Unavoidably delayed in its arrival in our market, the all-new Renault Captur offers all of the refinement and poise of its modern Clio sibling, in an SUV package that aims to take the fight to the popular VW T-Cross. We’ll be spending the next three months behind the wheel of the range-topping 1,3T EDC Intens to find out just how strong the new Renault’s case for line honours is.
Renault Captur 1,3L Turbo EDC Intens long term stats
Time spent: 1 of 3 months
Distance covered: 1 000 km
Average fuel consumption: 7.5 L/100 km
Driver: Siyavuya Mbaduli
We like: Overall refinement; keen drivetrain
We don’t like: Delay in going on sale in SA
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Having had the opportunity to acquaint myself with the Renault Clio, the older sibling of the Captur, I was happy to find that the unmistakable touch of the French finesse and style being passed down to its raised ride hight derivative. Despite the constant need for brands to adapt and evolve, there’s always comfort getting into a car to find ourself in a familiar environment.
The Captur’s visual appeal has matured noticeably. Drawing inspiration from the fifth-generation Clio, the once-rounded shape has now embraced a more refined look with distinct edges. This evolution is evident in the car’s extremities and the ribbed design on the bonnet. Additionally, the elongated headlights and taillights contribute to the perception of a larger and more substantial presence.
Adding to its unique styling, the Captur is equipped with skid plates at both the front and rear, complemented by a protective mould that extends from the front to the rear, covering the wheel arches and the lower portion of the car’s sides. Enhancing the exterior further are the 17-inch alloy wheels and eye-catching two-tone colour scheme on our top-spec Intens model.
This derivative also gains a floating centre console (not offered in the Zen model), which is just one of the many features that make up the Captur’s Smart Cockpit. The interior boasts a portrait-style, 9.3-inch multimedia screen, comfortable fabric seats, and a plethora of high-quality materials that make up the dashboard, door panels, and steering wheel.
I’m looking forward to spending more time with the Captur, including getting used to using this brand’s established stork-mounted infotainment controls. To date, my best fuel consumption has been 7,5 L/100 km.
The Renault Captur 1.3L Turbo EDC Intens, currently carries a price tag of R499 999, with he entry-level model available from R454 999. With this level of poise and polish, the Renault’s main rival in our market remains the popular T-Cross.
