Renault Laguna Coupe 3.5 V6 240 CV aut., road test (Part I)

This 3.5-litre six-cylinder engine was paired with a six-speed automatic gearbox, a gearbox that was not as quick as the engine deserved and, as I mentioned earlier, the power and smoothness of the engine were its two main characteristics. As proof, let us mention the torque of 330 Nm at 4,400 rpm.

This translated into an engine with a strong response from 2,500 rpm that reacted forcefully to the commands we gave the accelerator. As an example, if in the middle of the motorway at 110 km/h we wanted to overtake and pull away with force, we only had to press the accelerator pedal a little further and the gearbox dropped a couple of gears, settling in 4th and reaching 4,000 rpm, making the Laguna Coupe move with great ease.

On the other hand, when we entered a village at low speed, the smoothness of the powertrain became evident and we barely heard any noise coming from the engine, rolling along in complete calm. The interior comfort was also very good, thanks in part to a spacious cabin and good sound insulation, which made the Laguna Coupé a good car for long journeys.

The gearbox is one point to improve on the Renault Laguna. Our unit was fitted with a six-speed automatic gearbox with sequential operation (no paddle shifters on the steering wheel), but it was somewhat slow to respond and not very smooth when changing gear.

Where the Laguna Coupé really stands out is in its stability, since our unit was equipped with the 4Control system, that is, rear-wheel steering. This equipment, which may be optional on the Initiale version, works so that the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the front wheels by up to 3.5 degrees below 60 km/h, perfect for manoeuvring in town, and above 60 km/h the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the front ones to gain stability and improve cornering. Furthermore, this 4Control system has an emergency mode when we perform an evasive manoeuvre, in which the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the fronts by up to 3.5 degrees.

The stability and composure are excellent in the Laguna Coupé, both on the motorway and, above all, on secondary roads with bends. We put it to the test and it performs very well. A direct and precise steering also contributes, which at times can even feel firm, but far from being a problem, it is very effective for keeping the car under control at all times. The stability even surprised us on snow, where, despite its power and automatic gearbox, it behaved better than expected.

The stability was helped by a suspension with a somewhat firm setup, typical of a vehicle of this type, which kept us firmly planted on the tarmac. As expected, its four disc brakes were a match for the engine and the power of the Renault Laguna Coupe, so we could stop the Laguna Coupe without problems, needing around 38 metres to come to a halt from 100 km/h, a good figure for a coupe.

Perhaps the least positive aspect of the engine is its fuel consumption, indeed a 3.5-litre engine producing 240 CV has a lot of displacement, and that takes its toll on consumption. During the test, on a route along secondary roads at 90 km/h and on the motorway, we achieved a consumption of around 12 litres per 100 km. However, in urban driving it is very easy to reach about 18 litres on average. During the test we drove very carefully to see how low we could bring consumption, but only on certain roads were we able to keep it close to the 7.4 litres per 100 km of extra-urban driving stated in its technical data sheet.

In short, although it is by no means a rational engine, its smoothness and the good behaviour of this Renault Laguna Coupé equipped with the 3.5 V6 petrol engine of 240 CV are surprising. The downside is fuel consumption, but this is fairly justifiable given the displacement of the model and its power. For petrol engine enthusiasts it is a very good engine that would surely appeal to many for the way it works, with the exception of the gearbox, which would benefit greatly from more agility when shifting gears or a sport mode.

In the second part of the test we will talk about the design of the Laguna Coupe, its interior space and its boot. The design is one of the aspects where it stands out most.

Photos | David Taboada

Thanks to the support team in Madrid and Albacete for their collaboration on the test