Renault Laguna and VW Passat present themselves with renovated look and new, economical basis of diesel engines. Which of the two middle-class Limousine is there at the end in the shinier?
Some changes will give up puzzles. At the glance on the Renault Laguna is in lights and front bumper does not immediately recognize his face lift. Different at the VW Passat: he hides his tried and tested platform extremely tricky a fresh facade. It differs so much from its predecessor, that you could type smooth on a completely new model. And yet it is here only to a facelift.At the VW Passat is also on: his elegant Wuchtigkeit outright flirts with the next highest League. Nevertheless, at least, the price of the base model with 24,425 euro takes off not too much. Related message: Here the middle class buys a clever, because it gets much value for money - in addition to technical innovations that were to be found so far only one class higher. About assistance systems such as the dynamic high-beam regulatory (455 euro, but only with Xenon), which trade winds around the oncoming traffic around over the light beam of the VW, without that must be dimmed. The VW price list offers temptations such abundant; how much you give them, decides the personal budget.
The VW Passat 1.6 TDI Comfortline-test car about is located at at least 28.300 euro and almost 2,000 of a Laguna with the 110 HP diesel engine in the dynamique equipment. Renault customers receive Laguna climate control, cruise control, and navigation system - in the Renault then even though they are much less pay. The price to the VW rises to over 3,000 euros - and the French manufacturer is positioned as a clever provider.
Looking real Burl Laguna however in the option list for the Renault also in vain as a dual-clutch transmission or adaptive shock absorbers. In the VW Passat, however, the comfort level lives up to its name, absorbs bumps clearly williger as the series chassis. Thanks to new multilayer front window with acoustic slide it remains pleasantly quiet, even at higher rate of travel which also the extremely long therefor, but accurate six-speed manual transmission.
VW thus clearly provides the orientation: the Passat is a car that convenience, a feeling of in be reallocated when driving. There is no progress in the premium chic hard plastic in the lower part of the cockpit - still within the visible and tangible, however, instead. Here, the VW stumbles Passat a little on the way in the upper middle class.
Renault's interior designers have, however, in the Laguna once mauen quality impression in recent years significantly improved, put the design on French ESPRIT instead of German objectivity. The Renault Laguna scores with the blessings of his floating triangle as the boot volume to 1,337 liters and the large tailgate, which facilitates loading. On the other hand, the more sloping roof requires disadvantages such as a worse start to rear and less headroom in the rear.
Anyway are there not just the best places in the Renault Laguna; the upper legs dangle on the rear seat insecure in the air, and the feet fit hardly under the front seats. At the same time, even an average large driver front fault an high seating position. And on long bumps, it is sometimes uncomfortable catapulted in the height. However, the conversion of the Laguna suspension is impressive.
At the start of the current model 2007 strategists indulged still their athletic ambitions, and the tightly designed Renault Laguna still pretty fahrig stumbled over bumps. This aberration, the development engineers have left - and meanwhile found a favourable spring-damper-vote.
The jagged means of something pointed designed steering has remained. Considered positive: the Renault with an enthusiasm that may surprise some mid-range drivers, never it will bring trouble lunges in curves. Who in the Renault loosely address it Laguna is follows the switch recommendation quickly in the highest gear, with the sixth level otherwise is as in the VW Passat to be overtaking. So much better through the Laguna in the comparison.
Vitesse - English speed - Laguna has been provided for in the Renault due to of a limitation, but it is missing the leadership of switching stocks to good. It seeks progress in the manner of start stop or recuperation of braking energy at Laguna in vain - although Renault suggests a special savings technique with the name of eco2. Which provides for the Passat under the label Blue VW motion technology (extra charge: 400 euro), as well as in the test car.
On average, the VW can be two tenths per litre cheaper than the Renault moved Passat about Laguna; gasfu? sensitive sparfuchse come even with very low 4.6 liter (Renault: 4.9) on 100 km.
Tea connoisseurs know long time ago: A second infusion must not bad taste. So, VW added the best with the progressive for the Passat and shows how the middle class in the modern dress must present themselves. The Volkswagen Passat is based a class in appearance above, consumption but deeper and combines convenience with modesty. Who is so have, must reinvent also not from the ground up is, to define the top.
