Renault Captur (2026) First Drive Review

• High-quality, solid construction
• Light on fuel
• Attractive new styling

• Expensive
• Ride is harsh on the Esprit Alpine variants
• Missing some ADAS features

The Renault Captur is a relatively successful product for Renault South Africa. Echoing its global success, more than 12 000 Capturs have been sold to customers in South Africa since its launch in 2015. While this may pale in comparison to some of the successes seen with other models from other brands, the Captur is a strong performer for Renault.

Related: Renault Captur 1.3 Turbo Intens (2023) Long-term test – a month with the Captur

I've placed the 3rd generation description in inverted commas because, while Renault SA will claim that this is the third generation, it's still the exact core vehicle underneath, just with a substantial facelift. However, that's not a bad thing, as the second-generation Captur remains a solid vehicle and has withstood the ever-changing automotive landscape well.

Styling

It's more than just Botox and filler; the new Captur features a considerably new look, with more aggressive angles and details. The Intens and Zen trims get a rebranding, making way for the new Techno and Iconic trims. The new Esprit Alpine trim heads up the range, filling the gap that is left by the GT-Line trim and giving a not-so-subtle nod to the high-performance Alpine arm of the Renault brand.

There's a little bit of Stellantis inspiration in the front end of the new Captur, but there's no denying that it strikes an impressive visage. The redesigned, faceted grille and angular LED headlights give the Captur a more serious look than before, shedding the somewhat feminine appearance of the previous model and infusing a more purposeful presence. All trims get the LED headlight and DRL treatment, while the Esprit Alpine gets a bespoke body treatment with skid plates and a silver insert in the front bumper.

Techno trims roll on 17-inch alloy wheels, with the Iconic upgrading those to 18-inch Black Hole alloys. The Esprit Alpine gets rather large, but attractive 19-inch alloy wheels, the largest ever fitted to a production Captur. This gives the Esprit Alpine trim an almost concept car look - one we can approve of. Sadly, this sees it compromised in other areas. I'll talk about that later.

Interior

The interior sees the most change. Incorporating a similar new design language, the angles are sharper, doing away with the rounded profiles that've become accustomed to seeing in recent Renault products.

All models get a new, larger, portrait-oriented touchscreen infotainment system that runs the new OpenR Link OS. This screen measures 10.4 inches and sits above a set of piano keys that provide quick and easy access to HVAC controls. 

All trim levels receive new upholstery options, with the Esprit Alpine featuring a delightful partial leather combination, complete with contrast stitching and Alpine branding.

In a bid to reduce their carbon footprint and help ease the minds of environmentally conscious consumers, Renault has incorporated up to 26% recycled material into their upholstery (and some exterior plastic panels), without sacrificing durability or feel.

Rear space is also more than acceptable, and for those who may not know, the Captur features a sliding rear seat, allowing you to add up to 16cm of legroom or boot space, whichever is needed in the moment.

Powertrains

With so much having changed in the appearance department, one would expect significant changes to the engine and gearbox departments. One would be mistaken. The same 1.3-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine powers the new generation Captur and features the same 7-speed EDC (Efficient Dual-Clutch) transmission as before.

This means you can anticipate 113 kW and 270 Nm of torque, sent to the front wheels, with a claimed combined cycle fuel consumption of 6.6 L/100km. We know Renault is suitable for these numbers, and the frugal nature of the Captur is what has helped it become as popular as it is.

Four driving modes, now switchable from the multifunction steering wheel, offer a choice of Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Personal, allowing you to tailor the shift points and throttle responses to your liking.

Driving impression

There was a compromise with the 19-inch alloy wheels, and while they look great on the new bodywork, they do sacrifice comfort levels. They leave the Esprit Alpine trim feeling a little firmly sprung, with the secondary ride suffering the most. I do not doubt that the 17-inch fitment on the Techno trim would be far more agreeable.

The powertrain remains a robust and enjoyable combination, and I'm actually rather pleased that there wasn't much tinkering with it - if it's not broken, don't fix it. The fuel consumption claims remain accurate, and on the open road, one can easily see the figures drop below 6.0 L/100km—a boon for those who have a highway commute.

The omission of adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist is somewhat unusual, resulting in a 4-star Euro NCAP rating for the Captur (ADAS is required for the fifth and final star), which conflicts with the Captur's ability to cover highway miles as if it were a snack. 

Nevertheless, the Renault Captur feels far more grown-up than its size would suggest. It has a solid, robust feel that makes it feel grown-up, mature, and reliable. Almost as if you took a larger, premium SUV offering and shrank it in the wash. In a world of cost-cutting plastic farms, it's a refreshing change.

Pricing and Warranty

The Captur is sold with a comprehensive 5-year/150,000 km warranty and a 3-year/45 000 km service plan.