Renault Captur, Track Test

There’s no getting away from the fact that Renault’s retake on the SUV segment with the Captur didn’t really take off. At a time when the mid-size SUV / Crossover space is dominated by cars like the Hyundai Creta, the Captur feels a generation older. And this has to do with a fact that, under the skin, it shares a lot of components with the Duster – which, of course, in its time was quite successful. But here and now, the Captur lacks the appeal required to really make a statement. Also, its interior, which is perfectly functional and has an uncluttered layout, lags behind in terms of features and overall refinement.

The Captur is offered with a choice of a 1.5-litre petrol engine and a 1.5-litre oil burner. The diesel model, which accounts for the majority of the sales, is what we had for test. And while the same engine performed quite well under the Duster’s bonnet, the Captur’s added weight does seem to affect its performance – so it’s not as sprightly as the Duster 2WD, despite identical torque and power outputs. The engine just doesn’t feel that willing – no matter which end of the rev band you’re in.

Then, there’s the matter of the steering kickback. In fact, it’s so intense that attacking the serrated kerbs around the corners of the BIC resulted in fairly violent vibrations in the steering wheel. So-much-so that it was considerably better to just steer clear of them. Consequently, the Captur had the slowest lap time amongst the cars we tested this year.

All things considered, fundamentally, there’s nothing wrong with the Captur, it’s just that it feels a tad dated now.

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