The first Renault Captur failed to "captur" the imagination of the Aussie public,
but the second-generation compact SUV is a far more sophisticated machine and better to drive.
So is this the car that will finally put Renault on the map in Australia? Let's find out.
Based on a more advanced platform, gaining plenty of new tech and driven by a charming
little turbo petrol engine, there's a lot to like here, and I gotta say it doesn't have that
cheap and nasty feel like the original Captur. But there's a catch. What used to be a $22,000
vehicle, now starts at $29,000, and this orange beasty costs $40,000
to get it on the road. Indeed, it's no longer a rival for the inexpensive and now hugely popular
Mazda CX-3, and it's closer in price and spec to the Ford Puma. But before we poke around inside,
let's take a quick look at the design. I mean, check out the front end. It's seriously sporty,
and there's more than a hint of Megane RS going on here. The trendy headlight clusters are full LEDs,
and the rear-end styling is neat and tidy. This model rides on 18-inch alloy wheels,
but drum brakes at the rear? It's like a bloke in a tuxedo wearing socks and sandals.
This is where the city-savvy SUV really starts to shine, and the eye is instantly attracted to that
big 9.3-inch touch screen. It looks great and has a slight curve to it, very 2020s, and the
operating system is more intuitive and much faster to respond to input now, all of which make the car
feel more sophisticated and improve the user experience. It also comes with Apple CarPlay,
Android Auto and wireless phone charging. This model is fitted with the $2000 EasyLife option
pack, which adds this very impressive automatic parking system. Plus, you also get a 10-inch
digital instrument panel. The small steering wheel looks and feels great. The controls
and buttons are intuitive, plus there's a little audio controller hidden back here.
The seats look and feel great. They've got a sporty design and plenty of lateral support.
The leather quality is good too. However, the seat cushions are a
little firm for my taste, but you do get power adjustability on the driver's side.
And then there's this two-tiered central area, which looks a bit weird, but is very effective
in opening up more storage options. It's also a nice pedestal for the chic, new gear shifter.
The concise temperature controls look and feel great, and down here, you've got two USB ports,
a 12-volt socket, AUX input, but no USB-C. There's a tiny central bin under here with
sliding arm rest, and overall incidental storage is pretty good, obviously, these two areas,
decent cup holders and very good door pockets. Rear seat room has increased
slightly along with the car's exterior dimensions. There's pretty good leg room,
so-so head room, but very good passenger amenity. Twin USB ports are standard as are these air vents
and sliding rear seats. There's also twin ISOFIX child seat anchorages. The boot is much bigger and
more usable than both its predecessor and many of its rivals. I really like this hidden compartment,
and it's good to see there's a spare tyre, even if it's only a space-saver version. You've also got
two shopping bag hooks and this little light as well. All right, time to cue the music.
Renault has done a good job adding sophistication to the way the car feels on the road,
not just the cabin fit out. It's a sporty little number, the 1.3-litre engine delivering plenty of
hustle when you nail the throttle. The 7-speed dual-clutch auto a good partner with a smooth
shifting character. The EuroSpec suspension is geared towards dynamic,
sporty driving. It's actually a lot of fun to blast around in.
That said, ride comfort is not amazing. Look, it's not gonna be a deal breaker, but on rutted city
roads and especially cobblestones for instance, it does feel a little jittery. But this is part
of the course in terms of European SUVs, and I reckon the Ford Puma is even firmer for example.
Outward vision is pretty good, thanks to the elevated driving position and the light steering
makes short work of tight city and urban driving. The Renault can be very fuel efficient if you
take it easy, and there's even an eco mode that offers advice to help save fuel. Check this out.
Drive at a steady speed. Use the cruise control more often. This will also reduce consumption.
Safety systems have been boosted with all models getting active lane keep assist, traffic sign
recognition, front and rear parking sensors and six airbags. As such, it gets a five-star ANCAP
safety rating, but if you want adaptive cruise control, it's gonna cost you another 500 bucks.
It has a strong five-year warranty and average cap price service costs, but the high asking price
will be a significant barrier for many buyers. And resale value is pretty crummy for the French brand
in this country. But overall, the new Renault Captur is a vast improvement on its predecessor
and a far more competitive product in the compact SUV segment. I don't think this is the car that's
gonna finally put Renault on the map in Australia, but it's got way more appeal than ever before.