Used Car Review: Renault Captur (2016)

The Captur was manufactured from 2013 up until 2019, giving it a considerably long lifespan, and it was available in a handful of variants overseas. However, Kiwis only received the mid-spec Dynamique model in 2016. It received a five-star ANCAP rating during testing back in 2013.

When new, this little French number would set you back just $35,990. This was an appealing price point and attracted otherwise conservative buyers due to its good value and French finesse.

The 2016 second hand model we tested was available for $18,285 (+ORC). So this little beauty has retained its value fairly well in comparison to other European cars.

Style

The Renault Captur Dynamique sits on smart two-tone 17-inch alloy wheels, and our test model came in a bright shade of orange with a suave black roof. It also featured a lower black plastic bumper portion in the rear, which gave the exterior of this SUV a more utilitarian look. The same plastic paneling makes its way around the wheel arches and also extends to the lower door paneling.

Unusually, the front quarter painted panels are plastic and very flexible, so the Captur should be even more resilient to supermarket dings than other SUVs. At the front of the car, the standout accent is the large, low-slung trapezoid-shaped chrome enclosures for the fog lights that adds a bit of a quirkiness and mystery to the car’s exterior.

Intriguing Interior

The interior of the Captur is equipped with a modern looking dashboard, complete with a gauge cluster that has an almost butterfly-like resemblance. There are also some useful pockets to store your items in, and while these weren’t too bad for a car of this size, the Captur only has three rather small cup holders, and no door bottle storage.

By modern standards, the Captur’s cabin is fairly spacious, despite its compact dimensions - it has a length of 4122mm and a width of 1778mm.

There are thoughtful touches dotted around the cabin, like front ISOFIX points on the passenger seat, and some rather unusual elasticated cord map holders in the rear behind the front seats. It’s interesting to see a manufacturer taking something rather mundane and making it worth talking about.

The infotainment system is quite a capable unit. It has a crisp screen which works well with an integrated reverse camera, and includes Bluetooth with a USB port. Thoughtfully, the radio can be manipulated from a stalk mounted behind the steering wheel.

The placement of a few of the controls takes a bit of getting used to, however. For instance, the cruise control button is located by the transmission selector, and the controls to set it are mounted on the steering wheel. All of this is a bit odd, but nothing you wouldn’t get used to with a bit of time.

The cargo space behind the back seats is practical, as there’s a false floor at your disposal. This means you get 377 litres of luggage room with the floor in place and no pesky boot lip to overcome, and a fantastic 455 litres once you remove the floor. This is pretty impressive for a car of the Captur’s size, and even more so once you drop the rear seats and have 1,235 litres to play with.

Frugal Cruising

The wee 1.2-litre turbo engine does its job well and is mated to a six-speed dual clutch transmission. It feels reasonably quick off the line, although the gearbox sometimes changes up or down when you may be happy in the current gear. However, we think that sometimes adds some character to a car, making it a more engaging drive. The Eco button down by the gear lever softens the Captur’s performance and enhances the fuel economy, getting it close to the fuel rating of 5.4L/100km. It has a CO2 rating of 125g/km.

The Renault Captur is also practical in terms of pulling power, with towing ratings of 625kg (unbraked) and 900kg (braked).

Verdict

The Captur is still well priced and our example had very low mileage. If you are in the market for something that is less common, then this type of small SUV might be the ticket. It also offers a bit of the quirkiness you get from similar European cars like the Citroen C4 Cactus, without taking things too far.

Safety features include:

• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
• Airbags
• ESC
• EBD
• Cruise Control
• Traction Control
• Brake Assist and Brake Emergency Display - Hazard/Stoplights
• Rear Vision Camera

For more information on safety ratings visit rightcar.govt.nz

Choosing your next used car?

A good start is to find a used vehicle that has had an AA Appraisal. Cars that have had an AA Appraisal have received an independent 43-point mechanical check by the AA, which focuses on the mechanical and safety aspects of the car and gives an overall evaluation of the vehicle.

Click here to learn more about AA Appraisals.

Get total peace of mind with an AA Pre Purchase Inspection

When you buy a used car, you may have a number of questions about its condition and safety. An independent AA Pre Purchase Vehicle Inspection will give you complete peace of mind with a comprehensive 100+ point vehicle check by an experienced mechanic.

Click here for more information on AA Pre Purchase Inspections.

Thank you to City Motor Group for supplying us with the 2016 Renault Captur for review. For similar listings, click here.

Find out more on how the AA can help you when buying a car

• AA Preferred Dealers - aa.co.nz/preferred
• AA Pre Purchase Inspections - aa.co.nz/inspections
• AA Valuations - aa.co.nz/valuations
• AA History Report - aa.co.nz/vehiclehistory
• AA Money - aa.co.nz/money
• AA Insurance - aa.co.nz/insurance
• AA Car Reviews - aa.co.nz/car-reviews

Vehicle experts you can trust