Renault Laguna Coupe 3.0 V6 dCi (2008) CAR review, video

The Renault Laguna Coupe is the best-looking car the recently ‘design-troubled’ French brand has produced for years. That might not be such an achievement given Renault’s current line-up, but nonetheless, the new four-seater coupe is a very positive addition to a market that demands beauty above all else. By comparison the Peugeot 407 Coupe seems plain ugly and even the BMW 3-series Coupe average.

Has Renault design got its mojo back?

‘Yes’ on the evidence of the stunning Laguna Coupe, but ‘no’ on first acquaintance with the depressing new five-door Megane. Still, the Laguna Coupe – prefaced by the superb 2004 Fluence concept car – is genuinely beautiful; up close and out on the road.

Starting from the edge of the fairly deep front air intake, a gentle line rises over the front wheelarch to form a subtle but clearly defined side character line that dips downward slightly after the door to flare out the shoulder line, then sweeps gracefully round to meet the car’s extended rear lip before finally swooping back over the roof of the car and back down the bonnet.

Sorry to wax lyrical, but bar a few tiny details at the front around the lights, there’s really not a jarring line in sight on the new Laguna Coupe.

What about inside? How’s the quality and can anyone fit in?

The inside is nearly as good – and, yes, you can even fit four people in. At launch we were spoiled by top-spec GT cars with well bolstered, ribbed leather seats and a similarly clad steering wheel and door trims but nonetheless fit and finish feels genuinely ‘prestige’.

Four six-footers can slide in with relative ease and rear head and knee room is good for its class. Fold-flat rear seats activated by ‘easy-pull’ handles in the boot – borrowed from the Sport Tourer – give the coupe some real flexibility when the occasional practical manoeuvre is required.

Scroll down the page to the embedded player to view Renault's unedited footage of Laguna Coupe

Click ‘Next’ to find out what the new Renault Coupe is like on the road