Renault Laguna Coupe 3.5 V6 240 CV aut., test drive (Part III)

We reach the third part of the test of the Renault Laguna Coupé equipped with the 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine producing 240 CV, which we have already discussed, as well as the car’s design and its interior with first-class materials, a topic we covered in the second part of the test. And now, to finish off the Laguna Coupé test, we still need to talk about equipment, prices and our overall verdict on the model.

The model we tested was the Renault Laguna Coupe in the highest trim level, Initiale, which comes with practically everything as standard except for the 4 Control system (four-wheel steering) and the 18″ alloy wheels, which are an option, as the standard fitment is 17″. The starting price for this trim level and this engine is 41,110 euros (according to the brand’s website configurator), a not particularly high price considering how well equipped it is with practically everything, not to mention the engine.

Equipment

But to look at the equipment of the Renault Laguna Coupé in more detail, let’s start with the safety elements, since the Laguna Coupé features systems such as ABS+EBD, stability control, multiple airbags, including rear curtain airbags, or front seat airbags that hold passengers in place to prevent them from moving in the event of an accident. As for the famous Euro NCAP stars, there is no crash test data because only the saloon version of the Laguna was presented, but given that it shares much of its base, the result is almost certainly extrapolable.

The rest of the equipment in this Initiale trim comes with everything you can see inside: the satellite navigation, leather upholstery, electric seats, a sound system with a six-CD changer, Bluetooth for the phone, and even BOSE speakers, as well as bi-xenon headlights and parking sensors, all without having to pay a single euro extra. Overall we really liked how the sound system works. The only thing missing is a USB input instead of the auxiliary jack fitted to our test car, but the sound quality and the number of speakers distributed throughout the interior make for a perfect combination.

The radio stands out for its ease of use. Despite having an integrated six-CD changer on the front panel and the usual features of a sound system, its controls are uncluttered and very intuitive to use. The navigation system, by contrast, takes a little more getting used to, especially when operating all the controls on the centre console, but it works quite well. As a bonus, you can choose whether the directions are given by a male voice or a female voice.

With this 240 CV petrol engine, only this trim level Initiale is available, but it’s worth remembering that there are also less powerful petrol versions and three more diesel versions. So if you opt for a base Laguna Coupé in Emotion Plus trim, you can optionally get the navigation, leather upholstery and BOSE sound system with CD changer, while the rest of the features, such as dual-zone climate control and bi-xenon headlights, come as standard, and all this for a starting price of 29,060 euros for the 150 CV diesel engine (according to the Renault website).

The equipment is very comprehensive. It’s true the price isn’t especially low, but at least you won’t have to shell out huge sums to get your coupé fully loaded with every luxury detail; even the options are fairly reasonably priced. With the GT trim (between the base and Initiale), the 4 Control system comes as standard, and the only extras you’d need to pay for are the BOSE sound system or the navigation, as leather upholstery and the rest of the features are standard.

Overall verdict

The Renault Laguna Coupé returns to a segment normally dominated by expensive German coupés, and it comes back with plenty of strengths, including its design, a complete range of engines with enough power to take on the competition, and well-rounded equipment.

In general, the balance between price and equipment is very good, since what the Renault offers as standard on German coupés you would have to build up with options that considerably inflate the final price. On the other hand, the dynamic performance of the Laguna Coupé is beyond doubt, especially with the 4 Control system; the Renault makes a clear statement of intent and holds its own against the rest of the coupés in the segment.

All in all, I think it’s a highly recommendable model for coupé enthusiasts, or for those seeking a car with attractive design that blends elegance and sportiness very well. This engine may not be the most economical choice, but it’s worth remembering that three diesel engines of 150, 180 and 235 CV and two petrol engines of 204 and 240 CV are available, so if you prefer a petrol engine and don’t mind fuel consumption too much, this one is very recommendable, as we’ve seen from its smoothness and excellent ride comfort.

Versions and prices (prices taken from the website, it is advisable to check with a dealership):

• Renault Laguna Coupé Emotion Plus dCi 150 CV 29,060 euros
• Renault Laguna Coupé GT 4Control dCi 180 CV 37,010 euros
• Renault Laguna Coupé GT 4Control 2.0 T 205 CV 37,410 euros
• Renault Laguna Coupé Initiale V6 dCi 235 CV Aut. 42,110 euros
• Renault Laguna Coupé Initiale 3.5 V6 240 CV Aut. 41,110 euros

Version tested: Renault Laguna Coupé Initiale 3.5 V6 240 CV Aut, with 4Control and 18-inch alloy wheels, and a price with extras of 43,211 euros (according to the Renault website).

Photos | David Taboada

Thanks to the support teams in Madrid and Albacete for their help with the test