Mat’s Car of the Day: the Renault Captur is a stylish and spacious SUV for not much cash

Renault makes some cracking cars right now. The Clio is one of my favourite small hatchbacks on sale thanks to the stylish design and posh-feeling interior, but what if you need a bit more interior space?

Well that’s where the Renault Captur comes in. It’s basically the same as the Clio underneath, but you get a more spacious interior and a raised ride height. Here are three reasons I would recommend the Renault Captur, as well as three drawbacks to consider.

Three reasons I like the Renault Captur

1. It has a fantastic hybrid engine

As standard, the Renault Captur comes with a 114hp petrol engine and a manual gearbox, and while this is fine, I’d go for the 1.8-litre hybrid. It’s really smooth, you can cruise around in electric-only mode and it’ll easily return over 60mpg. It’s so economical that it negates the need for a diesel engine option, which is just as well with the price of diesel right now.

2. The Google-based infotainment system is brilliant

All but the basic Captur comes with a Google-based infotainment system, and it’s one of the best on the market. You get apps like Google Maps and Spotify built in, meaning I rarely bothered to connect my phone via Bluetooth. It’s super-easy to use.

3. It’s got a huge boot

The Clio is known for having one of the biggest boots in its class, but the Renault Captur is even better for lugging loads. You get 484 litres of space as standard, or you can slide the rear seats forward to get a mammoth 616 litres. That’s more than you get in a Skoda Karoq or Kia Sportage, both of which are much larger SUVs.

Renault Captur prices, deals and savings

The Renault Captur is also great value for money. Prices start from £22,495 for the petrol version, rising to £25,395 for the hybrid. I’d pay an extra £2,000 for the mid-spec Techno, because that gets you the Google infotainment system, all-round parking sensors and a digital driver’s display.

You can also save over £3,400 on a new Renault Captur through Carwow. The top-spec Esprit Alpine hybrid can be yours for just under £26,000, down from £29,400.

This model gets some sporty styling upgrades such as larger alloy wheels and tweaked bumpers, as well as heated sports seats, a heated steering wheel and adaptive cruise control. It’s a lot of car for the money.

Three annoying things about the Renault Captur

As good as this car is, it’s not perfect. Here are three drawbacks to the Renault Captur to consider before taking the plunge.

1. It’s not the most comfortable small SUV

While the Renault Captur feels quiet and refined on the motorway, around town the firm suspension can feel a bit jiggly. This is made worse by the larger wheels on the Esprit Alpine, so if you’re after maximum comfort then a Toyota Yaris Cross is a better choice.

2. The reversing camera isn’t great

The Captur’s reversing camera is low-res, with a picture which wouldn’t look out of place on a Gameboy. There’s also no cleaning system for it, so once it gets covered in road grime it becomes pretty much useless.

3. Adaptive cruise control is reserved for range-topping cars

I love having adaptive cruise control on long journeys, but if you want this feature in your Captur then you’ll have to go for the top-of-the-range Esprit Alpine model. It comes as standard on a Toyota Yaris Cross. Good job you can save almost £4,000 through Carwow.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

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*Savings are made up of the maximum dealer discount off RRP – subject to dealership, location and trim. Prices correct at the time of writing.