This was the second time we had the opportunity to drive the Renault Captur and we gladly accepted the chance. I see the ideal driver of this car as someone who wants to upgrade from their Clio because essentially, it is a Clio on steroids.
A big part of the reason I enjoyed the Captur so much is because what I got was quite unexpected. Before, the compact SUV never really ‘captured’ my attention, but now it does because of the great package the Captur presents. Then I saw the first gen parked next to the second generation and understood why it did not capture as much attention when compared against one another.
Renault describes the latest Captur as living up to its DNA and delivering distinctive style, leading safety and smart technology. This is reflected in the increased curvature of its design, its 5-star safety rating and the inclusion of technologies to create a more intuitive experience for the driver.
The drive
I drove a mixture of city and highway trips and it made for an incredibly pleasant drive. It is responsive and nimble. The smoothness and handling of the drive is also impressive enough to instil a sense of confidence and ease in driving and a great overall driving experience.
There was one instance where I was forced to slow down behind a truck on a highway interchange and when I tried to quickly accelerate to pass the offending truck and the results were lacklustre. Yet, that was an out of the ordinary instance and not something that would happen often or something that would likely be a deterrent for the intended audience.
The Renault Captur has a 1.3 litre turbo petrol ‘Formula 1 inspired’ engine. It provides drivers with 113 kW of power and 270 Nm of torque. This is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The intention is to provide both better performance and good fuel consumption at the same time.
The claimed fuel consumption is 6.6L/100km. Achieved fuel consumption the second time around was 7.9L/100km with a mixture of driving and very little use of Sport mode. Thus we did improve it the second time around, I do not believe it would come that close to 6.6, in any other driving scenario than long or holiday trips.
The design
Looking at the two generations of the Captur parked side-by-side, the latest gen comes across as much more striking. It is interesting to note, however, design updates are actually not revolutionary. The intention is to make the compact SUV more modern in design by adding athletic curves and a raised waist.
This includes front and rear protection skid plates, protective moulding running the entire length of the lower body and the wheel arches, a wider grille, a newly designed front bumper and a higher ground clearance.
The 17” wheels and new bodywork volumes combine to create the greater, attention-grabbing design. The tested model, the Intens, also has bi-tone colour combinations.
When it comes to the interior design, the aesthetics and feel combine to make a very impressive interior. The first comment that every person made as soon as they saw the interior was, ‘oooh this is niiice!’ Without fail, the Captur elicited this response from people.
The seats are different from the Clio in that they are not fully leather but a mixture of leather and fabric. Despite this, there is still quite an impressive and chic effect that added to the aesthetics of the compact SUV.
Throughout the interior, the quality of materials is improved, replacing the more plastic-feeling interior that was a downside in the previous generation. This is seen in the leather steering wheel with soft-touch buttons, a floating centre console and a sporty and quite impressive looking gear lever. It does not, however, have full leather seats but despite this, it does not detract from the sophisticated feel of the interior.
The interior is also highlighted with silver accents. This can be seen on the gear lever, on the multifunction steering wheel, around the AC control and on the dash. There is also white accents on the seats to add the final bit of flair and sophistication, with a small touch of sportiness.
Stepping inside
The larger 9.3-inch infotainment system, while user-friendly and a good size, seems a bit out of place, seemingly reaching out randomly from the centre. Other than that, I did quite like the size, the clarity and position that was never affected by glare due to its curved design and it is easy to use.
At one stage the Captur would not start and after a few tries it did start. I drove away slightly confused and recalled a similar incident in the Kiger where it took a few attempts to get it going. The second time it happened I saw a message at the bottom of the driver information cluster saying ‘reconnect key.’ So, I placed the key card in its slot in the centre console and it started. I could not find out why it did this nor can I think of any reason. Or maybe, it was just coincidence that it started the second time when I put the card in its holder.
Something I did not expect was the wireless charging functionality in this segment. The presence of this technology, however, is becoming more common as the semi-conductor shortage rectifies.
I am not a big fan of this functionality but if you have a flat phone and no other means of charging it becomes invaluable. I also still have hope that in the near-future wireless charging will stop making your phone feel like it is going to melt. There are also c-port chargers in the front just above the charging pad and if your phone is not compatible, USB ports in the back.
The first time on the Captur I was confused by the apparent lack of radio controls on the steering wheel. This time I knew where they were after seeing it on my last day with the Captur the first time and had been using it in the Renault Clio we tested just before that. I am quite a fan of this control, as it is intuitively placed and very easy to use.
A point of convenience that some may like, is the ability switch off certain safety features simply by pressing a button to the right of the steering wheel. While not recommended – I know a few people that would like to switch off lane diversion with a quick touch of a button.
Other features and tech that takes the Captur a level up (and few thousand up as well) is a start button, navigation, EASY LINK multimedia system, new digital displays in the instrument cluster, ambient lighting that mirrors the driving mode (eco, normal and sport) and keyless entry and exit.
In South Africa, I prefer keyless exit that you can lock by swiping your finger on the door handle. You can unlock the Captur like that but using keyless exit requires you to either use the key card or walk away to activate keyless exit and hope there are no signal jammers nearby.
I took my usual attempt at voice command and it did not fail to disappoint me. Again it did not understand any directions or questions asked using its suggested prompts. Nada. I do have to admit, that if I bought the car I would have more time to figure out how to best use it, for example matching your voice to the commands.
The AC can be controlled using dials below the infotainment screen which can either been seen as going backwards or instead provides functionality. I am on the latter end of the spectrum, much preferring a dial you can turn as opposed to fidgeting with the infotainment screen.
The size of the vehicle is impressive. The new generation has increased the width, length and ground clearance. I am even hesitant to call it a compact SUV as it seems much larger than that. Renault even calls it a crossover at times. Growth in the size of compact SUVs (and actually most vehicles), however, is becoming more and more common.
The dimensions create a spacious interior for both front and rear passengers. In the boot, there is a sliding bench which allows you to increase the luggage space as well. It is more than big enough for a family of four and their luggage on a day out. One can even place two car seats in the rear comfortably. The rear also has its own AC controls, 12v port and charging ports.
The boot also has two levels. There is enough space under the division to use it to create extra storage room. On a trip you can pack items that you do not need as often under there as well as more important items on top of that.
Thus, while the Renault Captur did not feature prominently in my radar before, it does now. The quality of the interior, new curves to the design and comfort in driving make it one of my favourite compact SUVs. It constantly captured my attention and I was more than happy to drive it again and discover even more to like.
Yet, all of this does come at a price. While it does meet all the needs of a compact SUV buyer, affordability takes a hit. Ultimately the compact SUV segment is a hotly contested market. There are more options than what any driver may need. If car-like agility and space combined with luxury and great tech is what you want from the segment, then the Renault Captur is likely for you.
Good to know
The specs
Engine: 1.3 Litre turbopetrol engine
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch
Power: 113 kW
Torque: 270 Nm
Fuel consumption: 6.6L/100km (claimed)
Price: starting at R454 999 (March 2023)
Warranty and maintenance plan: 5 year/ 150 000km mechanical warranty, 3 year/ 45 000 km service plan and a 6-year anti-corrosion warranty.
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