One of the most popular budget crossovers, Renault Duster, has the image of a utilitarian, practical, not very attractive, but unpretentious car. But many potential consumers simply lacked style and aesthetics. It is for such customers, who are demanding about the appearance of the car, that the French company specifically offered an alternative to Duster - another crossover Renault Kaptur.
Almost a unique case, Renault Kaptur was created specifically for Russia. More precisely, French engineers and designers put it together from two cars. The basis was the European crossover Captur, which has only front-wheel drive, since it is built on the platform of the Clio subcompact car. And for the Russian Kaptur they rolled out a different platform from the Duster model. As a result, a more stylish and attractive body was combined with a reliable and proven chassis, which has all-wheel drive and is perfectly suitable for operating conditions in Russia.
The body, of course, has also undergone changes, and in better side. Not only has its overall length changed due to an increase in the base and rear overhang, but the design of the front part has also been revised. There is a more prominent hood and a new bumper with brackets for LED running lights. And Captur’s ground clearance is now almost Duster’s – 201 mm. And regular steel protection crankcase
Kaptur is addressed to a youth audience that is more demanding in terms of appearance. The crossover should appeal to them and the wide range of choices color design– 19 color combinations. The roof can be painted in contrasting colors - black, silver or ivory. Personally, I liked the car with the original color – a dark brown body combined with a beige roof, it looks very unusual, stylish and rich! True, as a result of everything, an ultra-modern appearance still did not work out, since the French Capture is no longer the first year old.
The Duster platform includes a beam in the rear suspension for front-wheel drive versions and a multi-link with McPherson struts for cars with all-wheel drive. The test Kaptur is exactly like this, and in the maximum Style configuration.
The interior, borrowed from the Clio and the European Capture, is also more stylish and modern compared to the Duster. The materials are visually more attractive, although the plastics remain hard. Ergonomics and the relative position of controls have also improved, and the driver's seat has become more comfortable. The upholstery of the seats is a combination of leather and so-called eco-leather, that is, leatherette. We didn’t figure out where and what kind of leather was sewn in; in general, the chairs look good. Convenient adjustment and sufficient ranges, a good profile, the only pity is that the heating button remains in the “blind” zone. The unusually shaped instrument cluster has two dials - a tachometer on the left and a fuel level indicator on the right, and in the middle there is an oval window for a digital speedometer. The numbers are large and the readings can be read without problems. On the center console there is a corporate-wide communication system with a 7-inch display and a quite convenient operating algorithm, as well as a familiar climate control unit. But it’s more convenient to use it on Capture, thanks to a better tilt of the console.
The “fly in the ointment” lies in the lack of adjustment of the steering wheel for reach, for example, with my height of 183 cm, if it is optimally comfortable to fit “on the pedals”, then I want to move the steering wheel a little closer, but this is impossible. You have to reach for it, or move the seat a click or two closer, and as a result, on a long journey either your hands get tired or you get numb right leg due to the strong bend of the foot. Otherwise, everything is quite convenient, except for the traditional glove box, which is quite voluminous, there are pockets in the doors and a spacious box with a lid above the center console. This compartment can also be used in an unconventional way, for example, to fit a tablet here, I think it will hold up perfectly.
The key card is inserted into a special slot, and the engine is started with a button. You can leave the key in your pocket, the car will start, but the multimedia system will not turn on. A small niche is provided under the center console in front of the gearshift lever. It has a modest cup holder, a 12-volt outlet and a round knob for switching all-wheel drive transmission modes, the same as on the Duster and Nissan cars. True, in Capture it is not so convenient to use; the automatic lever gets in the way.
On the rear sofa there are no special frills, but, most importantly, there is enough space and the seat profile is comfortable, but only for two. The third passenger in the center will be uncomfortable, firstly, because there is a tunnel with two cup holders under their feet, and secondly, the middle part of the seat cushion and backrest are more rigid and push the rider out. It would be better if they made a retractable armrest here, but it doesn’t exist, nor do they have any other additional amenities. So the Capture’s interior is, after all, a little rustic, especially at the back.
