Hidden away at the very bottom of the new Renault Laguna diesel line-up is, potentially, the hidden gem of the range.
The 110PS 1.5-litre diesel is predictably not the most potent sporting beast, but it has CO2 emissions of just 130g/km. By comparison, no Ford Mondeo gets below 150.
In £16,185 Expression trim level, which includes 16-inch alloys, aircon and keyless entry, the Laguna comes out at 27.5 pence per mile, which is less than the 100PS 1.8 diesel Mondeo that kicks off the Ford’s range. And while acceleration couldn’t be described as brisk that doesn’t mean it’s slow, and motorways cruising is refined.
The new Laguna’s other attributes and frailties remain – cabin quality is impressive, but the styling less so, particularly at the bland-to-ugly rear end; at least the front end is only nondescript.
The problem with the Laguna is that generally is doesn’t do anything better than its rivals, which is why the 1.5 dCi with its impressive emissions and average 53.3mpg makes the most sense – as long as you’re not expecting performance.
Verdict: Very good running costs, especially for the driver thanks to the low CO2 emissions, though there’s a performance sacrifice. But it’s still probably the best pick if you want a Laguna
