Renault Laguna vs Skoda Superb. A taster's dream

 

Renault Laguna. Price: 885,425 RUB. On sale: since June 2008
Skoda Superb. Price: 940,000 RUB. On sale: since August 2008

Both models appeared here not so long ago. Prices are almost the same, dynamics are comparable, and even the body, at first glance, is the same. But if you look closely, there is a catch. The new Laguna only looks like a sedan on the outside, but in essence remains a hatchback. The Superb, on the other hand, manages to combine both types in one car.
 
Renault Laguna

Thanks to the increased wheelbase and other dimensions, the Laguna III has become noticeably more spacious for passengers. The interior trim uses only expensive materials that were not previously found in this class. The diesel engine is also new for our market.

Driving
The car has become noticeably more composed, and the suspension, as before, is a competent balance between comfort and handling.
   
Interior
It looks pleasant and pleases with high-quality trim materials.
   
Comfort
The spacious cabin and excellent sound insulation are conducive to long trips.
   
Safety
Even in the base version, there are six new-generation airbags, ABS, and an emergency braking assist system.
   
Price
Quite acceptable.
  

Skoda Superb

Looking for similarities between the new Superb and its predecessor is a futile exercise. The model has changed completely. But it's not just about the design. All-wheel drive, a new engine, and the patented Skoda engineers' trunk lid design are just some of the things that distinguish the new model from the old version.

Driving
The car is dynamic with predictable behavior. The brakes deserve special praise: they are both effective and informative.
   
Interior
Not just big, but huge, especially in the second row. The trunk is also impressive.
   
Comfort
In the base version, it is already at a high level, and the list of options would surprise only a sheikh.
  
Safety
Meets the car's class.
   
Price
Justified, at the level of competitors.
   

We won't argue: a sedan has always looked and will always look more solid than a hatchback. But it lacks practicality. How many times have I seen the owner of a "prestigious" car trying to stuff a TV box or a washing machine into the narrow trunk opening. To be honest, I've found myself in such a situation a couple of times. And at that moment, I desperately wanted the trunk lid to become a fifth door. But not all cars can do that. However, there are exceptions: the Laguna, whose trunk lid, although small, is visually present, and the Superb, which in profile looks unequivocally like a sedan. Although it would be more correct to call them not hatchbacks, but liftbacks — when, with the appearance of a sedan, the car has not a lid, but a full-fledged rear door.

Both cars appeared on our market relatively recently. The Laguna has been officially on sale since June, the Superb since September. Both belong to the D-segment and... Everything is clear with the Laguna, but where to place the Superb is a question. It's all about the wheelbase. It is this that makes the model unique: no classmate will offer such spaciousness in the second row.

 

But it's not just the wheelbase that sets the Superb apart from its competitors. There is also the fifth door, which completely confuses the positioning. The fact is that the Superb can be both a liftback and a sedan at the same time. If the cargo is small, you open only the trunk lid. If you need to load something bulky, you open the door entirely. Convenient, no doubt.

This trick won't work with the Laguna. But even despite the fact that its fifth door cannot transform like that, it is no less convenient to use. The shelf that covers the luggage compartment when the door is open almost completely isolates the cabin, which is especially important in winter. And one of the tasks of Skoda engineers when creating such a door was precisely to protect the heat. And yet, 560 liters for the Superb versus 450 for the Laguna is an impressive result. And if you also fold the rear row...

The space that the Superb gives to second-row passengers is also impressive. You can really stretch your legs. And for those who are not tall, there are special footrests that easily move along the floor and are secured with Velcro. The Laguna, of course, cannot boast such space in the "gallery," but there is enough room here to sit not only cross-legged, but quite comfortably.

 

As for the driver's seat, the Laguna and Superb are almost identical here. The numbers confirm this: the "Czech" is only 5 millimeters wider than the "Frenchman." But the interior design of the cars is completely different. The Superb's cabin is like classic Czech beer: aged and rich. Nothing superfluous, and every element — from the instruments to the climate control unit — cannot exist separately from the others, like malt without hops. The Laguna is not so strict in this regard. Everything here is also logical and harmonious, but that strictness is absent. It's like young Beaujolais — the taste is bright, slightly tart, and fresh. However, that's what you expect from the "Frenchman."

But the fact that the Laguna has become more composed and stricter in motion was a pleasant confirmation of what I had noticed before. In terms of road stability, it is little inferior to the Superb, and this despite the fact that its wheelbase is smaller, albeit slightly. As for dynamics, the cars differ not much. Which is logical, given the difference in weight and engine power. The Laguna is lighter than the Superb, but its engine is weaker.

However, the lack of power can be easily compensated by choosing a version with a stronger engine. Such versions are available for both the Laguna and the Superb.


Data bank

 

Renault Laguna - Skoda Superb

Dimensions, weight

Number of seats    5 - 5
Curb weight, kg    1369 - 1455
Gross weight, kg    1919 - 2075
Length, mm    4695 - 4840
Width, mm    1811 - 1815
Height, mm    1445 - 1460
Wheelbase, mm    2756 - 2760
Trunk volume, l    450 - 565
Fuel tank volume, l    66 - 60

Dynamics

 

Maximum speed, km/h    210 - 220
Acceleration time to 100 km/h, s    9.1 - 8.6
Braking distance from 100 km/h, m    37.7 - 37.2
Reference fuel consumption, l/100 km:
urban cycle    10.7 - 10.4
extra-urban cycle    6.3 - 6.0
combined cycle    7.9 - 7.6

Technical

Engine type    petrol, inline, 4-cylinder
Displacement, cm3    1997 - 1798
Power, hp at rpm    140/5500 - 160/5000
Torque at rpm    195/3750 - 250/1500
Transmission    6-speed, manual
Drive    front - front
Front suspension    independent - independent
Rear suspension    semi-independent - independent
Front brakes    disc, ventilated - disc, ventilated
Rear brakes    disc - disc,
Steering    power-assisted - power-assisted
Tire size    195/60R16 - 205/55R16