The trunk volume of the Capture is smaller than that of the Duster - 387 liters versus 408, since the car is slightly narrower and lower; even the length increased by 20 mm did not compensate for this. The trunk is comfortable, with straight walls, perceived as quite roomy, the only thing missing is loops to secure the cargo. In the test car, an optional subwoofer is attached to the right side, which prevents the floor lid from being opened. The sub still doesn’t produce the correct sound, therefore, in my opinion, it is better to restore the lost functionality of the speaker by simply dismantling this useless device. By the way, there is a “dock” under the floor and a little space for some small things, and this is how it looks only on all-wheel drive vehicles. And on front-wheel drive vehicles, along with a simplified rear suspension, another method of attaching the spare wheel is used, where it is suspended under the bottom, which is less convenient. Transforming the trunk is simple - you need to fold the backrests horizontally, but to achieve a flat floor, you must first pull out the solid cushion and place it vertically behind the backrests of the front seats. It is no longer so easy to return a sofa cushion to its place; difficulties arise in removing the seat belt tongues from under it.
The range of engines currently consists of two power units: these are 1.6-liter (114 hp) and 2-liter (143 hp) gasoline engines, but there are four transmissions in the arsenal - 5- and 6-speed manual gearboxes, A 4-speed automatic transmission and a CVT, which, however, is promised only from September and only for front-wheel drive cars with a 1.6 liter engine. In truth, it would be worth replacing all this variety with two transmissions - modern, 6-speed manual and automatic, and the consumer would be happy!
Our test crossover, with a 2-liter engine and a 4-speed automatic, drives without surprises - reliably and correctly. There are almost no comments on the steering wheel and suspension. Transparent feedback, on the steering wheel, clear reactive effort, quick reactions, you can only complain about the shocks transmitted to the steering wheel when turning on uneven surfaces. And the Kaptur rolls noticeably when cornering, this is due to the comfortable and fairly long-travel suspension, although it is a little stiffer than that of the Duster. But, no problems with the choice of roads and directions, the crossover swallows any asphalt or lack thereof with gusto. You can drive quickly and comfortably on dirt roads. On the other hand, no swaying, flabbiness or laxity was noticed either. Overall, not bad.
What about the engine? I'm trying to accelerate, I press the not very informative accelerator pedal, and in response there is a loud roar, the sound of it is 2.5 liters, and the speakers, at the same time, are 1.5 liters. And gears are switched with difficulty and jerkily. Not going! So our “vegetable” Eco mode is turned on by default, which, by definition, does not like harsh handling of the pedals. I'm looking for a button to turn off Eco mode, but it's hidden on the center console under the handbrake lever. You won't find it right away. I try to accelerate again, it’s better, but still, the car’s dynamics do not conquer. And the reason for this, first of all, is the “automatic”; it switches roughly, with delays both to higher gears and to lower ones, “eating up” a fair share of the engine’s power. So, dynamic driving is not about the Kaptur with an automatic transmission; its purpose is to “vomit in traffic jams” or to roll evenly with minimal acceleration, without rushing anywhere. Accordingly, the fuel consumption of such a car is not very encouraging, most likely due to the same “automatic”.
In a good way, the French should have handed over this “automatic” to a museum a long time ago, but they are still squeezing all the juice out of it, as well as from the buyers who have become hostage to the desire to drive without manually changing gears. The only thing I can remember worse than this old “automatic machine” is the VAZ “robot”, which should also be sent to a landfill, despite its youth.
The situation with sound insulation is not bad, the car is quite quiet, again, if you don’t kick the engine into high gear. But visibility is not so smooth. Looking forward or backward special problems no, especially considering the presence of a rearview video camera. But the exterior mirrors leave much to be desired; they are truncated in shape and have distorting diopters, making it difficult to determine the distance to an object.
Off-road, the Kaptur is partially rehabilitated. In all-wheel drive versions, the connection of the rear wheels is controlled by a multi-plate clutch; there is an electronic imitation of inter-wheel locks, which helps overcome diagonal hanging, which the Kaptur successfully copes with. Using a switch on the center console, you can forcefully lock the clutch. And in order to better realize engine thrust, it is possible to disable the stabilization system with a button to the left of the steering wheel. Plus the ground clearance is more than 200 mm, so in terms of all-terrain qualities, the Russian Kaptur, unlike the helpless French one, is practically not inferior to the Duster. True, the front bumper of the Capture is lower, longer and more complex than the Duster one, and disassembling it into components on some bump will be much more expensive.
