In a country such as ours, French brands like Renault are still viewed by some with scepticism in favour of brands from Germany, Japan and Korea. Nowadays, there's no need for concern, especially since any kinks that may have existed previously concerning reliability would have been ironed out. If that doesn't put your mind at ease then you may be missing out on great vehicles – allow us to tell you about the new Renault Captur which left a solid impression on the CHANGECARS team.
We'll concede and say that this is the best-looking Renault Captur yet. Previous iterations of this model just didn’t have the mass appeal that this latest Captur has from a looks and design point of view. The new car has addressed all of that and comes off as mature and handsome without trying too hard. It sits on 17-inch wheels and looks larger than before. Renault's signature C-shaped front and taillamps have finally found their way into the Captur.
Interior layout & finish
Once you’ve encountered its charming looks, you may be fooled into assuming that this is all that the Renault Captur has to offer, but there's more. Despite not having full leather seats, the Captur’s cabin is very well put together and Renault has bypassed the cheap materials (an easy cost-cutting option car manufacturers default to) in favour of quality soft materials on all interior panels within reach. The quality feel of this interior makes it easy to overlook the textile and PU-covered seats, which are satisfactory in this set-up.
You’ll be further impressed by the standard heated steering wheel in the Intens variant, which may seem like a trivial feature to mention, but you appreciate any heated features in a vehicle when you have to go for a drive during the cold winter chill. Other features include automatic headlamps, electronically height adjustable beams (another underrated feature), and a neat electronic gear selector and e-brake. Things like electronically adjustable seats are nice to have but you don't feel their absence when they aren't there, after all, you only adjust your seat once. You also get the obligatory media screen found in nearly every modern vehicle with smartphone integration, as well as a wireless charging pad in this new Captur.
Renault Captur engine specs
If the quality of the cabin and its design doesn't sway you, push the start button, slip it into drive and wait for a grin to form on your face as you drive. Of everything we've mentioned, the Renault Captur’s road manners were the most impressive. For starters, if every badge were to be blocked out you would confidently say you're behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz. It's sure-footed and has a planted feel which is felt through the steering wheel. It does this while still being subtle over bumps and inconsistencies on the road.
During the first four days of our road test, we weren't sure what size engine was on duty beneath the bonnet, but whatever it was, it felt strong and well-engineered. Surprisingly, we discovered that the engine at work is a 1.3-litre turbocharged unit pushing out 113kW and 270Nm. The little 1.3 is a stick of dynamite and punches way above its weight in this application, giving you the feeling of a 2.0-litre turbocharged motor.
The one common downside to these small engines that have a strong kick to them is poor fuel economy. This 1.3 litre is the rare exception and Renault says it will give you a combined economy of 6.6l/100km which is fantastic, but we constantly achieved between 6.4l/100km and 6.5l/100km. It’s also very uncommon for real-world fuel consumption figures to be less than a manufacturer's stated figures, adding yet another feather to the Captur’s cap.
2023 Renault Captur price
It's always interesting to look at the price of these things. With a starting price of R454 999, the Captur isn’t modest where the Rand is concerned, but then again, cars have become increasingly expensive over the years. For the top-spec Renault Captur as tested with a heated steering wheel etc, you're looking at paying R500 000. This puts it somewhere in the middle between the Ford EcoSport (R416 900) and the Fiat 500X (R580 900), both of which are direct competitors.
Gugu Masuku - CHANGECARS
