Test drive by Renault Laguna 2005 - 2007 hatchback
A modest excellent student
Renault Laguna looks the most modest among the like modern French models. The High -Higher Highermans are trying to outline each other in avant -garde and the pretentiousness of the forms of their new cars. Often contrary to car design canons. Laguna has a more restrained style, but takes other consumer properties that many will consider priority.
Surprisingly, after restyling, the car did not become more original. The front line is redrawn for the sake of a new corporate style dictated by Megane II. It turned out much less avant -garde than the original version of Laguna 2002. We remind, she had a cross -backed metal strip on the nose connecting the headlights, which was essentially the main element of the front of the car. His business card.
Now the facial decoration is simpler - the block factory will go on, the usual nostrils of the air intakes and the branded rhombus in the middle. And if the Megane hatchback, having a standardly solved face, boasts at least an original stern, then his older sister is devoid of such an opportunity. But you should not regret it - the file part of the 5 -door Megane turned out to be an amateur ... Laguna profile is classic. The flowing hood, which takes place closer to the trunk, the window sill line running through the bumpers and doors unobtrusive gray moldings, quite sufficient 16-inch alloy wheels, practical silver color. Conservative, but with taste. 
Behind the car has changed less radically. The headlights got transparent dispersion, the shape of the lights became round, and the name of the model now flaunts in the center of the fifth door, under the branded icon. Inside, I immediately remembered the promises of Renault to seriously improve the quality of the assembly and finishing materials in the updated Laguna. Well, the Frenchmen held their word. Joints and gaps between the panels are minimal, the materials are expensive. Even the bottom of the front panel is made of plastic with a soft heat -insulating surface. True, the flaws were still found. In place of oily shiny and hard plastic elements on the door panels adjacent to the torpedo, something more aesthetic asks. The Cabasse audio control unit does not hide under the decorative cover anymore - it is taken to the center of the console. A small glove compartment is located above. Below - the control of climate control. It all looks stylish and concise, but you can not help but drip on a small keyboard size. You can unmistakably control them only by adapting, and this will take time.
Like the Espace, the car starts from the button if there is a key card nearby; It can now not be inserted into a special slot (though not on all versions). The elegant card is perhaps the most beautiful of all that I have seen. A turbocharged four comes to life under the hood. The first desire is to evaluate sound and vibration isolation. After all, people from Renault said so much that their cars are the quietest and most comfortable in their classes. And by the way, Espace confirmed this. And what about Laguna? 
At idle speed, the engine is almost inaudible. Yes, and a minimum of sounds comes from the street. I translate the selector of the machine camouflaged under the handle to the Drive position, start moving. Nothing creaks, does not tap or tinkle. I open the side glass a little - Hello, a metropolis. I close - silence again. With high -speed movement on the highway, the noise level is also low. Arks are well -isolated - even winter studded rubber did not annoy the rumble on the bare asphalt. Yes, Laguna received a European Golden Decibel prize. By the way, the level of noise inside the cabin of the prerestyling version was 71 dB under the European norm of 74 dB. In the new Laguna, this indicator is three units below. The suspension is configured for comfort. She willingly swallows ice bumps, slipping potholes with sharp edges, smoothes even the most bad roadway. However, as it turned out, the chassis lacks energy intensity at low speed. For example, even a small policeman becomes a complex obstacle for the car. You go quickly - you get a painful blow to the suspension, slowly, but not quite - a bit with your nose. Yes, such that it is just right to think - and how is the Carter pallet? Laguna will have to get used to this feature. It would be logical to wait for the frightening build -up of the body on the gentle waves of the highway, but here the hatchback behaves well. It throws, of course, as without it! However, there is no swing, control is preserved.
Coursework pleased. The machine almost does not go astray from the course, and small trajectory scribbles at high speed can be attributed to winter tires and road. Yes, and high -speed arcs the car passes confidently. A wedge -shaped silhouette means a small sailing - even strong gusts of wind practically do not push a car from the trajectory. However, comfortability has its disadvantages. The suspension does not have sufficient composure, and therefore Laguna is somewhat thoughtful in reactions. A half -dependent suspension on the N -shaped beam is behind - hello from yesterday. The steering wheel pleases with a distinct feedback, but the car reacts to the actions of it with small delays. And in the turns there are noticeable rolls, and if you sort at speed, a pronounced insufficient rotation will appear. However, this is not bad, but right. That's right - from the point of view of security. Renault today produces the safest cars in the world. And such reactions, coupled with the preventive actions of ESP - the key to trouble -free movement. By the way, already in the base the machine is equipped with eight airbags. Let me remind you that in 2001, Laguna became the first car to receive five stars according to the results of EURONCAP crash tests. 
On the test there was a top version with a 2-liter turbomota-rime. However, this is not a charged version of the segment D, but its private, moderately powerful worker. The engine gives 170 hp. and 270 Nm. The character of the motor is even, it demonstrates the maximum of its capabilities in the range from 3250 to 5000 revolutions, after which the ardor becomes less. Acceleration to hundreds in a little more than 9 seconds and the maximum 216 km/h - this is enough to feel confident in almost any staffing situation. In Europe, by the way, Laguna GT is sold with a 205-horsepower turbo engine, but it, alas, is not supplied to Russia. As well as diesel machines. But we have two more atmospheric four 1.6 liters (115 hp) and 2 l (135 hp). The gearboxes are as many as motors: 5-speed mechanics and two machine guns-four and five steps. The last version of the aggregation is trained with a turbo engine, and I met this box - there are no comments on it. The external modesty of Laguna is combined with a good set of useful consumer properties. A stylish French look, comfort, high -quality and quiet interior, powerful motor, good running qualities and outstanding safety - and all this can be obtained for a completely adequate price. There is something to think about.
Text: Dmitry Matveenko
Source: Motor magazine [May 2006]