Prices, by today's standards, although considerable, are quite affordable - from 859 thousand rubles for the basic front-wheel drive version. A car with a more powerful engine and all-wheel drive costs from 1 million 50 thousand. And the top version with an automatic transmission is estimated at 1 million 150 thousand, where prices for many crossovers are just beginning. True, the Capture has serious rivals growing up, which are more modern and even cheaper, so the French crossover is not expected to have an easy life.
In the meantime, Captur has several fundamental advantages that will help him become successful. Firstly, it is cheaper than most of its competitors, and secondly, it has decent driving and all-terrain properties, specifically in relation to Russian conditions. And thirdly, capacity, practicality and ease of operation on good level. As for the shortcomings, they are completely removable; the French just need to work on this.
Specifications Renault Captur(Manufacturer's data)
- Body - 5-door, monocoque, steel
- Number of seats - 5
- Dimensions, mm
- Length - 4333
- Width - 1813
- Height - 1613
- Base - 2673
- Ground clearance – 201
- Curb weight, kg - 1426
- Gross weight, kg - 1874
- Trunk volume, l - 387/1200
- Engine – petrol
- Number and arrangement of cylinders - 4, in a row
- Volume, l - 2.0
- Power - 143 hp at 5750 rpm
- Torque - 195 Nm at 4000 rpm
- Transmission - 4-speed automatic
- Drive - four-wheel drive with multi-plate clutch in the rear wheel drive
- Front suspension - independent, spring, McPherson
- Rear suspension - independent, spring, McPherson
- Maximum speed, km/h - 180
- Acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h, s - 11.2
- Fuel consumption per 100 km, l
- Urban cycle - 11.7
- Suburban cycle - 7.3
- Mixed cycle - 8.9
- Fuel – gasoline AI-95
- Tires – 215/60 R17
The car for test drive was provided by the company.
A fashionista has appeared in the family of cars that Renault produces at its Moscow plant. Having tested the Kaptur crossover on the roads of the capital region, we were convinced that this “Frenchman” was destined to become a favorite of women and respect from men
We had barely started the photo shoot of the Renault Kaptur against the backdrop of the Moscow State University skyscraper when we came under cross-examination by a young couple. Our interlocutors were full of questions and did not skimp on their assessments. According to the girl, she and her husband have already, in principle, decided on the purchase: “Kaptur and only Kaptur. After all, it is larger and prettier than the Duster, but in terms of technology it is actually the same.” I had to clarify that our test subject is only a symbolic 18 mm longer than the Duster, and at the same time even slightly narrower and lower. In terms of space in the cabin, the two “relatives” have essentially parity, because the size of the wheelbase is the same, while the Duster will give the Kaptur a head start in terms of trunk volume (+ 21 l) and ground clearance (+ 6 mm).
I, in turn, wanted to know about the reasons for such a firm choice in favor of the “Frenchman”. After all, there are a couple of other strong competitors in the same price and size niche. As it turned out, it was love at first sight - our new friend really liked the car's appearance. At the same time, her husband has no doubt that new model will be as reliable and practical as other Russian-assembled Renault models. It turns out that the young cell of society voted for Kaptur with both their hearts and minds.
Capital thing
As you can see, visual appeal- Kaptur’s main weapon in the fight for customers. The Duster was once designed by a young designer, Erde Tunga, who tried to embody the ideas of reliability and friendliness in metal. Kaptur is a reimagined image of the European bestseller Captur by Renault chief designer Laurens van den Acker. In comparison with its body “donor”, our Kaptur looks larger and more solid thanks to increased body overhangs, center distance and ground clearance. Deep diagonal stampings in the doors, a high window sill line, optional contrasting coloring of the body and interior, spectacular door handles, LED running lights, lights and fog lights - all these are “clothes” of a fashionable European cut, which were not previously available for Renault models on the B0 platform. sewed."
