19 Nov 08
Who loves the Laguna? Not that many people, so Renault had to overhaul it last year. Now more conventional-looking, and with much attention paid to its poor reliability record, the Laguna has been much-improved and it's worth a look again - especially with £7,000 off list price, as offered by some brokers we've seen.
The Sport Tourer estate is not the largest of load-carriers, but it is roomy, comfortable and user-friendly; the hatch is practical, too. The Laguna has always had particularly comfortable seats, and the ride is smooth.
Diesel options start with the super-economical 1.5dCi 110 (57.6mpg, in the hatch) but the various iterations of the 2.0dCi - 130, 150, 175bhp - are reasonably cheap to run as well. The most affordable versions to buy, however, have the non-turbo 2.0-litre petrol engine - good for 35.7mpg - and are entirely pleasant to drive.
Cars for Sale: Renault Laguna
The Vectra's replacement is accomplished, smart and considerably more exciting to drive than its predecessor - and even though it's only just gone on sale, there are deals to be done already. A number of independent agents are offering a good £2000-3000 off selected brand-new models, and we've seen even larger savings than that on offer.
The entry-level 1.8-litre petrol engine is gutless, but the diesels - though a bit noisy - are good; the 130bhp 2.0-litre CDTi is well worth shelling out extra for. This will do 48.7mpg, and emit 154g/km of carbon dioxide.
However, if you're not bothered about being seen with the latest model, Vauxhall dealers are heavily discounting the remaining Vectra stock. There's still a fair few around, brand-new, and they're getting cheaper by the day - nearly-news are just £6000 at leading car supermarkets.
Cars for Sale: Vauxhall Vectra
If you're looking for something economical, but a bit smaller than our selection, take a look at our Economy Drives: City Cars feature.
