Capturing the market

The second best-selling model in Renault’s UK range, the Captur crossover bridges the supermini and small SUV markets. With small car running costs and off-road-inspired looks, it enjoyed European-wide success in 2014. GreenFleet finds out what makes it so popular

French car‑maker Renault has enjoyed a UK market resurgence of late. Sales were up by 43.7 per cent in 2014, the best figure for over three years. Culling the largest vehicles from its range and concentrating on the B-segment small car and the C-segment mid‑size markets seems to have paid off. The company saw combined sales of its Clio hatchback, Captur crossover and 100 per cent electric Zoe rise by 65.9 per cent in 2014.

Personalisation is key
There’s no denying the Captur’s family resemblance to the Clio on which its based. Carrying Renault’s latest design language, a bold front end flows into a mini‑SUV profile. Designed to appeal to a large range of customers from couples, young families and style-conscious single drivers, in keeping with current market trends, personalisation is a key feature.

The Captur offers three themed ‘collections’ – Arizona, Manhattan and Miami. Combining themed colour ways across body work colours, wheels and interior trim, further impact can be made with contrasting two-tone paint finishes for the roof and body. Bold combinations (black paint with an orange roof and orange wheels for example) ensure it stands out.

Externally, LED daytime running lights and a Chrome Exterior Gloss Pack add extra flourishes. The styling works – the Captur is a good-looker and our test car wore Ivory paintwork with a Diamond Black roof, the mono-tonal combination working well.

Four well-specified trim levels – Expression+, Dynamique MediaNav, Dynamique S MediaNav and Signature – are available with a wide range of standard equipment. What Renault deems as ‘core’ (standard on all models) features includes automatic headlights and wipers, cruise control, manual air-conditioning, hands-free keycard, radio/CD player with Bluetooth/AUX-IN and USB, tyre pressure monitoring system, 16-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights and a tyre inflation kit.

Seven-inch touchscreen
Dynamique S MediaNav trim builds on the comprehensive standard kit count and includes Renault’s integrated seven-inch colour touchscreen display with Nav ’n’ Go satellite navigation. We found the standard TomTom system worked very well, particularly when warning of speed camera locations. Map data is stored on an SD card. The ‘home screen’ of the system shows all media, driving and sat-nav data at a glance – press the required function ‘window’ icon and that individual part of the system is displayed in depth.

The Captur is simplicity itself to drive with lightly-weighted controls. Accurate steering allows the car to be placed precisely, but, as with most modern systems, is little short on feel. The Captur rides well for a small-SUV-type car – especially one on 17-inch wheels –  with only the deepest potholes and road imperfections being transmitted into the cabin.

Engine noise is well-insulated from the interior and the small Renault is very quiet on the motorway. The extra ride height over a comparable Clio gives extra confidence to tackle muddy tracks or off‑road surfaces, too, but an occasional vision problem is created by the large bases of the A-pillars. An ‘Eco’ mode button cuts air-conditioning functions and performance to create conditions for the best economy to be achieved, with a trip computer aiding those drivers who want to get the most out of the fuel they use. Over the course of a 420-mile test period, we achieved an average fuel return figure of 54.3mpg.

The interior is a family-friendly place to be, with washable, zip-off removable seat covers, wipe-clean plastics, an assortment of storage spaces and a bigger-than-supermini 377-litre boot. A sliding 60/40 rear seat creates a variable luggage space, and when folded flat, a 1,235-litre load area.

Renault has recently added a 110bhp version of its 1.5 dCi engine to the Captur range. Priced from £17,695, the new variant has an officially quoted capable of 76.4mpg on the combined cycle – despite the increased power output – depending on which trim level is selected. An increase of 20bhp over the 90bhp unit of our test car, torque is up by 29lb ft yet emissions only rise by 3g/km. The new diesel engine is only available to order on mid to high-specification Dynamique, Dynamique S and Signature models.

The Captur range starts at £14,295 for the entry‑level 115g/km Expression+ TCe 90 petrol model.

More style and added space
Bringing more space and added style to Renault’s small car offerings, the French company has made a likeable model in the Captur. This market is all about looks, personalisation, running costs and value for money. On those fronts, the Captur scores. It’s more practical than its Ford EcoSport and Nissan Juke rivals and a pre-paid servicing pack (four years’ servicing and roadside cover as well as a four-year/100,000-mile warranty) can be included into monthly repayments. A five-star crash test rating from Euro NCAP also means it’s very safe.

While the head-turning Citroën C4 Cactus offers more head-turning (or divisive) looks and a fresh, avantgarde interior, the Captur’s overall appeal as a buying package makes it hard to ignore.

Further information
www.renault.co.uk