RENAULT CAPTUR

The compact crossover segment is bursting at the seams. Every manufacturer has one – from the Germans to the Japanese to the Koreans. Oh, and don’t forget about the French. In fact, only two of Renault’s current seven models aren’t a crossover or SUV. This speaks volumes about the changing needs of car shoppers. Renault recently added some cosmetic improvements to the Captur. The grille is bigger and striking C-shaped daytime LED running lights reside in each corner of the bumper. The C-theme is repeated in the design of the LED taillights. The front and rear bash plates are now also painted silver. Inside, the dashboard and doors are covered with a softer and more luxurious-feeling material than the previous model. It works, although the excessive use of black gives the interior a somewhat sombre ambiance. The steering wheel is borrowed from the Clio and the gear knob from the Mégane. In addition, the infotainment systems of both the entry-level Blaze and flagship Dynamique have been upgraded. In the Blaze, your smartphone is placed in a cradle and paired to the car to control the audio functions; the Dynamique gets a high-end touch-screen intuitive display. The Captur remains a paragon of practicality. The seat covers of the Dynamique model are removable and can be washed up to five times. (Renault won’t say what happens after the sixth wash…) The rear seat can also move forwards or backwards to adjust the rear legroom/boot-space ratio. The engine and transmission combinations of the outgoing range are all carried over: 900 cc petrol; 1,2 petrol and 1,5 diesel, which apparently sips a miserly 3,6 ℓ/100 km. How does it drive? Solidly, even on dirt roads. The 170 mm ground clearance means the suspension soaks up the bumps with ease. If you’re not ready for a family-sized soft-roader like an X-Trail yet, the Captur is for you. And even if it isn’t, there are four other gravel travel Renaults to choose from. Now that’s the sort of “capture” that deserves your vote.