the model is a standard in terms of passive safety, and not only in its class D, but in all other market segments.
In Russia, Renault Laguna II (and our guest is the Sport Tourer station wagon) will appear in the spring. It is interesting how many buyers, comparing the price of a car with its artistic and technical arsenal, they will forward a common advertising phrase and without the slightest irony in their voice exclaim: Laguna, you surprise me!
Text: Igor Kuznetsov

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [12/2001]