Key takeaways
- Esprit Alpine trim adds best safety spec
- Hybrid-only focus for lower running costs
- Improved in-car tech boosts appeal
An easy-to-live-with hybrid SUV that gets on with the job. The updates don’t hugely transform the Captur, but they make it more relevant, more competitive and easier to sell.
The Renault Captur Esprit Alpine full hybrid makes a strong case for itself in the increasingly competitive B-SUV market by combining impressive efficiency, strong performance and a generous level of technology at a relatively accessible price point.
Priced at £28,795, the Captur that AM is putting though its paces sits almost exactly alongside the Toyota Yaris Cross while undercutting more premium-positioned rivals such as the Lexus LBX and Hyundai Kona by around £4,000.
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Strong technology, but no class benchmark
The Renault Captur presents a strong safety proposition for family buyers, combining the fundamentals expected of a modern small SUV.
The long term test drive model that AM has put through its paces is the best-equipped Captur where safety features are concerned with a broad suite of driver assistance technology including Active Driver Assist, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear emergency braking and safe-exit warning.
However, the Captur itself is not class-leading for crash protection. Euro NCAP reassessed the facelifted Captur under its tougher 2024 protocols, awarding it four stars, with scores of 76% for adult protection, 80% for child protection, 76% for vulnerable road users and 69% for safety assistance.
Euro NCAP said that most of the results were derived from the closely related Renault Symbioz, with an additional Captur test used to ensure the findings were comparable. Watch Euro NCAP putting the Captur 2024 through its crash and saftey tests by clicking the image below,
The passenger compartment remained stable in the frontal offset test and protection was generally good or adequate. The principal weakness was the driver’s chest, which was rated weak in that test and marginal in the full-width rigid-barrier impact. Chest protection was also marginal in the more severe side-pole test, while the Captur lacks a centre airbag or measures to reduce contact between front occupants during a far-side impact.
Child protection is a relative strength. Performance for the six and 10-year-old dummies was good in the frontal and side-barrier tests, although Euro NCAP identified limitations around fitting some child restraints in particular seating positions so child seats should be checked for compatibility and installed correctly.
Renault says up to 27 advanced driver-assistance systems are available, although the precise package depends on trim. The strongest safety package is found on Esprit Alpine, making trim choice important for customers who want Renault’s full ADAS capability.
The higher spec Esprit Alpine that AM drove, adds more Active Driver Assist, combining adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go operation and lane centring. It can regulate speed and following distance and bring the car to a halt in traffic and restart it. Blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic emergency braking and an occupant safe-exit warning are also essential features.
Dealers should therefore explain both the rating’s context and trim-dependent equipment clearly, allowing customers to compare like with like before ordering their new car.
Even so, standard equipment is good with automatic emergency braking capable of detecting vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, traffic-sign recognition with an overspeed warning, driver-attention monitoring, lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assistance. Cruise control, a speed limiter, distance warning, hill-start assistance, rear parking sensors and a reversing camera also support everyday driving.
These systems complement the Captur’s generally easy-going driving style. Its elevated driving position, good outward visibility and light steering reduce stress in towns, while the reversing camera and sensors make the compact SUV easier to park.
Overall, the Captur remains a reassuringly well-equipped family crossover. Its four-star rating prevents it from being considered a class benchmark but the score should be viewed in the context of more demanding testing.
Efficiency is the standout strength
The Captur’s biggest advantage is its efficiency.
According to JATO Dynamics, the Captur delivers the lowest fuel consumption of the comparison set at 4.3l/100km (23.3km/l), outperforming rivals including the Lexus LBX at 4.5l/100km and the Dacia Duster at 5.1l/100km. It also records the lowest CO2 emissions at 97g/km, ahead of the Toyota Yaris Cross at 100g/km and comfortably below the MG ZS at 115g/km.
Those figures strengthen the Captur’s appeal at a time when running costs remain a key consideration for both retail and fleet customers. Its calculated range of 1,116km, or around 693 miles, also gives it one of the strongest long-distance propositions in the segment.
More power without penalty
The Captur’s 160hp output is another key differentiator. While several rivals prioritise economy over outright performance, Renault has managed to combine stronger power figures with class-leading efficiency.
The Toyota Yaris Cross produces 130hp, while the Lexus LBX delivers 136hp. Even the lower-priced Dacia Duster hybrid offers slightly less power at 156hp.
That balance gives the Captur a broader appeal for customers wanting a compact SUV that still feels responsive and refined on longer journeys or motorway driving.
Premium feel at a mainstream price
The Esprit Alpine trim level also helps elevate the Captur above many mainstream rivals.
Standard equipment includes a 10.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system with built-in navigation and wireless smartphone integration, while Renault also includes a 36-month traffic information subscription and two front USB connections.
Driver assistance technology is another strong area, with Level 2 autonomous driving capability, parking sensors and a reversing camera all included as standard.
Compared with rivals that reserve some of those features for higher trim levels, the Captur delivers a notably premium-feeling package for its price.
