Renault Captur review

It’s often the case that the smallest siblings try to copy their bigger brothers and sisters – and the Renault Captur has done exactly that, because it’s been updated to look more like Renault's larger SUVs.

Those bigger models include the Renault Austral and Renault Rafale. So rather than looking like a jacked up Renault Clio with black plastic wheelarches (a criticism you might have levelled at earlier Capturs) this small SUV now looks rather more butch.

It's been updated in other ways too, with the addition of a new Google-based infotainment system and more sustainably sourced interior materials. The upholstery in the new range-topping Esprit Alpine trim, for example, contains 26% recycled and recyclable fabric.

Those updates were definitely needed to help the Renault Captur stay competitive in the dog-eat-dog world of small SUVs – but are they enough?

Read on and we'll tell you how the Captur stacks up against rivals including the Ford Puma, Skoda Kamiq and VW T-Cross in all the areas that matter...

The Renault Captur engine range kicks off with the TCe 90, a 90bhp turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol that comes with a six-speed manual gearbox. We haven't tried the TCe 90 in the Captur yet, but in the smaller Renault Clio it's up to the job. Just don't expect sparkling acceleration (0-62mph takes 14.3 seconds).

If you want punchier performance or an automatic gearbox there's the E-Tech Hybrid 145. With its 0-62mph time of 10.6 seconds, this 141bhp 1.6-litre hybrid is definitively quicker than the TCe 90 but nowhere near as nippy as a Ford Puma 1.0 Ecoboost 155 or VW T-Cross 1.5 TSI.

It’s not the perfect choice though – chiefly because the way it delivers power is often inconsistent. When you put your foot down, it often seems like it can’t figure out the best or smoothest way to juggle the workload, and there's sometimes a delay between pressing the accelerator and the car picking up speed.

So far, we've tried the E-Tech Hybrid version of the new Captur, which has slightly different suspension to the TCe 90 petrol.

While the hybrid Captur is at the comfier end of the small SUV spectrum, it doesn’t quite settle down as well as as the more supple Skoda Kamiq or VW T-Roc. It’s far from bothersome, but a constant minor level of fidget means it’s not as calm or comforting as those rivals.

The steering is usefully light around town but doesn't build weight reassuringly at faster speeds so you're never as confident along twisty roads as you would be in a Ford Puma or VW T-Cross.

Still, the front end feels responsive and turns in pretty sharply, and there’s a decent amount of grip at your disposal, so the Captur proves agile enough by class standards. It’s certainly a more capable and composed handler than the rather clumsy Citroën C3 Aircross.

Manoeuvrability isn’t the Captur’s strongest suit: the turning circle is wider than in many small SUVs, making it harder to execute a quick U-turn.

For the most part, the Captur is calm and civilised, with little road and wind noise at motorway speeds compared with many other small SUVs. True, it's not quite as hushed as the pricier VW T-Roc but it's a quieter cruiser than the Ford Puma.

The E-Tech Hybrid is remarkably quiet when running in electric mode at low speeds, emitting only a faint hum to warn pedestrians of its presence (a sound apparently composed by Jean-Michel Jarre). When needed, the petrol engine chimes in, although the switch between power sources is not as smooth as in some hybrid cars including the Toyota Yaris Cross.

The engine remains hushed during gentle acceleration, only sounding a little coarse when you put your foot down hard. It's a pity the grabby brake-pedal response in the hybrid isn’t better-judged, making it difficult to come to a smooth stop (the regenerative braking system doesn’t help).

If the raised driving position promised by a small SUV is what you’re after, the Renault Captur will certainly appeal. You sit higher up from the road than you do in, for example, a Skoda Kamiq. 

What’s more, the seat, steering wheel and pedals line up well, so you're not sitting at an odd angle. Our only real complaint is that – unlike in rivals including the Ford Puma and VW T-Cross – adjustable lumbar support isn't available to improve lower back support.

All versions of the Captur have a digital driver's display, measuring 7.0in on the entry-level Evolution trim and 10.3in higher up the range.

The Captur’s elevated driving position gives you a decent view forwards, helped by relatively narrow windscreen pillars.

The news isn't so good when you're looking back over your shoulder because the window line rises steeply towards the rear of the car, creating a big blind-spot. Fortunately all versions come with rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera (although it's display isn't as high quality as in some cars).

For great visibility at night, all versions of the Captur come with full LED headlights with high-beam assist.

All versions of the Captur have a 10.4in portrait-oriented infotainment touchscreen angled slightly towards the driver to make it easier to see and reach. It also features really crisp graphics and responds quickly when you press the screen. 

The operating system is easy to get to grips with, and Techno and Esprit Alpine models add Google Automotive Services, including the Google Maps navigation app and one of the best voice-control systems we've tried.

Whichever Captur trim you choose, you'll get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring and a wireless charging pad. Overall, the Captur has one of the best infotainment systems fitted to any small SUV.

