Test Car Specifications
Model tested: Renault Captur 1.2 TCe 120 Signature S Nav
Pricing: £21,405 (as tested); range starts at £15,355
Engine: 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol
Transmission: six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Body style: five-door, five-seat crossover
CO2 emissions: 125g/km (£160 first year, then £140 per annum)
Combined economy: 51.4mpg
Top speed: 113mph
0-62mph: 9.9 seconds
Power: 120hp at 5,000rpm
Torque: 205Nm at 2,000rpm
Boot space: 455 litres (seats up); 1,235 litres (seats down)
What's this?
This is the facelifted Renault Captur, although you'll need to take a close look to spot the differences. It seems that the model's continued sales success has meant Renault is in no rush to alter its winning formula, and so has left much of the exterior alone. There are new LED daytime running lights in the lower bumper sections and certain models now get full LED headlights, too.
It is on the inside that Renault has spent most of its upgrade budget. Newer materials that look and feel better have been added to the doors and atop the dashboard. The top line seven-inch R-Link touchscreen system has also been updated to now offer compatibility with Android Auto, but sadly no Apple CarPlay (yet).
Renault has also added a new range-topping Signature S Nav model to the line-up. This features 17-inch alloy wheels, heated part-Nappa leather seats and aluminium pedals. There are also some new colours to choose from, including Atacama Orange, Ocean Blue and Amethyst. These, combined with the contrasting roof options, make for a total of 30 potential colour combinations.
How does it drive?
Renault hasn't made any mechanical changes to the setup of the Captur, though it was already one of the better crossovers to drive, so we'll not dwell on that. Increasingly, it is Renault's range of petrol engines that is proving more popular with buyers, and tested here is the larger of the two with a manual gearbox. This 1.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces a useful 120hp and 205Nm of torque, which is plenty if you're mainly sticking to urban routes with just the occasional motorway trip. It feels sufficiently powerful for the Captur's size and is reasonably hushed even when pushed a little harder.
The ride comfort is good and even though the Captur feels firmly sprung it does soak up most surface imperfections with ease. The cabin seems well insulated from road and tyre noise, even with the larger 17-inch alloy wheels fitted. It may not deliver scalpel-like steering, but it does handle well, and the relatively firm suspension means it doesn't roll as much through the corners as some of its rivals do. Both the steering weight and manual gear change feel spot on for the class and leave little cause for criticism.
Verdict
Following the philosophy of if it isn't broken, don't fix it, the Renault Captur enters the second phase of its life cycle mostly unchanged. The revisions help to improve the sense of quality inside and give owners of the original Captur a reason to upgrade.
Exterior Design
Interior Ambience
Passenger Space
Luggage Space
Safety
Comfort
Driving Dynamics
Powertrain
