Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/904009
maltatoday, SUNDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2017 MII Motoring PAUL COCKS THE Renault Captur has garnered a lot of satisfied customers since its launch so I was looking forward to test-driving the new, updated model. I was not to be disappointed. Visually, the new Captur has a lot of appeal, even more so than its predecessor. Its swooping lines, curves and minimum angles make it inherently French in its aesthetics. And yet it maintains a butch quality, thanks to the wide and squat stance. Big wheel arches over the wonder- fully designed 'crystal-cut' 17-inch Emotional alloy wheels and the mas- sive 210mm ground clearance lend it the unmistakable proportions of an SUV. To add to that, the Captur's short bonnet is muscular,droopingdown at the front into an elegant headlight cluster, and culminating in a chunky bumper with 'C'-shaped units that house LED daytime running lamps (DRL) and fog lamps. Speaking of LEDs, there are lots of them across the car. Apart from the aforementioned DRLs and fog lamp combo, the tail-lights, as well as the headlights, are also full LED.There'sLED ambient lighting on the inside as well. Overall, it's a very refreshing design that remains quite unlike anything else in this segment. The vehicle I tested was the DYS NAV 0.9 TCE model and came in Capuccino Brown with a Diamond Black roof. The new range includes a number of vibrant colours that are sure to make people look twice, while the two-tone profile – with the roof in either black or mercury white – makes for an even eye-catching combination. The interior, too, is fresh and vibrant, focusing around the wrap- around dashboard. There are also some great design touches such as the butterfly-shaped instrument cluster that gets a large digital speedometer in the centre, flanked by a tachometer and a fuel gauge. I particularly liked the ambient LED lighting and design of the air con- ditioner controls. The 2017 facelift really improved the Captur's inte- rior. An increase in the number of soft-touch plastics on the dashboard and doors means it looks and feels classier than the majority of rivals. Furthermore all models get a gloss surround for the centre section of the dashboard, which looks quite classy, plus well-damped switches and a variety of coloured trims and finishes that really brighten up the cabin. Renault made a big deal about its 'panoramic' windscreen and mini- mal A-pillars, along with the quarter windows designed to provide you much better situational awareness of what's around and in front of you. In fact, side-to-side visibility is great, and sitting so high behind the steer- ing wheel (driver's seat has height adjustment capability) gives you a commanding view over everything around you. The front is quite spa- cious and even with the fixed arm rest, there was ample space for even a big boy like me to be comfortable and confident behind the steering wheel. In the rear, two adults, or even three in a pinch, can sit fairly com- fortably. The rear cabin space also gets its own set of AC vents, which should be useful on our hot days. The glovebox is relatively small, but there are two recessed cuphold- ers between the front seats, useful deep door bins and a cubby at the base of the dashboard that's ideal for your phone. A shallow storage area on top of the dash is good for loose change or other small items. The Captur's load space is impressively practical. There's a variable-height boot floor on all models, which in its highest posi- tion brings the floor flush with the load lip. The boot opening is also a practical square shape, which helps make loading bulky items easy. The standard sliding rear bench seat means you can vary the amount of boot space. But even with the bench slid all the way backwards, boot space will be fine for most normal everyday use; there's enough room for a family's weekly shopping, for example. The DYS NAV model comes in one of five possible engine configu- rations – three petrol and three die- sel options. The car I tested sported the entry-level 0.9-litre three-cylin- der petrol engine with a five-speed manual gearbox and 90 BHP. The engine feels nippy and is ideal for use around town while braking performance is perfectly decent, although you may have to get used to how sharp the initial pedal bite is. So, having taken in the vehicle's appearance and specs, I got behind the wheel and left the Auto Sales Renault showroom in Mosta, and headed towards Msida. The Captur is so silent you can hardly hear the engine's purr, let alone the ambient sound outside. And the ride – even on Malta's dodgy roads – was com- fortable and smooth; the Captur's soft suspension is also good at soak- ing up bigger bumps and potholes at low speeds. The Captur is based on the Renault Clio, which shows in its hatchback-like handling. The chunky steering is well weighted and it gives you a good feel of what's going on with the front wheels. And despite the raised ride height, which gives the car the look of a small SUV, the Captur feels pretty nimble through corners. I found it easy to find the gear I wanted and I found the short gear- throw to be a further bonus. Safety is well taken care of as well with ABS, Isofix child seat mounts for the rear seats, and dual airbags as part of the standard kit. The Captur DYS NAV comes with a host of features as standard, including hill-start assist, automatic headlights and wipers, keyless entry with start/stop push button, tyre pressure warning light, electrically adjustable and folding mirrors, 7" touch screen (including naviga- tion system, bluetooth, USB and auxiliary input), rear colour camera, parking assist, rear privacy glass and leather steering wheel. However, what really works in the Captur's favour is its attractive price. The car that I tested – the DYS NAV 0.9 TCE – starts at €18,800. The Captur is good value, undercutting most of its rivals on purchase price and offering some of the lowest CO2 emissions in its class. The 0.9-litre petrol also promises low running costs, making it an ideal choice for urban everyday commuting. The vehicle has a lot going for it – price, comfort, size and features – and you would be hard-pressed to find a car that is better-suited to urban everyday commuting than the Captur, particularly in its 0.9 TCE engine configuration. e small SUV with the big heart TEST DRIVE – 2017 RENAULT CAPTUR