Renault Captur: Test Drive Review

Renault has jumped on the crossover bandwagon with its latest model, the Captur.

Based on the Clio supermini, it’s smaller than established crossovers such as Nissan’s Qashqai and falls more into line with that brand’s Juke model.

Sharp styling and plenty of personalisation options make this a car not necessarily primed for the fleet market, hence the French firm’s expectation that only 20% of all sales will go to business customers. However, next to pretty much any other crossover it looks like a logical business purchase.

Nissan has recently slashed its lowest-emitting Juke’s figures to 109g/km and 67.3mpg, which is efficient but a way off the Captur’s class-topping stats of 95g/km and 76.4mpg in its cleanest 1.5 dCi 90 guise, as tested here.

Consequently, it’s not that powerful. The engine has a respectable amount of pull mid-range, but it’s fairly gutless at either end of the rev range. It’s inoffensive enough to drive, though, with light steering and a comfortable ride, which just make it seem like a big Clio.

There’s a little wind noise at motorway speeds and the engine makes a racket when strained, but it isn’t bad overall. The only real downside was the stop/start system on our test vehicle, which failed to kick-in at any point.

Up front, the cabin is smart, while the garish Arizona styling pack will appeal to some more than others, although there are two – Manhattan and Miami – with more docile colour and trim schemes.

Further back there’s a decent amount of leg and headroom, given that it’s a supermini-based car, and a 337-litre boot is impressive, as are the 1235 litres on offer when the seats are folded flat.

It’s a shame Renault isn’t targeting fleets more with the Captur because it’s an affordable, practical and extremely efficient crossover that, on those grounds at least, stands up well against the competition.