The Renault Laguna III (internal codes: BT0 for hatchback, KT0 for Estate/Grandtour, DT0 for Coupe) was developed with a single, critical mission: to erase the disastrous reliability reputation of its predecessor, the Laguna II. Renault invested heavily in quality control, testing the car extensively before launch. The result is one of the most reliable mid-size cars of its generation. Despite its excellent build quality, robust engines (especially the 2.0 dCi co-developed with Nissan), and the outstanding '4Control' four-wheel steering system, it suffered from poor sales due to its polarizing, somewhat bland styling and the lingering bad reputation of the Laguna II. It received minor facelifts in 2010 (Phase 2) and 2013 (Phase 3). Today, it represents one of the best value-for-money propo
The Renault Laguna III is the ultimate used-car bargain. Punished by the market for the sins of its predecessor, it is actually one of the most reliable and well-built European mid-size cars of its decade. If you can look past the uninspiring styling, you get a highly dependable, safe, and well-equipped vehicle for a fraction of the price of a VW Passat or Toyota Avensis. Buying Advice: The absolute sweet spot is the 2.0 dCi (150 or 130 hp) with a manual gearbox, or the 2.0 16v petrol if you drive mostly in the city. Seek out a 'GT' or 'Initiale' trim with the 4Control system, which transforms the car's handling. Avoid the 3.0 V6 dCi due to high running costs, and be cautious with early 1.5 dCi models without a perfect service history.