Not perfume and not a tie.... Renault Laguna III reminds us of Mayakovsky

Although if you look closely, how new is it really? The suspension was barely touched, just refined. The same was done with the steering. The petrol engines offered in Russia are also already familiar. The top variant — a turbocharged 2.0 (170 hp) — carried over unchanged. The base 1.6 (115 hp) has long been seen on the Megane. And the freshest in the lineup is the two-liter naturally aspirated engine (140 hp), which links the Laguna to the Nissan Qashqai. The turbo engine works with an automatic transmission, the others with a manual. These six-speed gearboxes are truly new, without exaggeration, but they don't dispel the feeling that under the guise of the third generation hides the Laguna II. And for the image-conscious D-class, the sense of novelty that hits the eye is so important. And even if in this segment buyers often choose with their heads, the manufacturer must capture the heart, capture it. The French have always been masters at that. Once, Mayakovsky's purchase of a Renault car stirred the Russian beau monde. Eighty years later, Russia was stirred by the "budget" Logan, but wealthy citizens treat the brand coolly. The previous Laguna didn't catch their eye — the new Ford Mondeo or Mazda 6 were awaited here with a eagerness the "Frenchwoman" never dreamed of. Meanwhile, for Renault, this Laguna is significant. Carlos Ghosn personally predicted it would be among the top three in the D-class in... quality. He unequivocally hinted that the "Germans" and "Japanese" would have to make room. A bold forecast! Quality is tested by time, so now the French emphasize the traditional forte of the Laguna — safety. But our buyer won't be impressed by French quality or the number of airbags. What else is special about the new Laguna? Design! The previous one was an interesting lady, and after the facelift she became even prettier. The new one is somehow illogical. Even though the hatchback and estate have become lighter by 15 kg, there's no lightness in their appearance. The "barn" is more harmonious, while the hatchback looks like a blank for a truly beautiful coupe. Although, you'll agree, the cars are recognizable. The interior is clear confirmation of Ghosn's words about a quality leap. Both in the selection of materials and in execution, the French mosquito won't sharpen its nose. The Russian one even more so. But German or Japanese mosquitoes will find a gap of the right size. But the fact is: the interior of the new car is drawn with imagination, is quite pleasant to the touch, and stays silent on the broken Sochi roads. And the sound insulation is good. No wonder the "Renault folks" hope for the Laguna's success among used car owners. As Mayakovsky said: "I've had enough of slapping around, dead and quiet, on various nags-otters..." The platform of the previous Laguna didn't allow for a layout feat: there's no excess of interior space. But four people of average height sit comfortably in the cabin. Special thanks for the front seats. You sit down and forget that the "French" were famous for their pouf-like chairs. The driver's position is well organized. In this class, creativity and encroachment on the familiar are allowed only to Citroen. And Renault chose not to experiment more than before — and didn't miss out. And on the road, the Laguna doesn't require getting used to at all. The car with the 1.6 engine still rather pulls than goes. The engine is unpretentious — it's not even offered on the estate. The two-liter versions are more interesting. The naturally aspirated one is especially good. Torquey, elastic, obedient, it will forgive even rough mistakes in gear selection. Too bad the gearshift mechanism still has a "French touch." The turbo version? It's great for high-speed highways. If only the driver spends time training the adaptive automatic or immediately switches it to manual mode. But the naturally aspirated Laguna 2.0 is preferable. It's a good hundredweight lighter than the turbo-Laguna, accelerates to 100 km/h faster, and its ride is softer — there are no 17-inch wheels with low-profile tires here. Especially since handling is fine in both versions: no accents, no surprises. And only on steep serpentine bends does the old Laguna show through in the new car. The steering lacks the desired sharpness. But the brake drive, on the contrary, is free of the notorious French nervousness. Alas, the main thing has been inherited — the lack of integrity. Like its predecessor, the Laguna III is a set of more or less successful qualities, but they don't create a complete image. And therefore the slogan "You have the right to demand perfection!" on the Laguna's advertising posters reads strangely — like advice to look at competitors. Although the Laguna has an ace up its sleeve — a diesel! The Laguna III is the first Renault model to taste our diesel fuel. The two-liter "four" (150 hp, 340 N•m), meeting Euro-4 standards, will be offered starting in September with a six-speed automatic. Renault is counting heavily on corporate sales: any transport department head will appreciate the consumption — 6.2 l/100 km... It's just that the price of the diesel car starts at 881,450 rubles. Prices for petrol versions are more humane: from 694,625 rubles for the Expression trim, from 742,625 for the Dynamique, and for the Privilege — from 885,425. Of course, Renault in Russia doesn't stake as much on the Laguna as on the Logan or Sandero. And cooperation with VAZ occupies the Russian representative office much more. "But we must be present in the D-class," says Dominique Musset, marketing director of Renault in Russia. "No one expected such sales growth in this segment." So here's another plus of the Laguna — no queues. And then, who knows, the promised quality might show itself. And, who knows, maybe buyers of the Laguna will stop being looked at as complete aesthetes. Remember how Mayakovsky put it: "I can't avoid nasty gossip. Well, forgive me, please, that I brought a Renault from Paris. Not perfume or a tie." True, the poet didn't have such a choice as today. And Lila Brik even advised him to buy a "Ford"...