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Renault Captur car review – much more than the macho looks

The Captur has the footprint of a Clio but with the look and practicality of something much bigger.
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27 April 2013

Renault Captur
Looks like an SUV and manages to feel like one too. And it’s not an illusion – there’s plenty of room inside

Renault Captur 1.5 dCi Dynamique MediaNav 90

What is it

The Clio-based Captur is Renault’s entry into the burgeoning B-segment crossover market. Putting the industry jargon to one side for a moment, we’re talking about cars that are roughly Fiesta or Polo-sized but which make a nod towards the practicality and rugged looks of SUVs.

the Captur is a good substitute for much bigger vehicles in most respects

Nissan’s popular Juke blazed the trail and now several other manufacturers are keen to get a slice of the action. The Captur’s biggest direct rival is likely to be Peugeot’s 208-based 2008, and the slightly more rugged Vauxhall Mokka and Chevrolet Traxx will be important competitors too.

Ford also has a contender waiting in the wings, the EcoSport, which has been popular in Latin America and is expected to make its European debut soon.

In case you’re wondering how to pronounce the name of Renault’s new arrival, don’t worry; for the UK market, it’s pronounced the same as the English word “capture”.

 

Renault Captur
It really does have much  road presence for a car of this footprint

What’s hot

  • Great looks – the Captur has a fresh, stylish appearance and quite a bit more presence than the Fiesta-class hatches that occupy a similar amount of road-space
  • A roomy interior offering much more head and legroom than mainstream superminis; the Captur is a good substitute for much bigger vehicles in most respects, with the arguable exception of boot-space
  • Safe and effective, if not especially exciting on-road behaviour, with decent ride comfort

    Renault Captur
    Brits will have to make do with a dark coloured interior, but spec levels are high with satnav, Bluetooth and other business friendly goodies
  • Only three engines are on offer, but there are probably none to avoid. Renault’s 1.5 diesel is smooth and pulls well, and it doesn’t let the side down here either. In manual (95g/km) form, it’s paired with a five-speed box which is a ratio down on some rivals but that’s not a noticeable problem in practice; a six-speed dual clutch automatic is also available. The 1.2 TCe turbo petrol does well too (125g/km, dual-clutch auto only). We haven’t tried the third option, a 0.9-litre three cylinder petrol (115g/km manual only) in the Captur but it generally performs well in the Clio and Dacia Sandero.
  • Four trim levels, with even the entry-level Expression getting alloys, a 60/40 split and sliding rear seat, body-coloured bumpers, cruise control and speed limiter, front and rear electric windows, and a trip computer. All cars also get an ECO mode setting, claimed to deliver fuel savings of up to ten per cent, and a full suite of electronic safety aids, such as electronic stability control, electronic traction control, and hill-start assist.
  •  One up from the bottom, Expression+ models get front fog lights, a hands-free keycard, automatic lights and wipers, and climate control.
  • The likely UK best-seller, the Dynamique MediaNav, adds removable zipped seat covers and a wide range of personalisation options, including an array of shiny interior and exterior trim parts; there’s also the MediaNav integrated multimedia tablet, which features a seven-inch touchscreen and sat nav, Bluetooth, USB and hands-free technology.
  • The top-of-the-range Dynamique S MediaNav adds electric folding door mirrors, rear parking sensors, heated front seats, contrasting roof and door mirror colours, tinted rear windows and larger seventeen-inch alloys.

 

Renault Captur
There are no off-road pix for a reason – the Captur has no cross country pretensions

What’s not

  • Although this won’t be relevant to the vast bulk of Captur buyers, it’s worth bearing in mind that, despite its semi-SUV looks, Renault’s newcomer doesn’t offer an all-wheel drive option or pretend to have any “serious” off-road capability.
  • Right-hand drive Captur buyers are slightly short-changed compared with their continental cousins in that light-coloured interiors and a clever eleven-litre drawer-style glovebox don’t make it onto UK-spec models; British Capturs get a dark cabin theme and there’s a still-roomy five-litre conventional glovebox because there isn’t space for the drawer-based item.

 

Renault Captur
Think of the Nissan Juke and Peugeot 2008; this sector is booming, and there are good reasons

Business Car Manager road test verdict

Renault and its rivals are on to something with the B-segment crossover market.

The Captur has a supermini-sized footprint and operating economics but offers quite a bit more in terms of presence, space, practicality and comfort. That’s an attractive combination for value-conscious buyers, and prices are quite keen, especially for entry-level cars, which are well equipped for their type.

Renault Captur
About the only place where the promise of more space isn’t realized. The boot is limited

Like the electric Twizy and Zoe, as well as the latest Clio, the stylish Captur provides plenty of evidence that Renault, after a lean patch, during which it had to prune its UK range quite heavily, has recovered a modicum of its va va voom.

The Captur will most naturally be compared with Peugeot’s similarly-sized 2008 and the battle between the two French cars will be close. The Captur probably has the edge on exterior design, while the Peugeot hits back with a slightly more mature, classier interior, although these are mainly matters of taste.

Plenty of other manufacturers have spotted the mini SUV crossover opportunity, though, so the market is set to get a lot more crowded – but the Captur has what it takes to succeed.

Company car tax is only £38 a month for a 20% tax payer

If you’re looking to save some cash and ‘downsize’ your company car while not really sacrificing any space, the Captur could be just the way to do it.

 

The Low Down…

Doors and body style  5-door hatchback
Engine/gearbox  1.5-litre 4-cyl turbodiesel/5-speed manual
CO2 Emissions  95g/km
Economy  76.4mpg
Power/torque  90HP/220Nm
0-62mph/top speed  13.1 secs/106mph
Insurance group  N/A

…and what it costs

P11D Value  £16,340
Monthly business rental (ex VAT)  N/A
Road tax (VED)  Band A
Company Car Tax Bands 2013/14 to 2015/16  14%, 15%, 17%
Benefit in kind 2013/14 to 2015/16  £2288, £2451, £2778
Annual/Monthly fuel benefit (20%)  £591/£49
Annual/Monthly fuel benefit (40%)  £1182/£98
Annual/monthly company car tax (20%)  £458/£38
Annual/monthly company car tax (40%)  £915/£76
Figures correct at time of posting
For latest figures Use our company car tax calculator

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Matt Morton

Matt Morton

Matt Morton is an automotive content writer for Business Car Manager

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