Renault Latitude

It is a bit pointless to get into the E segment, ruled by the Germans, along the modest success of the Japanese. Regardless of the tradition of the brand which lost its position once, it would be very hard for it to get it back. Renault was once in the “high class”. Please forgive us, all of you Vel Satis fans, but that car was the reason why the French company “evaporated” from the high society. It probably was not the intention, but the excessive avant-garde led nowhere. However, Renault has to be proud with other car segments, so its absence in high society has not been a big deal.

However, although it is no secret that Renault has turned serious amount of resources to electric vehicles, no one has mentioned that the current form of powertrain and transportation will be neglected. From this point of view, no one was overly surprised by the announcement and launch of a Renault’s big limousine – Latitude, although it does not fit entirely in Renault’s daily routine, category or style.

In the Regular Way
The latter goes by a regular way that completely eliminates risk factors. The Latitude’s styling is simply a classic one, with the length of 4.9 m, the car is not too high or wide, with the long overhangs and sufficient dose of elegance. As the segment is concerned, the French do not put it in the E category loudly, but somewhere between “D” and “E” classes. They are very careful about that though, since they do not want Latitude competes with Laguna. As a matter of fact, the real danger of “cannibalism” does not exist. Just to be clear – Renault Latitude is a big sedan, whose bright spots should be found in the comfort and space offer.

The spaciousness is a real highlight of the Latitude. There is a lot of it, in the front and especially in the rear, and somehow, quite reasonably, the Latitude appears as a potential businessmen car. They want comfort above all else. Moreover, Renault claims (and the first live contact confirms it) that Latitude has a record room for passenger’s knees in the back seats. With the 511 l luggage compartment, all promises about space are fulfilled, and not only considering offer, but the finish as well. The Latitude will appeal to both the driver and the passengers with its functionally packaged interior and respected rules of ergonomics. The driver can enjoy the visible and clear instruments, while the passengers have air ionizer for more pleasant and healthier air in the cabin. Now, not to be rushed with conclusions, all the above applies to the top trim level – “Initiale” that includes everything from the list of available accessories. What we can expect from more modest outfits, we are about to see.

Satisfactory Dynamics
Let’s return to the driver and his part of the job. The Latitude’s suspension is reasonably soft, so that driving dynamics remain at a satisfactory level. This balance has been successful, as is the steering wheel response, with the addition of the well-known and resolute Renault’s brakes. Definitely, the most striking part is the ride comfort, while the driving dynamics can get a high average rating. Powertrain and power transmission have been already known. There are two-liter petrol (140 hp) and diesel engines (150 – 175 hp). For those who want more power, there is a three-liter V6 diesel with 240 hp. Gearboxes are either six-speed manual of five five-speed automatic. It is interesting that all combinations are promising considering decent 0-100 km/h acceleration in less than 10 seconds and top speed of more than 200 km/h. In other words - decent range of engine options that is not too “colorful”, but also, optimally arranged and very well tamed acoustically.

In the end, the question remains whether Renault is back in the E segment or not. The answer is – yes and no. “Yes”, if we look at the vehicle’s dimensions, “no” if we talk about the price range. It is the price range where we get the essence of Latitude, which belongs to the class of “middle-price” large sedans.

The price range should vary from 19,000 to 30,000 euros, from the next March when Latitude comes to our market. Definitely, it has no distinction and impressiveness we have accustomed to considering E segment standards.

But, if we have in mind that this vehicle is primarily intended for non-European markets, and that it is manufactured in Renault Samsung plant in South Korea, we come to the point that even we could get a small “piece of pie” getting a pretty good product at a reasonable price. We are about to see if it is going to be in the form of a big family car or an elegant but not expensive business class car.