The Renault Captur has been part of South Africa’s B-SUV landscape since 2015, arriving at a time when compact SUVs were beginning to become a major force in the local market.
More than a decade later, the formula has changed considerably, with more competitors providing buyers with a wider choice and the compact SUV segment becoming one of the most crowded in the market.
Renault has refreshed the Captur, giving it a sharper exterior, a more upmarket interior and more technology, while retaining its practicality.
I drove the range-topping Captur 1.3T Esprit Alpine, which adds a distinctly sportier character to the Captur formula.
Alpine is Renault's performance arm, which, unlike Mercedes “AMG” or BMW “M”, in South Africa is not as well known unless you follow Formula 1.
Exterior
It’s safe to say that the Captur is one of the best-looking compact SUVs on the market.
It adopts Renault's latest design language, including a redesigned grille, revised lighting, and a more sculpted bonnet that gives the front end a more purposeful look.
The Esprit Alpine adds 19-inch Elixir alloy wheels, an aerodynamic front splitter and Slate Grey skid plates. At the same time, the Urban Grey bodywork is complemented by black exterior detailing in our test car.
The new full-LED headlights are standard across the range, while the daytime-running lights adopt a vertical half-diamond design inspired by Renault's logo.
At the rear, the transparent light clusters reveal more of the internal lighting structure, while the redesigned diffuser and new Renault logo contribute to the cleaner appearance.
Interior
Inside, the Captur feels contemporary and modern, particularly thanks to the new OpenR Link 10.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system dominating the dashboard.
It supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and is relatively straightforward to use, while it also features built-in Google services. Physical controls remain for some of the functions, like air conditioning, so that you don’t end up navigating through menus.
The Esprit Alpine gets unique bits including Alpine branding, blue stitching, aluminium-look sports pedals, branded door sills and blue seatbelt detailing, giving the cabin very much a premium sporty character.
The French flag is stitched into the steering wheel, adding a level of detail not often seen in the segment.
Practicality remains one of the strongest aspects of the Captur, with the rear bench able to slide by up to 16cm, allowing you to choose between additional rear passenger space or increased luggage capacity. With the bench pushed forward, boot capacity rises to 616 litres, while folding the rear seats increases it to 1,596 litres.
There are also 24.7 litres of storage space distributed around the cabin.
Overall, it’s put together solidly, with soft-touch surfaces on the dashboard and other parts of the cabin, although there are still some exposed plastic surfaces.
Engine and transmission
The Captur range is powered by Renault's 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing 113kW and 270Nm paired with a seven-speed Efficient Dual-Clutch transmission driving the front wheels.
Ride and handling
The seats, upholstered with a mix of fabric and synthetic leather with Alpine emblems, are comfortable and supportive with ample lumbar support.
The elevated driving position gives you a good view, making tighter urban environments easy to navigate.
It’s an easy car to drive, with an engine that has no qualms about heading into the upper rev range.
Coupled to a sublime dual-clutch transmission and a light kerb weight (1,365kg) it’s the kind of drive where you don’t have to lift or brake hard for curves and bends.
Built in Spain with suspension and chassis tuned in Europe, the driving dynamics stand out above many of its competitors, providing a more sophisticated driving experience.
When driving hard and winding through the twisties in Sport Mode, it remains composed and polished throughout, with decent feedback through the steering wheel for those who appreciate that kind of thing.
The Multi-Sense system offers different driving modes, including Eco, Sport, Comfort and Perso, with adjustments to throttle response, steering and chassis characteristics. The system also changes elements of the interior display and ambient lighting depending on the selected mode.
Renault quotes a combined fuel consumption figure of 6.6l/100km but expects closer to 7.5l/100km in real-world driving.
Technology and safety
Technology has become an increasingly important part of what the compact SUV buyer wants, and Renault has brought the Captur up to date in this respect.
The OpenR Link system provides the central interface, while the revised instrument display gives the driver access to key vehicle information.
There is also Predictive Eco Driving Advice, which provides recommendations intended to help drivers reduce fuel consumption and improve their driving. The system can provide a driving score and a monthly summary covering factors such as distance and consumption.
Safety equipment includes Blind Spot Warning, Hill Start Assist and 360-degree parking sensors, while it also incorporates a range of active and passive safety systems under Renault's Human First safety programme.
Verdict
The Renault Captur Esprit with its Alpine moniker is very much a niche within a heavily contested segment. At R614 990, it’s also expensive, with a steep price premium. In an economy such as ours, it’s difficult to justify it above cheaper alternatives despite its premium cabin and handling characteristics.
It operates in an increasingly crowded compact-SUV segment, competing with models in a price range from R469 900 to R615 000, such as the Volkswagen T-Cross, Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta and Haval Jolion.
The arrival of electrified alternatives such as the Chery Tiggo 4 Cross HEV also means buyers now have the option of hybrid power.
willem.vdputte@nationalmg.co.za