2017 Renault Captur now even better value
Renault has launched almost ten new or revised vehicles in the last twenty-four months. It’s a strategy that has taken some criticism, however, it’s a strategy that has worked with the French company currently lying 6th in the South African market, up from 7th. More importantly, the Renault group just recently topped the scales as the largest automaker in the world. The quest to be the greatest continues with the revised Captur which now bares some resemblance to the original concept car. We take a closer look at the key differences in the 2017 Renault Captur.
Exterior
On the outside Renault Captur now has the signature C-shape daytime running lights up front and on the higher spec models, a full LED front headlamp setup is standard. The front bumper and skid plate have also been revised. At the rear, the C-shape lights are prominent with LED lights now standard. The rear skid plate has also been updated on all the models and an optional fixed glass roof is available for 2017 Captur.
Interior
Inside the cabin is familiar Renault/Captur, however, the steering wheel is slightly smaller, and the gear knob has been updated. The seats come in three different options; cloth, removable cloth and optional heated leather. The removable cloth seat covers were first introduced in the limited edition Captur Sunset but are now available on all Captur models. 2017 Capture features a new center console with a storage compartment and the dash and door panels are now part soft touch materials.
E3 VERSION – DASHBOARD
Base model even more affordable.
The base model Captur Blaze (previously Expression) now retails for R20 000 less than before and is most certainly a great way for potential Captur owners to gain access to this segment. The reason for this? The infotainment system has been removed and replaced with R&GO. An innovative App that in conjunction with your smart phone, integrates your navigation, is Internet Radio enabled and is also Bluetooth compatible. It even has a “find my car” option. A very useful function for those that are always on their phones anyhow, and it even comes with a handy cradle. The rest of the range has seen a price increase of just R5000 rand and for the flagship 88kW Turbo Dynamique is now available in manual and retails from R294 900.
Manual Gearbox
While most new cars are being sold as automatics, Capture sales are almost 70% manual. It was with this in mind that Renault has introduced a 6-speed manual flagship 88kW Dynamique model. The car now flexes its power more effectively and acceleration to 100 is a full second quicker, at 9.9 seconds. Fuel consumption suffers marginally with the new figures on 5.5 for the manual versus 5.4l/100
Verdict
A list of new features worth checking out in a mid-life review that most thought would be just new lights and bumpers. The engines do stay mostly the same, but as mentioned there’s a reason Renault keeps selling more cars. The models are constantly being refreshed and modernised based on the client’s needs. And although I’d take the EDC 88kW any day, the sales have spoken and a manual is still king for Renault Captur buyers. The entry level saving of R20 000 cannot be overlooked especially in a time when Smart phones do all the work. A smart strategy from Renault making Captur worth a look if you’re in the market for a B-segment compact SUV.
