Used Renault Laguna Sport Tourer 2000 - 2008 review

The Renault Laguna Sport Tourer's looks are more important than its overall load space. Even so, it carries a fair bit and it's packed with thoughtful details, such as a rear window that opens separately from the rest of the tailgate.

Inside, it's pleasantly trimmed. The cabin feels roomy, helped by its big windows, although the poor view to the back makes reversing tricky.

The Laguna led the fad for replacing conventional keys with a credit card-sized slab of plastic. It looks intriguing, but the card is too thick to carry in your wallet easily and it still needs to be slotted into the dash before the car will start. So it's more of a gimmick than a benefit.

The car rides smoothly and drives nimbly enough. However, it never displays the sharpness and feedback you'll enjoy when driving a Mondeo.

Heavy depreciation from new makes a used Laguna a bargain, while its top-flight safety helps keep insurance groups low. However, the car's reliability isn't anything to write home about, so buying an older one brings the risk of frequent garage bills.

And those bills can be quite high. Some ordinary jobs are long and complex, although routine spares are fairly priced.

On the other hand, servicing costs are average for a family car, and on-board sensors determine how far apart the services are. It's possible to stretch the gap between routine visits to 15,000 miles and beyond if you drive carefully.

Fuel economy is strong, too, with the 1.9 130 diesel achieving up to 47mpg overall and 57mpg on a long, gentle run. The 2.0 manages a reasonable 34mpg maximum overall and 44mpg on a run, but only 25mpg in town. Worst of all is the 3.0 that drinks petrol, struggling to manage 19mpg in town and only 28mpg overall.

The Laguna was the first family car to win a five-star occupant safety rating from Euro NCAP. Each has four airbags, plus anti-lock brakes, topping off above-average kit levels across the range.

Unlike the Laguna hatch, the Sport Tourer has no low-end Authentique trim, and no 1.8 petrol engine. The 2.0 ought to pull well, but it puffs when five adults and their gear are aboard. Instead, go for a diesel, preferably the 130bhp 1.9. It pulls hard yet will return up to 47mpg. Avoid the 3.0 V6 petrol motor, though. It comes with a standard auto gearbox that isn't nearly as slick as you'd want it to be.

Sporty Dynamique trim packs alloy wheels, air-con and a CD player, which should be enough for anyone. Alternatively, there's Privilege or Initiale, each dripping with kit.

Buy from a car supermarket or an estate car specialist. And, if possible, get a model from after the revisions to the range in 2005, which included a new dash, and the launch of a GT model.

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