At the same time, the new model is perfectly “armed”. She has big wheels(17-inch), impressive plastic body kit, improved dust and moisture protection, reinforced suspension and sound insulation. The Russian adaptation also includes an increased capacity battery, standard mudguards and metal protection for the power unit. The option of remote engine start Renault Start and electric heating of the entire area of the windshield are also available.
Another competitive advantage of the Kaptur is its expanded range of transmissions. The crossover can be ordered with front-wheel drive, a 1.6-liter 114-horsepower gasoline engine and a continuously variable transmission, which is not available in either the European Captur or the Duster/Logan/Sandero family. This combination, tested on Nissan Tiida and Renault Fluence, promises to be the most comfortable and economical, and women should take a closer look at it. We tested a version that, in our opinion, is more suitable for men - an all-wheel drive version with a 2-liter 143-horsepower gasoline engine and a 4-speed automatic transmission. An alternative to these transmissions is “mechanics”: 5-speed for front-wheel drive and 6-speed for all-wheel drive modifications.
Technology - youth
The Kaptur salon captivates with an aura of neatness and comfort. Its architecture is almost the same as the European Captur. However, the seating position is higher, which creates a feeling of security and guarantees good forward visibility, which is not typical for “short” subcompacts. Finishing polymers are not elastic, but there is no feeling of cheapness. The situation is saved by nice decorative inserts, a fashionable “tidy” with a digital speedometer, an equally stylish multifunctional steering wheel and a Media Nav multimedia complex screen installed in the driver’s field of view. The seats, upholstered in eco-leather in the test car, are also nice, they are easy to customize, the front seats have developed lateral support and a wide range of adjustments. In particular, the driver's seat is equipped with a convenient height adjustment mechanism. So the landing is quite collected, almost sporty.
But there is also something to complain about. Thus, the designers cut the exterior mirrors in the lower sector for the sake of fashion, the steering wheel lacks reach adjustment, and containers for small items are in short supply. The phone, keys and documents can only be placed in the deep box in front of the “box” selector lever, but if this “well” is filled, the belongings will make it difficult to access the toggle switch for switching driving modes, which is still located in the same niche. Even tall passengers can fit in the back row without any problems. However, three people here are not as comfortable as two people: the high transmission tunnel with recesses for bottles will interfere with those sitting in the center.
The luggage compartment at first glance does not seem too voluminous - 387 liters. However, its configuration is optimal; there are no large protrusions in the compartment and there is a standard mounting grid. And if you fold the back of the sofa, you get an almost flat floor and a loading area of 1200 liters. By the way, future owners should take note: for front-wheel drive crossovers, a full-size spare tire is offered, which is mounted under the bottom, while all-wheel drive Kapturs have a spare tire located in the underground trunk.
Dressed as an athlete
I get my first impressions of driving while still in the parking lot. I repent - I’m capricious. Well, tell me, why does such a fashionista have such a heavy steering wheel? When maneuvering in a patch full of cars, I get the feeling that I’m working, literally wrapped around the steering wheel, like a “heeled” driver. Such settings are forgivable for the brutal Duster, but for the stylish Kaptur, the force on the rim in parking modes should be weakened, because the target audience also consists of fragile women.
But the information content of the steering gear is traditionally at its best. In a bunch of turns, the Kaptur behaves composedly. This depends not only on the steering wheel settings, but also because the body here has increased torsional rigidity and the suspension is tuned tighter. On the high-speed straight, the “Frenchman” stands very confidently, almost not reacting to ruts or asphalt imperfections.
However, the crossover is not suitable for the role of a sports car. There is a lot of body roll on bends, and the steering wheel is a bit long, and they have to actively work to tuck the car into a turn. If, on a bend, the wheels fall into a hole, the Kaptur strives to jump off the trajectory. Although these attempts can be easily tracked and the car can be returned to the course - thanks, again, to the informative steering wheel.
The efficiency of the brakes is also worthy of a compliment, despite the fact that drum brakes are installed on the rear axle: the deceleration is stable, confident, without lateral slip. By the way, ABS, ESP, as well as an emergency braking assistance system and a hill start assist system are included in the standard equipment of the hero of our test.
