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Ten Second Review

Renault's little Captur Crossover model has matured nicely in this smarter second generation guise. It's now a little bigger but as before, is a Cliobased design offering supereconomical engines, some genuinely clever interior touches and no small dose of style. It'll appeal to supermini buyers wanting extra versatility as well as family hatchback customers in search of something more interesting and affordable. And it's the kind of car that'll certainly drive sales in this segment.

Market and Model

Prices aren't too different from the previous model, so expect a span in the £17,500 to £25,000 bracket. There are three trim levels, 'Play', 'Iconic' and top 'S Edition'. Standard kit across the range includes what Renault calls its 'Smart Cockpit', a key component of which is the standard 7inch multimedia screen, the biggest ever on a Renault model. This vertical and subtly curved tablet visually enlarges the dashboard and lends the cabin a more contemporary feel. Turned towards the driver, this screen, with its EASY LINK connected system, comprises all the multimedia, navigation and infotainment features as well as the car's MULTISENSE driving settings. Pay extra for GPS navigation and you get a 9.3inch centre screen.

Renault is offering 11 exterior colours and four contrasting roof finishes, which mean there are 90 different configurations for buyers to choose from. The alloy wheel sizes range from 16 to 18 inches. Standard kit across the range includes things like alloy wheels, daytime running lights, cruise control with a speed limiter, a trip computer, a heightadjustable driver's seat, power front windows and mirrors, Bluetooth 'phone compatibility, a decent quality USB and AUXincompatible stereo with fingertip control, plus Hill Start Assist to stop you from drifting backwards on uphill junctions.

Cost of Ownership

Renault still thinks there's a place for diesel in the superminiSUV segment and the 1.5litre dCi 95 unit certainly still has its supporters, given its impressive frugality. You can expect over 65mpg on the WLTP combined cycle and an NEDC CO2 reading of 106g/km. With the TCe 100 petrol unit, you should get 54.3mpg on the WLTP combined cycle and 118g/km, while the TCe 130 EDC auto manages 124g/km. For ultimate frugality, you'll need the 'ETech' plugin petrol hybrid, which offers a 28 mile electrified WLTPrated driving range.

You can plan ahead for maintenance costs by opting at point of purchase for a prepaid servicing plan covering you for either three years and 30,000 miles, or four years and 40,000 miles. The four year '4+' warranty deal looks good too, given that most rivals restrict you to three year cover. This package also includes roadside assistance for the duration, though bear in mind that the final two years of the policy will be invalidated in the unlikely event that your Captur covers more than 100,000 miles. Depreciation levels will be very similar to those of other mainstreambrand superminis in this segment.

Summary

Passionate and practical, this MK2 model Captur is an endearing thing. Of course, there's always a danger with this class of car that in its mix of SUV, MPV and family hatch, you end up with a confection lacking the core strengths inherent in any of these three genres. Broadly speaking, this is a trap Renault has avoided here provided your expectations in each of these areas aren't too great. It doesn't have 4WD, you can only just carry five people and you won't want to drive it on its door handles. None of which will bother most buyers at the smaller end of the Crossover segment one jot.

They'll love the buying personalisation and trendy touches like the clever infotainment system, the sliding rear bench and the doubleheight boot floor. True, this Captur faces strong competition from a growing band of very talented rivals. But it's a model you must consider before buying any one of them. A cleverer Crossover. If you really want a car of this kind, then you'll really want to try it.

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