In the B-segment, there is still a lot of demand for cars with a combustion engine, although that demand has recently shifted to crossovers. According to Renault, more than half of compact cars sold in Europe are now SUV-like.
That is good news for the Captur, which has been scoring high in that class since 2013. Renault has already sold more than two million in total, but that is no longer automatic. “At the time we had two competitors, now more than 30,” the brand says. To keep our mood in mind, we didn’t count them.
Also read: Is the Toyota Yaris Cross rightly the best-selling car of its kind? (review)
What is the Renault Captur again?
Renault’s higher alternative to the Clio. He uses the same technique, but focuses more on… people who need a higher seat and entry, so to speak. Chairs are a bit friendlier, the technology a bit less so dance with make-up.
What exactly is new about the Renault Captur?
Well, you can see it straight away: the front has been redesigned so extensively that you would think it was a completely new generation. It is that the rear lights (now with clear glass and some design frills) still have the shape of its predecessor; still a landmark. There is now also an Esprit Alpine (our test car) with 19-inch wheels, while the largest size previously was 18 inches.
Inside, the Captur was refreshed with a large central screen and a display instead of physical counters. The more radically designed cockpit of the Megane and Scenic was not adopted; so much hipness turned out to be wasted on the clientele. However, depending on the version, the touch screen is full of new Google stuff, including Maps and ‘hey Google’. The chassis was improved for ‘more dynamics’ and the plug-in hybrid version was dropped due to lack of interest.
How does the new Renault Captur drive?
We are in the E-Tech Full Hybrid 145, by far the most popular version in the Netherlands. It uses Renault’s remarkable hybrid magic with a turbo-less four-cylinder, a 36 kW electric motor, an 18 kW starter-generator and a transmission with four gears for the petrol engine and two for the electrics. Sounds old-fashioned and modern at the same time, but it is effective: the Captur sometimes runs fully electric at the most strange moments, such as on the highway or during rapid acceleration. During our test, including a bit of pedaling in the hills around Madrid, we achieved a consumption of 4.9 l/100 km. And an ‘eco-score’ of 71, whatever that means.
In terms of liveliness, this is, to put it mildly, not the most stimulating drivetrain. You cannot switch gears yourself, so you are at the mercy of the car’s digital brain. Sometimes you have to think about which gear or which drive combination is the most convenient. So sometimes you accelerate and just wait. Sometimes the petrol engine suddenly starts roaring even though the position of your foot has not changed. It helps that this version is not very fast and you will make few attempts at sporty driving, because it is not very exciting.
And in terms of driving behavior?
That’s good for each other. We found the first Captur to be disappointing in this area compared to the always sharp Clio. This has now been straightened out: with the new dampers, this chassis is sturdy enough for some support in the bends. The recalibrated steering is also quite direct and pleasantly weighty. It won’t matter to most customers on the way to bingo night, but it is still a bonus.
Any further details?
Renault came up with a nice solution for the mandatory proliferation of distracting ‘safety systems’. You can set your ‘personal mode’ once in the central screen (everything off…) and from now on you can simply activate it with a button on the dashboard after starting. The interior received new responsible materials and looks beautiful in our Esprit Alpine, with blue stitching and some fake leather here and there. And of course there is still the spearhead of the Captur: the rear seat that can be moved by 16 centimeters, which ensures that we, as not-really-small Dutchmen, can sit comfortably in the back.
So, should you buy the Renault Captur E-Tech Full Hybrid?
If you are looking for a practical, economical crossover that can keep up with the looks and technology on board: sure. If you want something that will keep you entertained between the roundabouts, then you better look further. Perhaps even within the Captur range, where you will also find a TCe 90 with manual gearbox (from 28,690 euros, 20,250 in Belgium) and a Mild Hybrid with 160 hp and EDC automatic transmission. And otherwise you can probably come up with countless alternatives…
Specifications, consumption and price Renault Captur
Performance | E-Tech Full Hybrid 145 Esprit Alpine |
Engine type | four-cylinder hybrid |
Engine capacity | 1,598 cc |
Gear box | 4v + 2v automatic |
Drive | front wheels |
Assets | 143 hp |
Couple | 205 Nm |
0-100 km/h | 10.0 s |
Top speed | 170 km/h |
Consumption | 4.9 l/100 km |
Dimensions lxwxh | 4,239 x 1,797 x 1,584 mm |
Curb weight | 1,345 kg |
Luggage compartment | 348/1,458 l |
Price NL | €36,490 |
Price B | €31,300 |
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