But what about the combination of all-wheel drive, 2-liter 143-horsepower engine and the time-tested 4-band automatic transmission DP8? This alliance turned out to be surprisingly harmonious and, no less important, capable of providing the Renault Kaptur with acceptable comfort and acceleration dynamics. It should be noted, however, that the automatic transmission has an adaptive operating algorithm here, and the driver should benefit from this. A couple of active accelerations and braking - and the automatic transmission will be reconfigured for active driving. If the transmission is not hardened in this way, it will support higher gears and acceleration from any speed will be sluggish. On the other hand, if you ride like a racer, get ready for increased consumption fuel: burning 15 liters of gasoline per “hundred” of mileage in the “gas-brake” mode is quite possible.
As for the all-wheel drive potential, it is quite sufficient to move onto a country road without hesitation and drive along it, even if the road is washed out by rain. The crossover's geometric cross-country ability is only slightly worse than that of the Duster; the electromagnetic clutch quickly transfers part of the torque to the rear axle when the need arises. And in locked clutch mode (4WD Lock mode) you can drive at speeds of up to 80 km/h.
Still, the futuristic research of the seventies of the last century left a considerable mark on the minds and souls of the people who are now responsible for car design. Of course, the machines of the twenty-first century have not learned to fly, and have not acquired the ability to use household waste or pure plutonium as fuel. True, some models still have autopilot, but he does not have a charismatic Brooklyn accent, and is not known for his tendency to tell bearded jokes.
But still, the origins of many modern automotive design ideas clearly lie in old science fiction films. And if it’s difficult to judge this from production models, then various concept cars are often the brightest thing evidence.
This is exactly what the Renault Captur prototype presented in 2011 looked like. The concept had an original appearance, distinguished by a peculiar “half-smile” of the radiator grille, memorable rims, and, of course, spectacular doors that fold up and make one think of a butterfly wing. The new crossover was named Captur - “exciting”. Indeed, the original car managed to capture the attention of viewers, even despite the not at all seemingly outstanding capabilities of the biturbo diesel engine.
The serial crossover that appeared two years later, having lost most original features of the concept, retained the main thing - that most attention-grabbing first impression. This is exactly what it looks like when you test drive a Renault Captur.
A big test drive of Renault Captur should start with a short review. A short overview of the engines available to the buyer of this French SUV, of course. The manufacturer offers versions with both gasoline and diesel engines, and in both cases the volume of the power unit is striking in its modesty. Petrol versions are driven by units with a volume of 0.9 “yes, no mistake – exactly nine hundred “cubes”” and 1.2 liters. Moreover, both engines are equipped with turbocharging, so that even the “younger” version can develop ninety horsepower, which, according to Renault engineers, is quite enough for the very light Capture.
The diesel engine, which has a volume of 1.5 liters and a power of the same 90 “horses”, is different a large indicator high-torque performance and fuel consumption, which, according to the creators, does not go beyond the mark of 4 liters per hundred kilometers. This engine works in tandem with a six-speed robotic gearbox or the same “mechanics”.
A more powerful, 100-horsepower diesel engine produces a torque of 260 Nm. “Automatic machines” and “robots” are not allowed, and the only transmission option is manual - robotic box is not paired with this engine either for European cars, or, especially, for crossovers aimed at our market.
In general, judging by the engines, the new Renault Captur test drive video which is presented in this review, is clearly designed for driving along city streets and European country roads, and you won’t be able to feel like “a little bit of a racer” on a country road while driving this car. Well, high efficiency figures largely compensate for the mediocre speed characteristics. Let's see how good the Renault Captur is for the city and suburbs.
The appearance of the new Renault, as already noted, cannot be called gray and traditional. The car is very bright and memorable, and looks great both in traffic and in the local parking lot. A funny detail: surrounded by other cars, the “French” does not look like a production copy, but rather like a concept—its shape and silhouette are very unusual. Interesting shape optics, side glazing, as if somewhat “pressed” into the doors, and a stylish off-road body kit are in perfect harmony with each other, and make the appearance of the Renault Captur fresh and cheerful, but in no way frivolous.
