This week’s Best Used test drive is not dissimilar to a rugby full back, unless, that is, you play for Scotland. Long considered a safe pair of hands, the Renault Laguna has thrived on a reputation of reliability and consistency.

I drove it a week before a Liberty Insurance survey claimed that almost 60% of Irish drivers are unprepared should their car break down, with basic emergency items such as first aid kits, jump leads and tow ropes nowhere to be found when they are most wanted , marooned on a hard shoulder at midnight, the rain practically horizontal.

If you are the owner of a Laguna, the research won’t bother you, because it has an impeccable record of consistency: if, on the other hand, you can’t tell a wheel brace from a spoon, Sunday’s deluge could be a portentous warning of the winter yet to come.

One of the great pleasures from being behind the lightly maneuverable wheel of the Laguna across a long distance is that, for such a big car and a formidable cruiser, the ride is not alone on the soft side, but it’s effortless to drive.

With an under ten second 0 to 62mph, I was ecstatic that such a big car doesn’t lag from idle and with a smooth six speed transmission, I was surprised by how impressively quiet the diesel engine is: a hum from under the bonnet and no wind noise worth mentioning.

The 2.0 diesel engine may have its advantages (more power) but I am convinced that the 1.5 is more than capable, and it makes it a considerably cheaper car to run. The figures speak for themselves – 110 bhp, Co2 emissions of 118 g/km – the lowest of all Lagunas – and an average mpg of between 59-61.

Though French, it has often been said of the Laguna that it has a more Germanic look than its Gallic rivals – Peugeot and Citroen – and admittedly there is a classy finish to the plush interior.

The boot is a capacious 450 litres which brings it close to Mazda6 territory, but you also have the option, if a bike needs ferrying, of folding down the rear seats. And because the boot appears to elevate the window, the car from behind has considerable presence, a touch of class exacerbated by the keyless entry, as if the car is reading your mind as you walk away from it. The sloping bonnet, or what our American cousins refer to as a front overhang, confirms the emphasis on elegance.

Inside, the dash may look a tad busy (but logical), but one of the hall marks of this generation of Lagunas is the emphasis on making the driver as comfortable as possible, which is why it is the car of choice for many sales reps.

For example, the fact that the dashboard, which is aesthetically easy on the eye because of the swathes of black and the silver edged dials, appears to be low, the perception of a spacious interior, with impeccable views of the road from all sides, is accentuated.

All Laguna grades in recent years come standard with cruise control, air con, Bluetooth, alloy wheels, parking sensors, remote radio controls, climate control, immobiliser, electric window and mirrors, and an outstanding safety record (see*).

Once you become accustomed to the drive, which is a compromise between firm and soft, the Laguna lives up to its reputation of resisting understeer. Put this down to its willingness to grip as if its life depended on it, and naturally it corners with a complete absence of roll.

Review: Tom Mooney

This 2008 Renault Laguna diesel Hi Spec 1.5 DCI Privilege, with an NCT into 2014, is available from Trinity Motors Peugeot, Dublin Road, Ardcavan, Wexford for just €11,950. Finance is available! Example:€11,950 – €1,950 Deposit = €10,000 over 4 yrs ­= €255 per mth or €58 per week. Car comes with a free 12 months Comprehensive Warranty which includes a year’s roadside assistance.

*The earlier Renault Laguna was the first car to achieve a five-star EuroNCAP crash test rating, and the latest model does not disappoint in terms of safety. It also gets the full five-stars, and it scored four stars in child occupant tests. Standard safety features include ABS with brake force distribution, electronic stability program, traction control and six airbags.