17 Jan 06
Certainly, it pleased within 100 yards of the start of the test route. The 2.0-litre dCi started with a push of a button, without having to bury the clutch into the carpet. The new six-speed 'box shifted more slickly. The lights no longer blinked on at passing cars for hard-to-ascertain reasons.
And yes, the engine delighted - so it should, having cost over £350m to develop (although it will be used in a number of other Renaults and Nissans after debuting here). In "base" tune, it produces 150bhp and a corking 250lb/ft of torque, for 0-62mph in 8.7 seconds. That's almost as quick as the 165bhp 2.0-litre turbo petrol, yet this also averages 52.3mpg.
So superb, on paper - and also in practice, with a free-revving nature, smoothness and sheer refinement. This is a diesel that will slow to 800rpm in third, without drone, shudder or shunt, then accelerate cleanly and pick up force at 1,500rpm, force that's sustained without tail-off to almost 5,000rpm.
It's astoundingly petrol-like and boasts cracking shove with little turbo lag: on twisty roads, it's a delight. There's a 175bhp version in the Laguna. How about a Renaultsport Megane with that unit, I asked? The Renault PR man agreed it was a good idea. Hmm.