The inside of the car is no less attractive. First of all, the electronic speedometer display attracts attention - a feature that is more typical for cars of a higher class.
The dashboard in general turned out to be very successful - quite informative, but laconic, it will not distract on the road and overload the driver with unnecessary indicators.
The steering wheel lies very comfortably in the hands and does not block the indicators of the instruments, which are also perfectly readable thanks to the visor, which covers them from excessively bright light and smoothly turns into top part torpedo. The deliberately highlighted center console looks very original, and pleasant little things like a convenient and quite original air duct adjustment knob, made in the form of a single element with grilles, add completeness to the interior of the cabin. There are no complaints about the assembly and materials - everything is high quality, fit, pleasant to the touch.
The front seats are quite simple, there is enough space on them, and the only reminder of the modest size of the platform is the small space between the backrests, which makes access to the washer that regulates the angle of inclination very difficult.
There is traditionally not enough space in the rear seats. It's not that the passengers sitting in the back have to show miracles of flexibility in the spirit Indian yogis or circus acrobats, but tall and especially large people should not sit back. The width at the shoulder girdle of 136.8 centimeters and the unexpectedly angular design of the rear doors allow only passengers who do not have a strong build to move in comfort.
But the Renault Captur, whose test drive video confirms what has been said, has a very, very convenient luggage compartment. This is not to say that the trunk of the crossover is very large, although three hundred and seventy-seven liters is not so little, in any case, more than that of many “classmates”.
It's a matter of very correct geometry luggage compartment and an almost square opening. This allows you to transport even fairly large cargo without any problems. In addition, the rear seat backs fold separately. The only negative is that you cannot achieve a flat floor, already familiar from other single-volume cars, with the rear seats fully folded. On the other hand, how often do owners of cars of this class have to transport such large loads?
Finally, the first acquaintance is over, and you can hit the road.
We will test the Renault Captur while driving around the city and on a long trip along an intercity highway that is very typical for our country, characterized by the presence of sections of very, very mediocre asphalt pavement.
Yes, the city is the native element of this car. In dense city traffic, fairly compact dimensions coupled with relatively high rise They allow you to maneuver very freely in heavy traffic, and the modest capabilities of the ninety-horsepower diesel engine that you got for the test drive are quite enough. The car starts adequately from traffic lights and does not give in to climbs, even if you have to climb them at low speed, dictated by city traffic. There is no need to shift into low gears too often, which seems quite useful, considering that the transmission of the car under test is a six-speed manual.
And in the parking lot, the city crossover feels absolutely wonderful.
The presence of a multi-sensory system greatly simplifies the process of integrating a car into a free parking space, and the top versions of the Renault Captur can also be equipped with a parking assistant. In general, it feels like Renault marketers were targeting the new car at the fair sex as well.
But on the highway the car feels somewhat less confident. And the point is not only in the modest capabilities of the engine, which, according to subjective impressions, are barely enough even to achieve the passport acceleration figures - 13.1 seconds to one hundred kilometers per hour.
After all, the Renault Captur is far from a sports car, and is not designed for risky overtaking and ninety-degree turns without slowing down. The main complaints are about the information content of the steering. The electric booster, which has shown itself to be excellent in the city, during maneuvers in confined spaces, on the highway makes the car very “quiet”, and feedback– noticeably artificial.
The Renault Captur suspension seemed too stiff. Perhaps such settings are typical only for European versions, and softer cars will be delivered to our country, but the fact remains that the suspension transmits all the unevenness of the long-suffering domestic asphalt very, very sensitively. This completely discourages the desire to press the accelerator harder on an uneven road, and forces you to carefully choose the trajectory of movement, avoiding the most significant irregularities. Such information content - yes to the steering!
But the diesel fuel consumption of the crossover when driving quite slowly on the highway does not go beyond four liters per hundred. Considering that we had to drive far from the autobahn, the 3.8 liters specified by the manufacturer look quite achievable for a European car owner. Agree, for such savings a practical person can forgive some lethargy and a wobbly steering wheel.
