Modernised design and Google infotainment tech for French firm’s big seller
WILL RIMELL @will_rimell
TESTED 7.6.24, MADRID, SPAIN ON SALE JULY
The Renault Captur has gone under the knife, receiving a fresh face, a reworked interior and new infotainment to further enhance its appeal.
Despite still being one of Renault’s best-sellers, the Mk2 Captur, launched in 2019, had been looking a little previous-generation of late. Enter new design boss Gilles Vidal. After a new design language was applied to the Clio, Scenic and Rafale, the Captur was next in line.
What’s more impressive than the sharp new look, however, is what remains unchanged: the Captur’s strong value for money.
Prices for the compact crossover start at £21,095, which is £500 less than before and undercuts many rivals, like the Ford Puma (£25,800), Hyundai Kona (£26,040) and Nissan Juke (£23,500) – a car that has also just been updated, albeit minimally.
The Evolution model provides a comprehensive spec for that entry price, including a new 10.4in infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a rear-view camera and cruise control. Techno trim (from £22,795) adds Google integration and a 10.25in digital instrument display, while top-rung Esprit Alpine (£27,995) brings 19in alloys, adaptive cruise control and heated, electrically adjustable front seats.
As well as simplifying the trim line-up, Renault has cut down its powertrain offering to the bare essentials. Buyers have the option of either an 89bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged TCe petrol engine with a six-speed manual gearbox or a 1.6-litre full hybrid with 143bhp. The E-Tech option is now available on all trim levels, but you can’t have a TCe Esprit Alpine.
Here I’m driving an E-Tech in Techno trim, which is the version that Renault expects to be the biggest seller in the UK.
The front end has been changed quite drastically, and Renault says this gives the Captur a more modern, upmarket look.
The other big changes are inside. The new screen comes with Renault’s latest Google-based multimedia system. If you already use the various Google services, you will recognise the sat-nav and voice assistant, and if you log in, your recent searches and saved addresses will be right there. If not, there’s still the smartphone mirroring, and the whole interface is easy to understand and much slicker than its laggy predecessor. The only downside is the rear camera’s poor image quality.
Physica
