Extra eye-candy for Renault Captur

New cosmetic touches include two-tone body colour combinations, generous applications of chrome strips, slit-eyed, daylight-running LED headlamps and sporty 17-inch black and chrome alloy wheels.

The Renault’s SUV character is also stronger underlined with raised ground clearance (170mm), new skid plates front and rear, elevated seating positions, and the optional extra of a fixed glass roof.

The interior has also been given extra touches to provide more space and comfort including a new leather steering wheel, a multi-storage central armrest (on the Dynamique models) and a touchscreen integrated tablet, hill-start assist, keyless entry, rear park sensors, auto headlamps and windscreen wipers, Bluetooth, fingertip controls on the steering wheel, cruise control with speed limiter, cornering headlamps and fully-adjustable loading space.

The new five-model range offers three engine variants – a 66kW turbo, 1.2 litre 88kW manual and EDC turbo plants and a 1.5dci diesel engine.

Confident cling, perky performance

I drove the 88kW Dynamique petrol and 1.5 diesel variants at the media launch and enjoyed their confident cling and perky performance.

The living quarters are spacious and airy and the finishes are elegant and very user-friendly. I particularly liked the oil-burner's chirpy, yet impressively frugal fuel-consumption of 3.6-litre, and its slick manual transmission.

The Captur comes with a five-star top Euro NCAP rating and standard safety features such as an anti-locking braking system (ABS) brakes with emergency brake assist (EBA), electronic stability programme (ESP) and hill start assist.

Safety features

Standard safety features include front airbags, head/chest side airbags, seat belts with pre-tensioners and force limiters, anti-whiplash headrests, plus three ISOFIX three-point child seat anchor and seat attachments fitted to the front passenger and rear side seat.

More than 8,000 Capturs have been sold since it came on the market three years ago and the face-lifted range is going to add further impetus to this Renault’s popularity, even against strong opponents such as the Kia Soul, Ford Eco-sport, Nissan Juke and Mazda CX-3.

The Captur range and prices (which include a five-year/150,000km warranty and a three-year/45,000km service plan) are:

• Renault Captur 66 kW Blaze – R229,900
• Renault Captur 66 kW Dynamique – R269,900
• Renault Captur 1.5 dCi Dynamique – R294,900
• Renault Captur 88kW Dynamique – R294,900
• Renault Captur 88kW EDC Dynamique – R309,900