In general, if the purpose of purchasing a car is to travel between home and work, with infrequent trips out of town and trips to the sea small company, the choice of this car will be very justified. To his absolute advantages These include excellent efficiency indicators, a memorable and bright appearance, and a nice interior. And the driving characteristics of this car, despite some modesty, are quite sufficient for the city and suburbs. In order to appreciate its fresh design, you don’t even have to see the car in person. You just need to type Renault Captur test drive video 2016 into the search engine, watch any video, and this car is guaranteed to sink into your soul. What else could you expect from a car with such a telling name?
A lot of stories have been filmed about the crossover from France – the new Renault Captur. These include presentations, inspections, and test drives from the most famous publications. Therefore, here everyone will find a video on a topic that interests them. The crossover itself is based on the Duster, in contrast to its European twin, which was designed based on the Clio model. This made it possible not only to increase its dimensions, but also to equip it with a system.
Prices start from RUB 859,000.
Full tests
It was May 2016 that became truly plentiful for test drives. After all, then, after all the road tests were completed, the car was presented to the general public, and journalists from various publications finally got a chance to test the new SUV in action.
The newest and most full review SUV from people's favorites Sergei Stillavin and Rustam Vakhidov in their program “Big Test Drive”:
Official presentation of the crossover from Renault representatives. We will talk about the main advantages of the car:
And this is driving directly at the training ground, where journalists from the publication “Behind the Wheel” expressed their opinion about the new Renault Captur 2016 model year:
The automobile portal “motor.ru” also decided to keep up and conducted a test drive of the Captur, in which it presented its vision of the new product:
Story about the SUV from the Test-drive TV resource:
First stories
Official promotional videos began appearing online in 2016. The very motive of this video suggests that Renault considers the main client base to be young people who prefer originality and attractive design. Is this why the option of factory painting the roof in a different color from the rest of the body (white or black) appeared specifically with Captur?
Promo clip:
Renault remains confidently among the leaders in the SUV segment on the market. Customs Union. Even if it only had the Duster left, it would single-handedly take the French manufacturer to the top of the class. But along with a pleasant price and “masculine” character, this crossover has one important drawback - it is too brutal in appearance. It's hard to imagine a stylish guy or girl driving a Duster. If you are not yet thinking about grandchildren and you are not particularly concerned about raising the retirement age, but at the same time you would like to have a budget crossover, this article is for you. Onliner.by tested the long-awaited new product in the class of inexpensive SUVs - Renault Kaptur. Go!
The Russians started thinking about developing “their own” Captur back in 2012, when it became known that the Captur (through “C”) based on the Clio was about to appear in Europe. But Renault Russia didn’t want to simply localize the Euro-Captur. And such a car would not work for us. Small, with an expensive platform and turbo engines. Do we need it? And while Belarusians were crowding in line for the Duster, work was in full swing within the walls of the Russian Renault office on a stylish youth crossover that virtually any working person aged “about 30” could afford. What did the Russians do? They took the cool styling of the Captur and the proven, reliable Duster platform. The result is Kaptur. Beautiful and practical. But is everything so sweet? Now we'll find out!
In the airport parking lot in Sochi, a couple of “Captures” in maximum performance were waiting for us. Externally, the model is very similar to its European “brother”. But in reality our Kaptur is larger. It is even slightly longer than the Duster. The Russian SUV shares common headlights and doors with the EU model. And engineers doubt the interchangeability of elements - Kaptur is still closer to Duster. The European car is built on the Clio platform. Ours is on a B0 trolley. By the way, the “renoshniki” themselves prefer to call it Global Access, since the chassis has been highly modified.
There are no complaints about the design of the car. The model is bright, expressive and fresh. Along the perimeter of the entire body there are plastic linings that perform not only an aesthetic function. 17-inch wheels are available for the crossover (a first for a model on the B0 platform), so engineers had to modify the suspension to accommodate the new wheels. To attract young buyers, the Russians will offer ample opportunities to customize the car. There are two-tone body paint, branded stickers, and multi-colored wheels. The palette of available shades is wider (and brighter) than that of the Duster.
