Renault Captur Dynamique MediaNav 90ps with Stop/Start

Renault get so many things right and very few things wrong when it comes to small cars and people carriers. But when they step out of their comfort zone, it can all go a little downhill for them, especially in the UK. The Europeans especially the French are more forgiving.

The all-new Captur (and no it is not a spelling mistake with the ‘e’ missing) is so good, there is very little to dislike about it. It does just about everything right, but most importantly of all it looks great and as we all know style and a good design sells. It is virtually perfect from every angle. Its stance on the road is superb; it is almost in a class of its own.

The buying public nowadays are turning more and more to smaller more compact cars. But they have to offer more room, practicality and versatility than the more traditional B and C sector hatchbacks. If the car then offers more in terms of style with all the added space, the manufacturer is onto a real winner. Based on this the Captur will be a winner as a new car and also desirable as a used car.

The Captur does offer exceptionally quality for the size of car, but some may think the price is just a bit too steep and Renault may have priced it just out of reach for some customers who really want one. I’m sure Renault will disagree and argue it does represent good value for money.

The car we had on test was powered by the 1461cc dCi diesel engine that produces 90ps, goes from 0-62mph in 13.1 seconds, which sounds a bit sluggish. In reality though, it isn’t that bad and gets away from the traffic lights just as quick as anything else around you.

The official combined fuel consumption figure is 78.5mpg, but during the time we had the car it achieved 52.4mpg on average, according to the on-board computer. For the weight of car and the type of driving we did it is not actually a bad result even if the two figures seem worlds apart. The all-important Co2 emissions figure is a very low 95g/km.

We used the Captur for a number of journeys up and down the country during the time we had it and also for transporting various goods, shopping, children and adults. On the motorway it was so quiet and easily maintained motorway speeds, even going up some of the steep inclines that we have here up north. In town and villages it is so nimble and very easy to park. On some twisty hilly routes, it felt rock solid and safe. Getting people into it, whether they were the small variety or larger ones proved to be a simple task, with no complaints from anybody. Getting the very small ones in and into child seats in the rear was much easier and quicker than the traditional hatch, as the car was a bit higher and the door opening works in your favour and is not a back-breaking task.

The colour schemes are very modern and all work very well, they look superb and will appeal to most tastes and age groups. Many are available with contrasting roof colours and these are the ones to have, as they add so much more class and panache. The personalisation makes the Captur really interesting and a car that stands out in any crowd.

The interior is just as different as the exterior and just as interesting to look at. The cabin has so many nice features, there simply too many to mention. Once you are sat in it, you immediately feel at home. All the dials, controls, knobs and switches are in the right place, easy to find and use. The touch and feel of them is also good and better quality than many cars that are much more expensive.

The one thing I really don’t like about the Captur and most other Renaults is the ‘Key-Card’. It is just a bit larger than a credit card and just a little thicker. The first day I had the Captur I lost the thing seven times, it is just not quite big enough. You put it down, put it in your pocket and then, as if by magic, the thing disappears. It does not reappear until sometime later, which is really annoying. But I did find a remedy for it, as I attached a large piece of plastic to it, nearly the size of half-a brick and I didn’t lose it again!

Prices for the brilliant Captur start from £12,495 and go up to £18,895, the car we had on test costs £16,395 OTR

Martin Ward, Manufacturer Relationship Manager