After seven years on the market, the Laguna was replaced with the second generation in December 2000. It evolved into a larger car, with more comfort and more on-board technology.
The second generation of the Renault Laguna shared its platform with the Nissan Primera. It featured a longer wheelbase which led to a roomier interior. One of the most important improvements was the keyless access system, which allowed the driver to use a card to open the vehicle and start it after it inserted the key-card into a designated slot.
From the outside, the sharper look of the vehicle was a big evolution when compared to the older, rounder, Laguna. Like its predecessor, the second generation of the Laguna was offered only in two body-styles: two-and-a-half hatchback and station-wagon.
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. The folding seatback of the rear bench made the car more spacious if some would need the car to be used for a salesperson.
The 2000 Laguna was equipped with diesel and gasoline engines, mated as standard with a 5-speed gearbox. There was an option for a 5-speed automatic gearbox, but only for the top, V6-engine, option. The Laguna II was the first car to receive a 5-Star rating at the EuroNCAP crash tests.
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