- The typical Duster buyer is a man. In the literal sense of the word. Hunter, fisherman, head of the family. Such people like the car's angular appearance, which may have turned off many potential buyers who wanted something more refined. The Kaptur crossover was created just for the latter. We think that the new product will be purchased by young people and it will bring us new customers who previously went to competitors,- one of the creators of the model shared his thoughts. Renault employees were encouraged by their departure from Russian market Nissan Juke. Chevrolet Trax and Opel Mokka cars left the region a long time ago. It turns out that Kaptur has no serious competitors left. And there are still plenty of people willing to buy an inexpensive B-SUV.
Kaptur doors have a double seal around the entire perimeter and a triple seal at the bottom. Dust won't reach your pants!
In the cabin, everything is also similar to the Euro model. But if you look closely, you will notice a “Logan” multimedia system with inconvenient volume keys. It works quickly, the menu is intuitive, but you can’t see the picture in the sun. The steering wheel is like that of a Clio and, unlike the Captur, does not have plastic lining (they say it rubs your hand!). The steering wheel is adjustable only in angle, but there were no problems with adjusting the driver's seat. The chair is equipped with a “lift” and there is a wide range of backrest adjustments. The seat heating button is at the bottom. You'll have to get used to it. But there is a folding armrest.
A very strange place for a cup holder. Personally, I would always have my cell phone here. You can also place coffee on the rear central tunnel (but it is intended for second-row passengers)
Plastic is everywhere - cheap both in appearance and in feel. The budget is evident everywhere, but the situation is partly saved by the glossy overlay on the center console and the interesting dashboard. The latter is similar to that of the European crossover, but has a number of differences. The speedometer is located in the center, at the edges there is a tachometer and a fuel level sensor (tank - 50 liters). The seats are new with more developed lateral support. More convenient than Duster. There are several finishes available, including leather-like and a 2-tone option (with orange accents). Above the center console there is an additional glove compartment. Between the gear lever and the handbrake there are keys for cruise control and ECO mode (changes the gas pedal setting).
If the front still somehow “smells” of a youth car, then the rear is melancholy. There is not much space, there is no armrest. The only entertainment is a separate lamp (like the Duster). The 387-liter trunk has an optimal cubic shape. By folding the rear sofa, the volume can be increased to 1200 liters. The test machines had an optional organizer partition. I want one for myself!
We were offered two petrol options for testing - a 1.6-liter manual (114 hp) and a 2-liter with a 4-automatic transmission (143 hp). Front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, respectively. There will also be a 2-liter version with a 6-speed manual transmission and a 1.6 with a CVT (will appear in September). There are no plans for diesel Capturs. I take the key card for the 2-liter version and go load my things into the trunk!
Push-button engine start is already standard on the car. Not bad! Moreover, the key card does not have to be inserted into the hole on the center console - it can be kept in your pocket. It is curious that with such a relatively expensive “feature”, light bulbs in the sun visors for the crossover are not available even for an extra charge, and the hood does not have a gas stop (like the Logan).
Renault has not yet announced official figures for acceleration dynamics. Most likely, the 2-liter modification we're talking about about 11 seconds. The car definitely lacks traction. To be honest, it doesn’t work at all! You press the pedal to the floor, the gearbox drops a couple of steps, and the engine just roars. When driving uphill it is better to activate manual mode and decide for yourself when to turn on this or that gear. Complete with such a bright appearance, you instinctively expect thoroughbred behavior on the road and good overclocking. But in practice - the same Duster. Although the Kaptur is more “passenger-like” in handling. It is noticeable that the springs are stiffer here. And even though the suspension is not as “armor-piercing” off-road as that of a co-platform vehicle, body roll and steering response are more reminiscent of a C-class hatchback.
The car feels great at speeds over 100 km/h. Changing lanes in such modes does not require the driver to frantically adjust the trajectory, and body sway is no more than that of competitors. The noise insulation is better than that of the Duster, and, they say, no worse than that of the Euro-Capture (I haven’t driven it - I don’t know). So the only thing really missing here is the speakers. If I didn’t know that there was a 2-liter engine under the hood, I would be sure that I was driving the 1.6-liter version. Perhaps it’s the gearbox, which, with many modifications, has been around for more than 10 years, moving from model to model. It would be interesting to drive a Kaptur 2.0 with a 6-speed manual.
