Renault set to Captur Hearts with New Compact Crossover

Do you want the convenience of a hatch but the high-riding position of a SUV? A crossover seems to be the answer for those who can't quite make up their minds. Autotrader recently attended the launch of Renault's brand new Captur, their Clio-based crossover.

In Europe , the Captur has already nabbed several awards, including Car of the Year as well as Best Small SUV. Here in SA, competition will be cutt-throat, with contenders such as the Nissan Juke and the Ford EcoSport. To make the "beautifully practical" Captur a worthy competitor, Renault has included oodles of tech and safety equipment from the entry-level upwards.

Three models will be available to the Mzanzi market: The Renault Captur 66 kW Expression (R219 900), the Renault Captur 66kW Dynamique (R239 900), and the Renault Captur 88 kW EDC 1.2 Dynamique (R279 900). The first two share the Clio's 0.9 litre turbocharged engine with five-speed manual transmission.

On the launch in Jo'burg, media had the flagship 88kW 1.2 EDC Dynamique  to sample. This derivative is fitted with an all-new automatic dual-clutch gearbox and a new 1.2 litre turbocharged engine. Gear changes aren't all that quick, but it probably won't be noticeable to your average B-segment SUV buyer. However, the Captur can be driven in manual mode. We also felt that the engine is a tad underpowered. A 1.4 litre turbo would have been ideal, but Renault is hell-bent on keeping the Captur affordable, and extra power costs extra. Unfortunately, the 1.5 litre diesel model is not available in SA.

The Captur's strongest point is definitely its chiselled good looks and stylish, solidly built and organized interior. The fact that Satnav is standard across the range is a huge plus, even though it does take a bit of practice to figure out. We also scooted into the rear for the knees-to-front-seat-test, and I was impressed with how well Renault made use of the available space. In the mid and high-end model you'll find seats that can be unzipped and washed, if you don't opt for leather. Boot size is a generous 377 litres and if the rear seats have been slid forward, it increases to 455 litres. There is also underfloor storage available. Genius for families!

Our launch route included stretches of dirt and gravel, to illustrate how well the Captur would perform off-tar. This is the part of the launch I most enjoyed, as the Captur felt right at home under these conditions. It handled the bumps and bushveld bends with aplomb. The suspension is just right and I may even forgive the Captur its somewhat tardy engine for how comfortable it feels in the sticks. Indeed, the Captur is not built to make your heart race as you corner. It's meant for comfy family cruising. If safety is a concern, the 5 star EuroNCAP rating should set the mind at ease: Stability control is standard spec on all models, and from the mid-spec 66kW Turbo Dynmique model, cornering fog lights are standard. All models are fitted with 4 airbags, and standard rear parking sensors will keep its pretty behind intact.

The Captur comes standard with a 5-year/150 000km mechanical warranty; a 3-year/45 000km service plan and a 6-year anti-corrosion warranty. Services take place at 15 000km/1 year intervals.