Best-selling compact crossover
WHETHER or not Britain stays within the European family one thing is certain, the Renault Captur sits at the head of the table when it comes to the modern crossovers. It comes in four trim levels and two petrol or two diesel engines but a single five-door body style which has made it the best selling compact crossover in Europe since it was launched in 2013.
In the UK, the most popular of the 22 versions available is the 110ps Dynamique we drove. The straightforward powertrain is well proven and a good package in the Captur, providing an easy going and economical performance, even though it’s not particularly powerful or packing a punch. For a diesel it is quiet because its not a 16v unit.
The gearchange has a modestlyweighted clutch and a narrow gate but the precision needed is quickly mastered and you can soon stir it along to make the most of the available power from the engine.
I liked the feel to the footbrake and its efficiency and it held on a hill without issue while the steering did not have as much feedback as I like but it had a good turning circle and did not suffer from kickback or vibration on main roads.
The secondary controls are mostly tightly grouped around the steering wheel or close to it on the fascia and can take a bit of finding and mastering when not in direct line of sight, but they worked well and were backed up by simple and clear instruments.
An upgrade last year saw improved infotainment systems fitted incorporating DAB for sharper sound quality and better integration with social media and smartphones.
Oddments room is good but the compartments are on the small side and you would struggle to put in some bottles or packages. By contrast, the boot was easy to load and a good capacity from 455 to 1656 litres with a practical shape which could be increased by gradually dropping the rear seats. For driver and passengers the access is reasonably easy once you get use to climbing up into the cabin and then you have a higher-than-usual riding position which is good for safety, particularly in town traffic.
A low waistline, deep windows, good wipers and lights go a long way to giving clear visibility but the high tail and thick rear pillars can hide objects or people to the back when pulling out or reversing so this has to be carefully considered.
On the move, the Captur’s responses were good to throttle, steering and brakes and it generally coped very well with anything underneath. The ride was fairly smooth but could be caught out by deeper potholes or higher tarmac ridges.
From standstill it was slow to get moving but once under way it picked up fairly well and cruised with composure if not silence on motorways. The economy was reasonable but not exceptional in today’s market.
So where does that leave the Renault Captur? Well I don’t think it stands out from the rest in the sector, except that it’s a rarer model than rivals and that must make it attractive and with some hard bargaining in a dealership you may end up with a good, individual car with a solid pedigree which stands out on the road.