Our opinion on the Renault Captur
Despite the Renault Captur competing in a crowded small SUV sector, it does an admirable job, thanks to attractive pricing, sleek tech, and efficient powertrains. Although it may not be the newest option in the class, valuable updates across the range have kept it competitive.
It’s not as sharp to drive as some rivals, and the cabin design is starting to look and feel a little dated, but fundamentally, this car’s focus on what its buyers will appreciate is enough to keep it at the sharp end of the class. Just be careful with higher-spec models, as the value equation starts to falter as prices rise, and the ride can become a bit choppy with the larger wheel sizes.
About the Renault Captur
The Renault Captur is currently the cheapest model in the company’s SUV line-up, which now spans six cars. We also think it’s one of the better-value small SUVs currently on sale.
The UK range is simple, with two engine choices and three trim grades, which kick off with the Evolution variant. Highlights for the base model include 17-inch alloy wheels, a 10.4-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a seven-inch driver’s display, wireless charging, LED headlights and cruise control.
The small SUV market is fiercely fought, so our expert road testers have carefully measured the Renault Captur’s capabilities compared to its many competitors. The Ford Puma is one of Britain’s best-selling cars, so we put the Captur against it for an in-depth twin test. It might surprise you to learn that the Renault actually won against its popular opponent, thanks to its superior space, comfort and running costs.
Renault Captur prices and latest deals
Starting off the Renault Captur line-up is the Evolution trim which starts for around £22,500. However, the French brand expects most of its UK buyers to opt for the mid-range Techno trim, which bumps the price up to nearly £24,000 and adds larger 18-inch wheels, built-in Google services including Google Maps for the infotainment system, a larger 10.25-inch driver’s display, ambient lighting and a modular boot floor. Every trim level is available with a petrol or hybrid powertrain, with the latter commanding a premium of around £3,000.
At the top of the range is the near-£29k Esprit Alpine, which is only available with the hybrid powertrain. It adds 19-inch alloys, adaptive cruise control, electrically adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a unique interior combination of synthetic leather and fabric trim. The Esprit Alpine also features a range of outside styling enhancements, including a dual-tone paint finish, Alpine badging, and dark grey exterior trim elements.
If you’re considering a Renault Captur of your very own, be sure to use our Buy a Car service. You can configure your ideal Renault Captur and find top deals from our dealer network, discover the very best Captur leasing deals or choose from a huge selection of top-notch used Captur models. Need to sell your car? Be sure to visit our Sell My Car page.
Performance, 0-60mph acceleration and top speed
High performance is rarely a top priority in this class, but the entry-level 1.0-litre TCe powertrain in the Renault Captur is, without sugar-coating it, slow. With the engine packing a peak power output of only 89bhp, and a lean 160Nm of torque, acceleration is leisurely beyond the sluggish on-paper 0-62mph time of 14.0 seconds.
Being a little undernourished, the engine needs to work quite hard to keep up with traffic at high speeds, affecting refinement and economy. The six-speed manual gearbox shifts well, which is good news because you’ll need to use it frequently to make good progress. The Captur E-Tech largely fixes all these issues, but for a not inconsiderable £3,500 extra.
