What is it?
With an all-new model due to arrive in mid-2019, the Renault Captur line-up has been subjected to something of a nip-tuck for the remainder of its current lifecycle, and also in a bid to comply with stricter WLTP emissions regulations. For the UK, engine options have been restricted to a choice of two: an 89bhp 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel and the 0.9-litre three-cylinder petrol unit that sits beneath the bonnet of our test car.
It’s a modest engine, developing just 89bhp at 5500rpm, while 103lb ft of torque is produced at 2250rpm. This is directed to the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox; no automatic is available on petrol-powered Capturs.
The trim levels available for the Captur have been simplified, too, dropping from five to three. Play now represents the £15,300 entry-level model, while our £16,500 Iconic test car occupies the mid-range, featuring standard equipment such as satellite navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, DAB radio and cruise control. GT Line models crown the line-up, with a starting price of £18,300.
Aside from these tweaks to the Captur range as a whole, the car itself remains mechanically identical to how it was at its 2013 launch. The small SUV sits on the same Renault-Nissan Alliance B platform that underpins the Clio and Nissan Juke, while its suspension still consists of MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam at the rear.
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Jeremy
Space?
So another bigger SUV that has less room inside than the smaller hatchback on which it is based. How do they do it?
scotty5
Fake news alert!
Hold on a minute... I owned a Clio and briefly looked at a Capture when I was upsizing. Autocar's description of there being no rear legroom doesn't square with my impression - I thought the legroom was fine considering the car's small dimensions.
And then I read thru the rest of the article - there is absolutely no mention of the boot capacity or space on offer in the hatch. Which got me thinking... does the reviewer, Simon Davis, realise that the Capture has a sliding rear bench? Could it be possible that the car he was reviewing was set up for max luggage capacity? Slide the rear bench back and there's more than enough legroom.
Perhaps the reviewer best go back and review the car again - this time with the help of a salesman or read the owners manual. Or perhaps he should read Hilton Holloway's review when Autocar tested the facelifted Capture in 2017? Hilton explains the sliding rear seat and the room available. Nowhere in his report does he mention a lack of rear legroom.
Autocar sister publications make no mention of lack of rear leg room either. They list the cons as "dull to drive", "underpowered" and "cheap plastics".
centenary
I suspect the reviewer was
I suspect the reviewer was above average height!
6th Gear
What about moving the rear seat back?
The Captur’s boot changes from 359 litres to 455 litres when the bench seat is in the forward position. Surely loosing 96 litres of boot space will increase the legroom?
Thekrankis
We attempted to test drive a Captur....
.....but when my wife and two grown up children tried to get in and we found we couldn’t seat four adults we gave up.
Hence our decision to buy a Honda Jazz: Ample leg room for four full sized adults.
These SUV hatchback things are a con. IMHO.
Jacobcors
Great car
Great car, small for the city is a good option. Thanks for the review.
humphrey the pug
What utter dross
nick1110
super
great car for the city
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