RENAULT Laguna Estate 2001-2005 Photos, engines & full specs

Renault replaced the Laguna lineup in December 2000, after seven years of presence for the nameplate's first generation, and the new vehicle was larger and packed with more technology and amenities.

Sharing its platform with the Nissan Primera was an excellent idea since that led to lower development costs and, in addition, a longer wheelbase which resulted in a roomier cabin. Moreover, the carmaker managed to create a better-designed station wagon, with a shape that didn't resemble a utility vehicle but a look that was closer to a hatchback.

Its exterior showed a sharp look with clear-cut headlights and a trapezoidal grille adorned on its upper side by a trim on the hood. That was an unusual detail for a car, but Renault did it anyway, and it kind of looked good. The Laguna Estate's profile revealed an arched upper window line curved down towards the D-pillar. Finally, at the back, the raked-forward, curved shape of the tailgate was flanked on the lower sides by corner-mounted taillights.

Inside, the gizmo territory started to fade away. Apart from the push-button start and the card to access the vehicle, there were not too many out-of-the-box features. The interior room was ok for its size, especially the headroom for the rear passengers. In addition, the folding seatback of the rear bench made the car more spacious if some would need the car to be used by a salesperson.

The 2000 Laguna was equipped with diesel and gasoline engines, mated as standard with a 5-speed gearbox. In addition, there was an option for a 5-speed automatic gearbox, but only for the top, V6-engine version. The Laguna II was the first car to receive a 5-Star rating at the EuroNCAP crash tests.