The Renault Captur was introduced back in 2013 as a more stylish urbane crossover alternative to the no-nonsense Duster. The Captur utilizes the French carmaker’s B platform for its underpinnings, something it shares in common with the Clio hatchback as well. In comparison to the more simplistic Duster, the Captur is marketed as a more premium vehicle and thus, its design is more in keeping with a younger audience.
Since its initial introduction, the Renault Captur has gone on to become of the company’s most popular crossovers. The 2019 Renault Captur is out now, and it hasn’t changed much from the first Captur in 2013, save for a few nip & tucks here and there. This relatively-new entrant from the French marquee faces competition from the likes of the Kia Soul, Mazda CX-3, and Chevrolet’s Trax.
Exterior
The exterior design of the 2019 Renault Captur is quite captivating, and definitely more chic than macho. This car is a definition of what a soft-roader is, and it’s definitely aimed towards a younger crowd. The soft edges and gentle curves combined with an upright stance give the Captur a sleek yet elegant appearance. The front gets a pair of stylish LED headlights, a massive Renault logo in the middle of the grille along with two chrome strips, and a well-sculpted bumper with C-shaped LED DRLs and an integrated faux skid plate.
The side profile of the new Captur is in keeping with its city-friendly crossover approach – high-enough ground clearance, black lower-body cladding, bold alloy wheels, and moderately flared fenders. The dual-tone paint job does add a lot more character, and is also eye-catching. The rear features a distinct roof spoiler, warp-around LED taillights, and a faux skid plate for added style. The 2019 Renault Captur measures 4.122 meters in length, 1.778 meters in width, 1.566 meters in height, and boasts a wheelbase of 2.606 meters. The Captur’s boot capacity is not immense, but is alright at 377 liters.
Interior
As with its exterior, the interior styling of the 2019 Renault Captur consists mostly of smooth lines and gentle curves. The design isn’t mind-blowing, but there are some neat touches such as the analog-digital instrument cluster, and an interesting-looking center dashboard layout. The build quality and fit & finish are fair, but not outstanding. There are some cheap, plasticky bits dotted around the cabin, but Renault has placed some glossy black and faux metal trim to break up the monotony.
The Captur provides decent room for five occupants, and overall comfort levels are fine as well. It also gets automatic LED headlights and rain-sensing wipers, automatic climate control, 17-inch alloys, keyless entry with push-start, cruise control, parking sensors with reversing camera, a premium audio system, and a 7-inch touch-infotainment screen with navigation. Other features include ABS with EBD and brake assist, multiple airbags, hill assist, electronic stability program, and ISOFIX anchor points.
Engine and performance
Under the hood of the 2019 Renault Captur is a 1.2-liter turbocharged four-popper that makes 120 hp and 190 Nm of torque. This unit comes paired to a six-stepped CVT and sends power to the front wheels. When pushed, the Captur can hit 100 km/h in a smidge under 11 seconds and eventually go on to hit a top speed of 192 km/h, but it can also average 5.9 L/100 km.
Verdict
Prices for the 2019 Renault Captur start at AED 55,900 for the base PE variant, while the top-of-the-range LE trim starts from AED 70,900. Insurance premiums start from AED 1,300 for the base Captur and AED 1,595 for the latter.
