Name: Renault Captur Review
Item: Renault Captur
Author: Gumtree.com

Launched back in 2013, the Renault Captur is based on the French manufacturer’s popular Clio model and continues to sell well across Europe. It’s a compact crossover SUV, designed for safe and dependable everyday driving, with petrol, diesel, and hybrid-electric engines on offer. Later versions have tweaked its sharp design, and it’s evolved into one of the more stylish compact SUVs on the market. If you’re looking for a sporty driving experience, you might want to look elsewhere, but the Captur effortlessly balances affordability with character and convenience.

Visit the Renault Captur hub to learn more about the model.

What we think about the Renault Captur

The Renault Captur isn’t a thrilling car to haul around, but smooth handling and great boot space make it a solid SUV choice for families.

Pros

Plenty of cargo space

Compact design

Hybrid-electric option

Cons

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Not the most exciting drive

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Automatic gearbox can be slow to engage

The 2019 Captur has an entry-level engine with a 1.0-litre capacity, as well as a more powerful 1.3-litre version. A turbocharged diesel and a hybrid are also available. The petrol engines can manage at least 40 miles to the gallon, the Captur comes in five trim levels: Expression+, Dynamique Nav, Dynamique S Nav, Signature X Nav and Signature S Nav.

Driving performance of the Renault Captur

Our Driving Rating7 / 10

While driving the Captur isn’t exactly a breathtaking experience, the larger engine versions do offer a pleasingly brisk and smooth ride. The excellent suspension is tuned for comfort, rather than sporty excitement, and responsive steering means you can round sharp corners with ease. Meanwhile, the car’s lightweight structure makes for supple, straightforward handling. On the downside, the Captur’s imprecise manual transmission is perhaps the weakest aspect of its performance – it’s sometimes tough to find the right gear, and the automatic gearbox can be slow to engage.

Safety and reliability of the Renault Captur

Our Safety Rating8 / 10

Euro NCAP awarded the Captur the maximum five-star safety rating in 2019. Older versions were limited to blindspot monitoring, but in 2019, Renault introduced an array of advanced mechanisms for protection and driver assistance. These included adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist and traffic sign recognition. The car scored 74% for safety features. Protection of adult passengers was scored at 96%, while the Captur was given an 83% score for how well it protected its younger passengers. The reliability of older Captur models was ranked quite low compared to other vehicles in its class, but that should have improved with newer releases.

Under the bonnet of the Renault Captur

Our Engine Rating7 / 10

The Captur’s three-cylinder, 1.0-litre petrol engine delivers 99 bhp and does 0-60 mph in quite a sluggish 13.3 seconds. More impressive is the slightly larger turbocharged petrol engine. It has a capacity of 1.3 litres, providing 128 bhp and a 0-60 time of 10.6 seconds – respectable for this class of SUV. For high-mileage drivers, two versions of a turbocharged 1.5-litre diesel engine are available, with either 94 bhp or 113 bhp. There’s also a hybrid engine, with a combined power output of 158 bhp.

What you'll find in the Renault Captur

Our Design Rating7 / 10

This is one of the more compact crossover SUVs, and its slim design has quite a lot of personality compared to many competitors. It has sharp chrome outlines around its distinctive grille and lower vents, and they match pleasingly with similar accents in the rest of the car’s bodywork. Front and rear bumpers on newer versions of the Captur have a sporty ruggedness to them, and some drivers love the car’s bold two-tone colour scheme.

Comfort and interiors in the Renault Captur

Our Comfort Rating7 / 10

Inside, the Captur has around 377 litres of boot space. This can be boosted to 455 litres if all rear seats are folded flat – which is relatively easy to do. Despite this impressive cargo space, legroom and comfort in the back leaves a lot to be desired for a family-oriented car like this. Overall, the design of the Captur’s interior is functional, with solid-looking plastic and chrome materials in mostly black and dark grey. On the downside, many parts can feel a little cheap and awkward to the touch, and there’s too much unused dashboard space.

What features you'll find in the Renault Captur

Our Features Rating7 / 10

While you can splash out for more features, the latest generation of Capturs is a little light on as-standard inclusions. 17-inch alloy wheels are available as an upgrade, as well as a panoramic sunroof and LED lights. You can also opt for accessories including leather-trimmed seats, heated front seats, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, 360-degree parking sensors and a reversing camera. The car has full Android device compatibility, through Android Auto. However, it doesn’t offer Apple CarPlay, so iPhone users will struggle to integrate their tech. The 7.0-inch multimedia touchscreen is relatively small compared to some other SUVs, but it does the job.

What fuel efficiency to expect from the Renault Captur

Our Fuel Consumption Rating7 / 10

Fuel economy is solid for most of the Captur’s variants. The entry-level engine can deliver up to 55 miles to the gallon, while the more high-powered versions are capable of providing at least 40 mpg. Long-distance drivers can expect to get as much as 78.5 miles for every gallon of diesel, and the hybrid versions of the engine are even more efficient. Official tests report a figure of 188 mpg, but this will depend on how you use the car. Its battery alone can provide up to 30 miles of driving.

Running costs of the Renault Captur

Our Cost Rating7 / 10

Decent fuel economy will make the Captur a relatively cheap car to run, and it’s also been rated highly by owners in terms of maintenance costs. But it’s worth noting that around one owner in five has had to get an issue looked at within the first year after purchase. Insurance costs will be kept low by the car’s relatively small-capacity selection of engines, which is always nice to hear. Renault offers an extremely competitive five-year warranty for the newer models of the Captur, which also includes three years of roadside assistance.

Our verdict of the Renault Captur

4 / 5 Gumtree rating

The Renault Captur isn't a car that will blow you away. But its combination of affordability, sharp looks and decent performance make it tough to ignore.

Renault Captur Review