► Big-selling SUV’s mid-life refresh
► Top-of-the-range Signature S Nav
► Driving £21,405 1.2-litre petrol
Renault has given its Captur SUV a subtle going-over for 2017, with revised exterior styling, a higher-quality interior and the inclusion of a new premium trim level the major flashpoints.
Android Auto compatibility has also been added, along with new paint colours and additional tech.
Ermm… The new 2017 Renault Captur looks the same as the old model?
In the main – yes, but there are some subtle changes afoot. Chief among which is the chromed Kadjar-esque radiator grill, plus all-new C-shaped LED daytime running lights.
The latter is also mirrored around at the rear end of the Captur, and is set to become a design signature for all Renault models.
Minor modifications, then. But if you were making Europe’s bestselling B-segment SUV would you really want to rock the boat with wholesale changes? Probably not…
Any tweaks on the inside of the new Captur?
Again, Renault has kept things subtle – but the upgrades that have been carried out are welcome. Higher-grade plastics have been used across the dashboard and fittings, plus the steering wheel is now noticeably more premium feeling.
A new seat design offering greater lateral support has also been included, yet thankfully the super-practical removable and washable seat covers are retained. They’re a neat touch that resonate with target family buyers.
And for those wishing to add a little extra joie de vivre to the cabin, there’s a choice of seven different interior colour packs including caramel, bronze-tinted chrome, satin chrome and smoked chrome. Good old-fashioned regular chrome failed to make the cut, apparently.
Browse Renault Captur for sale
Tell us about the new tech on 2017 Renault Captur
Struggle to squeeze your car into those tricky inner-city parking spots? Buyers of the facelifted Captur are in luck, with hands-free parking now available on higher-spec versions of the mini-SUV. Taking over the vehicle’s steering, the automatic parking function can be set to parallel, perpendicular or even those awkward diagonal spots often seen in swanky business park lots.
Blindspot warning is offered on the Captur for the first time, as is Android Auto – compatible with the top-of-the-range R-Link media system. Puzzlingly, Apple CarPlay compatibility is not available, despite drivers being able to activate the Siri function on paired iPhones via the Captur’s steering wheel-mounted voice command button.
Keeping up its enviable car safety record, Renault has also given the updated Captur Blind Spot Warning technology – available from Dynamique S trims only. If a car, motorbike or bicycle enters the driver’s blindspot for longer than a second, a warning indicator lights up in the relevant door mirror alerting the driver of the hazard.
How does the facelifted Captur drive?
Plot spoiler. It’s no different to the pre-facelift model. That means a surprisingly-nimble-through-the-bends chassis, coupled with a capable, if slightly firm ride quality. The former owes a lot to the Captur’s close-relation to the sweet-handling Renault Clio, while the latter is no doubt down to overly stiff springs designed to tame the car’s top-heavy build in the corners.
The 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine is the most powerful in the Captur range, producing 118bhp and 151lb ft of torque. Fairly unremarkable figures, but in reality the four-cylinder engine is gutsy enough at low speed – 0-62mph takes 9.9 seconds – and doesn’t embarrass itself once up to a motorway lick. It’s quiet too and the six-speed manual gearbox is precise-enough and easy-to-use, if a touch notchy.
Fuel economy is respectable at claimed 51.4mpg, but we can see this easily dropping into the low forties under real-world driving conditions. Those looking for better all-round frugality should consider the 1.5-litre diesel engines, available with 89 or 108bhp. Either of which claim average fuel consumption figures of well over 70mpg.
Verdict
Renault has wisely chosen to keep the facelifted Captur by-and-large the same as the old model – a car which suited its target market down to the ground. What they have added is a touch more style and overall premium feel, culminating in a new top-spec Signature S Nav trim standard with all the cutting-edge safety and infotainment kit that Renault currently has to offer. Something tells us it won’t be losing its slot as Europe’s bestselling B-segment SUV anytime soon.
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