Renault Captur Review


One of the best (and most distinctive) SUVs for the price.


Wowscore: 7.2


This is the average score given by leading car publications from 10 reviews.


Pros:

  • Funky styling

  • Neat, spacious interior

  • Economical engines


Cons:

  • Jiggly ride

  • Some hard cabin plastics

  • Could be more fun to drive


Review


The Renault Captur is a small SUV that competes with the Ford EcoSport, Vauxhall Mokka and Nissan Juke.


Although it’s very similar to the Renault Clio under the skin, the Captur’s tall body means it has a lot more space. There’s plenty of room up front for adults and the rear seats can slide backwards to give rear passengers more legroom. The Captur’s 450-litre boot is also significantly bigger than the Clio’s. Plastic quality isn’t great, but reflects the Captur’s relatively cheap price.


Aside from its raised driving position, which gives the driver an excellent view of the road ahead, the Captur feels much like the Clio to drive. Its light steering means it is easy to manoeuvre at low speeds, but makes it feel a little nervous in corners – it leans more than the Clio when cornering too.


Petrol engines come in 0.9 and 1.2-litre forms, but the latter’s fitted as standard with an automatic gearbox, which restricts performance and lowers fuel economy. Instead go for the 1.5-litre diesel that can return more than 75mpg and is free to tax.


Kit includes air conditioning, cruise control and a Bluetooth phone connection. Keyless entry is also standard – rare for a car in this price bracket.


Cheapest to buy: 0.9-litre 90 Expression Plus petrol

Cheapest to run: 1.5-litre 90 Dynamique S diesel

Fastest model: 1.2-litre 120 Dynamique S petrol

Most popular: 1.5-litre 110 Dynamique MediaNav


Interior

Roomy and contemporary, but a few last-decade plastics.


Reviewers say the interior is fresh-looking, modern and neat, marred a little by some harder plastics that testers do suggest should be easy to keep clean. Higher-spec models get useful zip-off seat covers (making it ideal if you work outdoors) and generally snazzier cabins. It’s comfortable though, and has a good driving position.


Renault Captur passenger space

A priority for cars like the Captur is space and it does fairly well here. It’s 60mm longer than the Renault Clio that it is based upon so there is space for adults in the back as well as in the front, and rear-seat passenger space can be increased by sliding the seats back on their runners.


Renault Captur boot Space

Those sliding rear seats mean boot space can be increased from 377 to 455 litres as long as you don’t mind sacrificing some legroom. Total boot capacity, with the back seats folded down, peaks at 1,235 litres – 89 litres more than you get in the Clio.


Driving


Like Renaults of old, the Captur is more comfort oriented than it is sporty, but the supermini underpinnings make it an easy car to drive. Light and quick steering makes the Captur feel at home in town, as does its raised ride height that gives the driver a better view of the road ahead.


Out of town the steering’s too light, though, so the Captur seems a little nervous in corners and there’s precious little feel to tell you when it is losing grip. Its soft suspension and tall body sees to it that there’s also quite a lot of body lean, which makes the car feel like it could tip over, although the stability control system will stop this from ever happening.


The Captur usually rides well and feels secure enough on the road, but can be easily unsettled by big bumps and its tyres transmit a lot of noise into the cabin. Trim levels with larger wheels can make the car decidedly jiggly on bumpy roads.


Engine


There are four engine options in the 2016 Renault Captur. Two are dinky petrol units – a three-cylinder 0.9-litre TCe and a 1.2-litre four-cylinder TCe – while the third is the 89hp 1.5-litre dCi turbodiesel that you’ll find in just about any of Renault and Nissan’s smaller offerings. From mid-2015 the Captur was available with a 110hp version of the 1.5-litre diesel too.


Renault Captur diesel engines


Of these, the diesels are best-suited to carting people and stuff around, with a good chunk of low-down torque, a slick gearbox and enough smoothness at cruising speeds. It can get a little noisy though, making the more refined petrols a better choice for a quieter life.


Renault Captur petrol engines


Unfortunately the 118hp 1.2 TCe engine, is combined with a dim-witted dual-clutch auto box that isn’t quite as quick as the best units. It’ll reach 0-62mph in 10.5 seconds though and fuel economy is decent, at 52.3 mpg.


The 89hp 0.9 TCe doesn’t really offer anything to compete with either of the other engines, not matching the diesel’s in-gear performance or 76mpg fuel economy. It’s a lovely little engine, but perhaps not best suited to cars bigger than the Clio.


Safety

An easy five stars, with all the expected gear.


There are six airbags, stability control, hill hold control and emergency brake assist as standard, with three Isofix mountings and anti-whiplash headrests thrown in too. That lot helped the Captur secure a five-star safety rating when it was crash tested by Euro NCAP, although rivals tested after 2013 (when the Renault was evaluated) have been exposed to even tougher testing.


Renault Captur motability


Because of its raised suspension the Renault Captur is easier to get in and out of than a normal car – you don’t have to lower yourself into the driver’s seat and you simply slide off when getting out. The driver’s door is also large and opens wide to give excellent access.


Value for money

Cheap to buy, cheap to run and a good warranty too


Air-con, cruise control and hill-start assist are standard on all Capturs, but Renault’s four-year servicing, warranty and roadside cover package is better than some others offer. It suggests Renault is more confident about its reliability these days, too.


As well as the main trim lines – Expression, Dynamique etc. – Renault also offers a series of American-themed styling packages which lend the Captur much of its character. Called Arizona, Manhattan, Miami and New York, they offer different combinations of exterior colour and gloss and interior features. Your best bet is to raid the Renault website to see which styles you prefer! To help you choose the right shade for your new Captur we have prepared a guide that examines each colour in detail.


Conclusion


The Captur is a talented crossover that’s worthy of its impressive sales figures. It’s a little more carefree and spacious than the Juke or 2008, and cheaper than rivals like the Skoda Yeti, Vauxhall Mokka or MINI Countryman. Slightly bumpy ride aside it drives reasonably too and it’s one of the more stylish options in the class.


Throw in economical engines and a dash of extra practicality compared to the Clio and it comes recommended.


In South Africa and wanting to know the specs and price of the Renault Captur?. Visit Group 1 Renault Western Cape branch or website at http://www.group1renault.co.za/


Image source: https://photos-2.carwow.co.uk/models/1600x800/CHR1536.jpg