Renault Captur 1.5 dCi 90 CV, test drive (Exterior design, interior and finishes)

A few days ago we started the test of the Renault Captur talking about the performance of its 1.5 dCi 90 CV diesel engine. We also told you how this SUV with a clear urban character behaves and its dynamic qualities.

Now that we already know everything about the engine, performance, handling and consumption, it’s time to talk about the design. This is an important point for the Captur, because it is a very customisable car, with a cheerful, youthful design. Meanwhile, inside it offers room for five occupants with practical and clever solutions.

Exterior design

The Captur perfectly embodies the essence of a crossover: a tall car with an SUV look but without all-wheel drive. It also comes with a very varied palette of colours. In fact, our unit was one of the most traditional in terms of colour combination.

Orange, blue and pearl white are some of the shades available for the exterior of the Renault Captur. Alongside the exterior colour there is the option of a roof in another colour for contrast, as in our unit, which had a white roof (not pure white, more of a cream shade).

The front debuts the brand’s new logo and grille: the diamond now grows and becomes the centrepiece of the front end. At the bottom we can see the fog lights (which are not standard, only on the Intens and Zen versions, our unit being the Zen). However, from the second trim level the lower chrome trim, LED daytime running lights and fog lights already appear.

At the rear, the lower protections stand out in crossover style and, at the same time, the ground clearance is surprising, which is very positive for tackling difficult terrain or uneven surfaces without worrying about the underside of the car.

Interior design, room and finishes

The moment we sit in the Captur we feel several things: the first is the driving position, high and very comfortable (ideal for hours and hours on the road); another is the interior space; and finally we notice that the quality has room for improvement.

Let’s go in order: the dashboard design is simple, taking elements from the new generation of the Renault Clio, such as the instrumentation and the glossy black centre console. It also offers several personalised configurations that combine the upholstery colour with the dashboard colour. However, there is too much hard plastic (even the Renault Clio is a notch above in quality), though the fit and finish are correct.

The driving position we liked a lot, because it is high, with good visibility; the steering wheel adjusts for height and reach, and the seats are very comfortable for long journeys. The seats don’t offer much lateral support, but they have a very particular and ingenious system: they have covers that can be removed simply by opening a zip, a practical detail.

In the back there is enough room for three adults, the transmission tunnel is slightly raised, reducing space for the occupant of the middle seat, but overall, for the size of the car, it doesn’t skimp on space for either feet or head.

Boot and storage

The boot of the Captur has a capacity of 377 litres, one of the best in the segment. For comparison, a Peugeot 2008 has a capacity of 360 litres, the Nissan Juke has 251 litres, and the Opel Mokka has 356 litres.

The boot also has a false floor, which increases its practicality. As for storage spaces, the main glovebox stands out: it slides out entirely when opened, like a drawer. The bag hooks behind the seats are also surprising: totally low-cost, but with an original and practical design, since they are simple cords that change colour depending on the upholstery.

In the third part of the test we will cover the equipment, going through the safety features, as well as the prices and our overall verdict on the Renault Captur.

Photos | Diego G. Moreira

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverRenault Captur26 versions · from 22,900 €