The newest midsize SUV in the form of the Renault Captur recently spent the week at our offices in the top of the range Alpine Espirit guise.
Does it have any competition?
This is a Crossover body style and it was once the most highly competitive segment in the country, obviously over time more and more SUV and crossover body styled vehicle entered the market and stretched the way were classified what a Cross over is. Essentially, the likes of the Renault Captur, Volkswagens T Cross and Hyundai Kona were generally at the forefront of the movement and they started the wave.
Now as the car has experience a refresh both on the exterior and largely on the interior, it aims to continue competing with the likes of the Kia Seltos 1.5T-GDI GT Line, Chery Tiggo 7 Pro PHEV, VW T-Cross R-Line, and Ford Puma. With the competition now as stiff as ever, let us explore whether the car is worth a look at especially in the Espirit Alpine.
What does the Espirit Alpine get you looks wise?
As the name suggests, the Espirit Alpine Captur takes a huge inspiration from Renaults long and rich history in the motorsports sphere. Now this car isn't necessarily a sports car but it does gain a long list of exterior elements that give the car a sport appeal, this can be seen from these beautiful 19-inch alloys, some matte-grey exterior accents, these checked flag inspired DRLs located below the semi closed off grille flanked by automatic high-tech LED signature.
Our test unit was finished in this Flame Red color which made the vehicle look quite beautiful if I do say so myself, although I had a debate with some chaps over lunch on whether it does look feminine or not and the scales tipped to favor a more feminine aesthetic about the vehicle but stylish for sure. Some more elements that aid the vehicle look sporty would be the contrasting black roof and mirrors, can't forget the massive sunroof.
Interior gains
The interior has a massive overhaul in terms of materials, where there would be a lot of plastics covering large parts of the dashboard, doorpanels and some more panels, here Renault have neatly wrapped a black cloth fabric like the one that covers the seats over these panels. The dashboard of the Espirit gains this Aluminum panel with a two tone fading effect which gives the car a sort of premium asthetic that doubles as a pleasure to touch and to look at.
I must say, seating comfort was not very attainable to say the least. I struggled quite a bit to find my preferred seating position as the steering wheel itself almost came off as too tilted upwards rendering the both reach and height adjustable steering column quite useless. This let down is quickly forgiven as the car gives one access to both heated seats and a heated steering wheel which are always well welcome features in our books but the quirky demeanor of the vehicle is what stood out the most to me.
There is a Eco Score tracker system built in to the cars system which tracks your driving styles, habits and most importantly your fuel reading. This eco score system then monitors your driving and in tern looks to improve your fuel cosumption by suggesting a chain on habits within your driving to help reduce driving, I learnt that I was too quick to brake a time causing me to use more fuel to acclerate forwards when I have slowed down to early and I do not think any other car in the Capturs segment have a onboard Eco coach which is big plus.
Some more exclusive features the Captur include French flag detailing, aluminum sports pedals, and a 10.4-inch OpenR Link vertical touchscreen with Google built-in and wireless smartphone projection.
The engine
The 2026 Renault Captur features a high-performance 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine n its latest iteration, delivering 13kW of power and 270Nm of torque. This engine is paired with a 7-speed EDC (Efficient Dual Clutch) automatic transmission and together this drives only the front wheels. The car comes with Renaults four MULTI-SENSE driving modes which are : Eco, Sport, Comfort, and Perso. These modes alter the 1.3-liter turbocharged engine's responsiveness, transmission shift points, steering weight, dashboard display, and ambient cabin lighting to suit your preferences.
Say you were to go for the Captur over the competition, how much is it?
The flagship Renault Captur 1.3T Esprit Alpine EDC retails at R614, 999, and with existing deals and specials, you could pay around R7, 799 pm* with a 0% deposit. It is backed by a factory mechanical warranty that covers the vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 km, alongside a 3-year/45,000 km service plan. It is a safe option that could provide peace of mind in terms of ownership, as seen with the service plan and warranty. Additionally, it is safe as these cars are rare and not that popular. It is a stylish alternative that has grown positively even against its competitors, justifying the price might be your only issue...