The second-generation Renault Captur has no option but to be
at least as successful. It won’t be easy, though, as the competition has got stronger as
well, with serious rivals including all-new models such as the Nissan Juke,
Peugeot 2008, Ford Puma, and Mazda CX-30. To
stay on top, the Captur needed to up its game and it does so in all areas.
Built on the CMF-B modular architecture that’s
shared with the new Clio and Juke, the crossover is now is 110 mm longer than its predecessor, with rear seat passenger legroom gaining 17 mm as a result. The boot capacity also increases by a significant 81
liters for a total of 536 liters.
Interior comfort has also improved compared to the
outgoing model thanks to better insulation of the passenger and engine
compartments, with the result being a reduction of the noise level in the cabin
by 2 dB at between 0 and 130 km/h.
Renault says the all-new Captur also brings
increased ride quality thanks to new shock absorbers and improved dynamics. The
crossover is said to exhibit less lateral movement than before and offer 10
percent reductions in the steering ratio for increased agility.
The CMF-B platform has enabled Renault to add
electrification to the 2020 Captur, with the E-Tech plug-in hybrid powertrain
to become available next year. Combining a 1.6-liter gasoline engine with two electric
motors and a 9.8 kWh battery pack, the PHEV will enable an all-electric driving
range of up to 45 km at speeds of up to 135 km/h.
Until then, customers can choose between three
gasoline and two diesel engines. Petrol fans are offered the TCe 100 1.0-liter
three-cylinder turbo delivering 100 PS and 160 Nm of
torque, the TCe 130 1.3-liter turbo-four rated at 130 PS and 240 Nm of torque, and the range-topping TCe 155 which is an updated version
of the 1.3-liter unit producing 155 PS and 270 Nm of
torque.
All engines are linked to six-speed manual
transmissions, apart from the TCe 100 that comes with a five-speed unit and the
top petrol engine which is mated to a seven-speed EDC dual-clutch transmission
as standard (available as an option on the TCe 130).
The available diesels are the Blue dCi 95 1.5-liter
making 95 PS and 240 Nm of torque and the Blue dCi 115
1.5-liter rated at 115 PS and 260 Nm. The base unit gets a
six-speed manual while the more powerful engine also offers a seven-speed DCT
as an option.