Overview
The latest Renault Captur E-Tech Hybrid 160 HP feels less like a reinvention and more like a tightened focus.
Renault hasn’t overcomplicated things. Instead, it has simplified the range, sharpened the design and leaned into what buyers are already asking for, which is electrification without the commitment of plugging in.
That shift is noticeable the moment you spend time with it. You get in, drive as normal, and the hybrid system does its thing in the background. Simple.
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It’s that lack of friction that defines the Captur’s appeal. For buyers moving out of traditional petrol cars, or hesitating over EVs, it makes a lot of sense.
The Captur’s positioning is defined less by outright class leadership and more by balance.
Against the Toyota Yaris Cross, it offers more performance but can’t quite match its efficiency credentials. Compared with the Honda HR-V, it feels more contemporary inside, particularly from a tech perspective, while undercutting it on price. Alongside the Nissan Juke Hybrid, it comes across as the more relaxed and refined option, even if it lacks some of the Juke’s visual edge.
That leaves the Captur sitting in a useful middle ground. It doesn’t dominate in one area, but it avoids obvious weaknesses.
Pricing and spec
At £28,795 OTR, the Captur sits squarely in the middle of the B-SUV market, but it’s clear Renault expects most customers to move up the range.
The esprit Alpine trim on test brings the sort of features that feel worthwhile day-to-day rather than headline-grabbing. Even so, heated front seats and steering wheel make a difference on cold mornings, while the upgraded interior materials and lighting lift the cabin ambience. It’s the kind of specification that’s easy to justify when sat in the car.
Technology
The biggest change is inside. The OpenR Link system, powered by Google, is immediately familiar. Navigation behaves like it does on your phone, voice commands are more natural, and the whole interface feels like something you already understand.
That matters because it removes a common frustration point. There’s no learning curve here, which makes it easier to demonstrate and quicker for customers to feel comfortable.
Native Google Maps navigation is quick to load and reliably accurate, while Google Assistant voice control works well for hands-free inputs, particularly when setting destinations, reducing the need to default to your phone, which is not always the case in this segment.
Renault’s Multi-Sense system – which AM has previously covered – adds a layer of personalisation that goes beyond simple drive mode selection. With four modes to choose from and 48 colour options, the cabin can be configured to suit mood or time of day, adding a premium feel after dark. It is not essential, but it does elevate the sense of occasion inside the car.
Safety
There’s nothing unexpected in the Captur’s safety offering, but that’s not a criticism.
Features like adaptive cruise control, lane centring and blind spot monitoring operate in the background without constantly reminding you they’re there. On longer drives, that makes a difference. It’s the sort of system you stop noticing, which is usually a sign it’s doing its job properly.
Safety provision is comprehensive and, importantly, focused on the features drivers actually rely on.
The standout element is the active emergency braking system, which covers busy urban scenarios, pedestrians, cyclists and even junction situations. That breadth of coverage adds genuine reassurance, especially where risks are less predictable such as backing out on to a busy road when the system steps in decisively if the driver does not react in time.
Driving experience
Spend a few days with the Captur and a pattern quickly emerges. It’s at its best when you’re not thinking about it.
In town, it pulls away quietly and often runs on electric power alone. Stop-start traffic feels smoother than in a conventional petrol car, and there’s a calmness to the way it moves through urban environments.
Out on faster roads, it settles into a more familiar rhythm. The petrol engine takes over more of the workload, and while there is some noise under harder acceleration, on longer motorway runs, the Captur comes into its own.
It’s comfortable, stable and undemanding. After a couple of hours behind the wheel, you step out feeling fine rather than fatigued, which is exactly what most buyers want from a car like this. The merit of a Captur is that it isn’t trying to be sporty. It’s trying to be easy.
Practicality
Day-to-day usability is where the Captur continues to make its case.
The driving position offers good visibility, making it straightforward to place on the road and easy to manoeuvre in tighter spaces. Rear passenger space is perfectly adequate for family use.
The boot itself remains one of the more usable in the class, and there are enough storage areas around the cabin to keep things organised without clutter.
Interior quality in this trim feels a step up, with materials that look and feel more considered. Nothing is overly flashy, but it all contributes to a cabin that feels modern and well put together.
What stands out in use?
After spending time with the Captur, a few themes become clear.
The hybrid system’s simplicity is likely to resonate with buyers still weighing up electrification. Technology is another strong point, particularly the Google-based system – easy to demonstrate and immediately understood.
Trim strategy plays its part. Higher-spec versions feel like the natural choice once you’re in the car, which supports stronger transaction values.
Overall, the Captur doesn’t try to impress with big numbers or bold claims. Instead, it focuses on being straightforward, comfortable and easy to live with, and in doing so, becomes more convincing the longer you spend with it.
Tech spec – Renault Captur E-Tech Hybrid 160
Price: £28,795
Powertrain: Hybrid 1.8-litre petrol; automatic transmission; 1.4 kWh battery.
Performance: 0-62 mph in 8.9 seconds, maximum speed 111 mph
Efficiency: 97g/km CO2 (WLTP combined cycle)