The Captur's dashboard is pleasingly squishy in places, helping to make it feel far less budget inside than an MG ZS or Suzuki Vitara. Then again, it's hardly what you'd describe as "plush": some fixtures – including the floating centre console – feel a little wobbly.

If you want a really smart interior in your small SUV, take a look at the Nissan Juke or, if your budget allows, the Audi Q2. The VW T-Cross also feels a little more solid inside.

Some buyers will favour the Captur over other small SUVs because of the use of recycled materials in its interior, and the fact that chrome and leather have been eschewed for more sustainable materials.

There's less head and leg room in the front of the Renault Captur than there is in the Ford Puma, Skoda Kamiq or VW T-Cross. It's still okay for six-footers though, and because the interior is relatively broad you won’t be rubbing shoulders with your passenger.

As for storage, there’s a total of 24.7 litres dotted around the interior, including a hidden tray below the infotainment touchscreen, a larger pocket in front of the gear lever and an enormous glovebox.

Even with its sliding rear seats pushed all the way back, space in the rear of the Captur is decent rather than amazing. A six-footer will find their head is rather close to the roof, and although there's enough knee room, you'll find noticeably more in the back of a Skoda Kamiq.

With three adults in the back things feel rather squished, although whoever is sitting in the middle will appreciate the amount of foot space created by the Captur’s near-flat floor. It’s also worth pointing out that the E-Tech Hybrid model is just as roomy in the back as the regular petrol.

You can slide the back seats all the way forwards to maximise boot space, but when you do so rear knee room becomes so tight so tight that adults will struggle to fit.

As we've mentioned, you can slide the rear seats back and forth to prioritise either boot space or rear leg room. That's a useful feature that's rare in the small SUV class (although the VW T-Cross has it too).

While the seat base slides as one piece, the rear seatbacks fold down in two sections, in a conventional 60/40 split.

Renault says the Captur has one of the biggest boots in the class but there’s a caveat: that’s if you choose the non-hybrid version and slide the rear bench all the way forwards (which you won't be able to do if you want to fit adults in the back).

With the rear seats slid all the way back to maximise rear leg room, boot space in the TCe 90 petrol versions drops to 422 litres (from 535 litres). That's still more luggage space than you'll find in most traditional family cars – including the VW Golf – but not quite as much as offered by a Ford Puma or Skoda Kamiq.

The Captur E-Tech Hybrid sacrifices almost a quarter of its boot to make room for its drive battery, meaning there's 326 litres of storage space when the rear seats are as far back as they'll go. A height-adjustable boot floor is standard on all trims except entry-level Evolution.

As a cash purchase, the Renault Captur is one of the cheapest mainstream small SUVs you can buy, undercutting the Ford Puma, the Skoda Kamiq and the VW T-Cross. Whichever model you choose, you can check you're getting the best price by searching our New Car Deals pages.

The promise of around 60mpg might tempt you to stump up for the Captur E-Tech Hybrid rather than the TCe 90, but the downside is that the hybrid costs considerably more to buy than the regular petrol in the first place.

Private buyers should think carefully before stumping up the extra cash, although the E-Tech Hybrid's lower benefit-in-kind tax rating means it is the better choice for company car drivers paying via salary sacrifice.

This is an area where the Captur does well. Even the entry-level Evolution trim won’t leave you feeling short-changed, as it comes with 17in alloy wheels, cruise control, automatic lights and wipers, automatic climate control and keyless entry. 

Even so, we’d suggest jumping up to our favourite Techno trim because the price difference isn’t huge and you get extra niceties, including bigger 18in wheels, ambient interior lighting, power-folding door mirrors, a height-adjustable boot floor and the Google-based infotainment system.

We'd avoid range-topping Esprit Alpine trim because it removes one of the Captur's most appealing strengths: it's low price. Mind you, it certainly comes with plenty of kit, including adaptive cruise control, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, two-tone paint and 19in alloys.

In our 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey the Captur didn’t perform particularly well, finishing near the bottom of the small SUV leaderboard, above the Kamiq and MG ZS but below all its other key rivals, including the Ford Puma and VW T-Roc. 

Renault as a manufacturer didn’t perform much better, claiming 23rd place out of the 32 car makers included.

Every new Renault comes with a three-year warranty, with no mileage limit for the first two years, but a 60,000-mile cap after that. That’s fairly par for the course, matching Ford and Skoda, but not Kia’s seven-year warranty. The E-Tech Hybrid gets a separate eight-year/100,000 miles warranty on its drive battery.

All Capturs have automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance, traffic-sign recognition and an emergency call (eCall) function. That's impressive, and we're pleased Renault hasn't skimped on safety kit with the cheaper trims.

Euro NCAP awarded the Captur five stars out of five for overall safety in 2019, although that was the pre-facelifted model rather than this latest version. The testing protocol is far more stringent these days, so it's hard to compare the Captur's safety with that of newer small SUVs.

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