By: Jason Woosey
With a striking face inspired by the DeZir concept and a body with curves in all the right places, the fourth-generation Clio turned heads and made its rivals look a little plain when it hit the streets two years ago. Now its ‘pumped up’ SUV sibling aims to add its own style stamp to the compact crossover segment, where it will go up against the Ford Ecosport, Opel Mokka, Peugeot 2008 and the outlandish Nissan Juke.
But where exactly does the new Renault Captur fit in relation to the similarly-priced Duster?
Easy. If the words trendy, stylish or sophisticated pop into your head while shopping for a crossover then look no further than the new Captur. Just bear in mind that there’s no 4x4 version so you won’t want to venture too far into the wilds, although its 170mm of ground clearance will make for hassle-free dirt roading. If you prefer the rough and rugged side of life, the Renault Duster is more up your alley. Not only is it larger but the Duster also offers more ground clearance and the option of a 4x4 version.
Yet whereas the Duster is based around older, tried-and-trusted technologies, the Captur keeps things contemporary with modern features and Renault’s latest range of turbopetrol engines. The range gives you a choice of three models, with the entry-level Expression and midrange Dynamique powered by the same 898cc three-cylinder turbo found in the Clio and Sandero. Mated to a five-speed manual gearbox in both cases, it’s credited with 66kW (70 in overboost) and 135Nm.
At the top of the pile is the Dynamique EDC, featuring a 1.2-litre force-fed four-cylinder, mated to a six-speed dual-clutch autobox and rated at 88kW and 190Nm. Renault claims average consumption of 4.9 litres per 100km for the smaller engine and 5.4 for the 1.2.
TAKING ITS TIME
Only the 1.2 was available for scrutiny at the local launch but the route from Muldersdrift to Sun City and back did give us a chance to stretch its legs properly and it did include a few dirt sections, where the Renault’s compliant suspension dished up an agreeable ride. While the motor is a bit sluggish off the mark and not very responsive in general, it does deliver decent open road performance once it’s on the boil. I can’t vouch for the 66kW version at this stage, although the fact that it’s almost 100kg lighter than the bigger-engined version, at 1089kg, should make up for some of the power deficit.
Nonetheless the vibe I get here is that this French crossover is more about style and features than outright performance. The Dynamique models have added peacock appeal, allowing you to choose two-tone exterior colour schemes and it comes with trendy ‘shell-shaped’ seats with easily removable and washable zip collection covers.
The dashboard has a modern, flowing design and although the surfaces are hard, everything’s been dimpled and stylised to the point where it gives off a quality feel. The proud centrepiece here is a seven-inch MediaNav infotainment system complete with satnav and Bluetooth connectivity and it’s standard across the range, along with automatic climate control, cruise control and rear park distance control. Safety kit comes in the form of front and side airbags, ABS and ESC stability control.
Aftersales back-up includes a five-year or 150 000km mechanical warranty and three-year or 45 000km service plan.
The Captur is quite practical for a ‘fashion statement’. Rear legroom is decent and the rear bench can slide forward by up to 16cm, allowing the overall capacity of the split-floor boot to increase from 377 to 455 litres.
While it’s unlikely to ultimately steal the Duster’s sales thunder, and Renault says its customer-clinic evidence proves this, the Captur is sure to carve its own niche as a trendy and sophisticated new entrant in a booming segment.
PRICES
0.9T 66kW Expression – R219 900
0.9T 66kW Dynamique – R239 900
1.2T 88kW EDC Dynamique – R279 900