Move over Volvo...

Traditionally, Volvo are known to have the safest cars on the planet, which means if you buy your car based on safety reasons, such a car would be high on your list.

Until Renault came along to spice up the party, that is.

The marque's new prestige car, named Laguna, has been awarded a prize no other car has yet attained - not even the Swedish Volvo.

The entire Laguna range was given a four-star safety rating by the independent crash testing company, Euro NCAP. But even more impressive is that the 1.8-litre Laguna was the first car to ever receive a five-star rating from NCAP. Renault is pretty chuffed to know that the Laguna is still the only car to uphold this accolade today.

The Laguna benefits from a number of safety features, and working in conjunction with one another, they help form what is arguably the safest car in the world.

First and foremost, the Laguna is equipped with very large disc brakes - 308mm ventilated discs up front and 274mm solid discs at the rear. Add to this the latest Teves anti-lock brake system (complete with electronic brake distribution - EBD), plus stability control systems and you've laid the groundwork for a safe motoring environment.

With the introduction of the new Renault Programmed Restraint system, drivers will always feel secure. This system comprises new two-stage adaptive airbags and an adaptive seat belt with load limiter.

In addition, all outboard seats are provided with inertia reel seatbelts with pyrotechnic pretensioners, two on the driver's side in place of the usual single unit. All variants are equipped with two head restraints for the front seats and three folding head restraints in the back.

The anti-submarining feature has been strengthened on all seats and a system which pulls the brake pedal to the floor - and severs the pedal shaft in an extremely severe frontal impact - reduces the risk of lower limb injury. To protect occupants during side impacts, Laguna variants are equipped with side thorax airbags housed in the front-seat backs and curtain head-protection airbags housed in the roof side rails.

Safety was obviously a critical element in designing the Laguna, but not at the expense of other areas - for instance, the engine.

When it comes to engineering, people often forget that Renault has been involved in Formula One for many years. Take a look at the gutsy Renault Clio Sport. It's got a fairly unassuming 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder engine, worth about 124kW, that is capable of extremely rapid take-offs.

The Laguna comes packed with a much larger mill - 3.0-litres of capacity, to be precise. The V6 engine is equipped with variable inlet valve timing with two camshaft variators - one to each cylinder bank - meaning, in essence, more acceleration at varying engine revolutions and speeds.

With 4-valves per cylinder, the Renault engine is capable of putting down 152kW of power @ 6,000rpm, transmitted to the wheels via a five-speed automatic gearbox. There is no authentic manual gearbox, which seems a bit scew-whiff, but thankfully all models come with a manual sequential overdrive.

The Laguna's powerplant forces through a very credible 285Nm of torque @ 3750rpm, while 90 per cent of this torque is available from as low as 2500rpm.

Not content with bolting a new-fangled V6 into the Laguna, Renault demanded that the handling was spirited as well. Take a refined chassis, then add independent wishbone suspension up front, coupled to an anti-sway bar, with coil springs and telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers. Throw in an H-style rear axle with coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers and anti-sway bar and you've got a remarkably nimble European motor on your hands.

Inside the car, drivers will be greeted with all sorts of cool doodads and gadgetry. The next-generation keyless card system replaces your typical car keys and remote fob and works in tandem with the vehicle's remote control and ignition system. It operates all locks, and the fuel filler, plus it slots into the dash to start the ignition. Pull it out and the engine cuts and the immobiliser is engaged. Nice.

On the entry-level Authentique model, prospective buyers get a 6-speaker CD-stereo with satellite audio controls, a leather steering wheel and gear selector, Axis upholstery, twin optic headlamps, 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control and a speed limiter.

The more expensive Privilege model gets you those groovy Xenon headlights with pop-up washers, rain-sensing front wipers, leather and velour upholstery, speech synthesis, a 6-CD stacker and fog lamps.

For the top-of-the-line model - the Privilege LX - you get leather everything, rear spoiler, an electric sunroof and chunky 17-inch alloys with 225/45 R17 tyres.

With a kerb weight of 1430kg, this is a relatively light-weight presitge car, yet affords more than enough standard equipment to justify it's 'luxury' tag. Renault has done very well since it's return to Australia in 2001 and Richard Wilson, Director of Renault Australia, had this to say: "Since Renault's return to Australia in June last year, interest in the brand has been running high.

"Our Scenic, Scenic RX4, Clio and Megane Cabriolet line-ups have met with wide-ranging acceptance from the Australian market. With our strengthening sales and expanding dealer network, all we have been waiting for is a suitable vehicle to head up the Australian range - and the Laguna is that vehicle."

Indeed, the Laguna represents impressive value at the starting price of $46,990 for the Authentique model. But can it lead the Renault range into a more profitable Australia? We'd have to say yes. And best of all, it's safer than any other vehicle out there - even the good old Volvo can't touch the Laguna. What more do you need?

Pricing:

Laguna Sedan

- Authentique $46,990
- Privilege $51,990
- Privilege LX $57,990

Laguna Estate

- Authentique $50,990
- Privilege $55,990

Options

- Metallic Paint $750
- Full Leather Trim $1,900