With self-charging hybrid tech, an electrified version of Renault's now-improved Captur small SUV makes plenty of sense, thinks Jonathan Crouch

Ten Second Review

The most frugal version of Renault's Captur small SUV is this self-charging E-Tech full hybrid 145 variant. You can't plug it in, but there's decent value pricing to compensate, a sharp new look and a real-world-achievable set of efficiency stats.

Background

Almost un-noticed was Renault's decision at the end of 2020 to dump all the dCi diesel versions of its Captur small SUV in preparation for the launch of this model, the Captur E-Tech Hybrid 145. Unlike its PHEV stablemate (since dropped), this self-charging HEV model sells for diesel variant money and will cost a lot less than a black pump-fuelled small SUV to tax. While delivering very similar fuel and CO2 efficiency figures. Advantages over PHEV rivals include a huge price saving and a large boot. We suspect that this light HEV crossover might sometimes be more frugal to run in the real world too. And you don't have the hassle of having to continually plug it in. Here, we look at the usefully updated version.

Driving Experience

Here, Captur customers are offered a 'self-charging' full-Hybrid unit like that in rival Toyota C-HR, Nissan Juke, Kia Niro or Hyundai Kona Hybrid small SUV models. So it can, for very short periods, run independently on full-electric power (unlike the 'mild hybrid' engines you'll now find in quite a few of this car's small SUV rivals). Renault makes much of the way the design of this car's engine borrows from its F1 racing technology. Like the brand's racing powerplant, this one is extremely compact and features two electric motors, one with 36kW on the rear of the gearbox and one with 15kW on top of the transmission, along with a four-cylinder 1.6-litre normally aspirated petrol engine which contributes most to the 145hp total output. The gearbox is an auto of course (but of the more unusual 'dog box' clutchless variety) and the motor is powered by 1.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack located beneath the boot floor. The rest of the drivetrain has somehow been shoehorned beneath the bonnet. There's plenty of mid-range pulling power, so plenty of scope for enthusiastic progress here, particularly if you select the most dynamic of the three drive modes on offer - 'Sport'. But you're not going to want to use that too often for fear of decimating the frugal fuel returns which would have prompted you to choose this car in the first place. For the best readings, you'll most of the time want to stay in 'MySense', a hybrid setting which blends the petrol and electric motor output for maximum economy. In town, you might want to select the 'Pure' mode (or the 'EV' button on the centre console) which prioritises battery-electric drive up to about 38mph, providing there's sufficient charge. Renault claims that a Captur E-Tech Hybrid will be able to travel for 80 per cent of urban journeys on battery power alone. There's also a further 'Brake' setting on the gear lever, which increases throttle lift-off electrical regeneration.

Design and Build

Apart from E-Tech badging, there's very little to identify this E-Tech Captur model apart from its more conventional stablemate. This might be merely a facelift but this second generation Captur looks very different in this updated form. Borrowing cues from the Scenic E-Tech Electric, there's now a much less rounded front end with a more complex front grille bearing the brand's redesigned logo. Plus the smarter front bumper features vertical lighting strakes on either side. Two-tone paint schemes and are now offered and the rear gets transparent tail light housings, plus a simpler rear bumper and diffuser. Inside, providing you avoid base trim, your Captur hybrid will come with a higher tech 10.4-inch 'Open R Link' central screen with a raft of fresh connectivity functions and wireless smartphone-mirroring. Google Maps and Google Voice Assistant are built into. Another tech upgrade is the 10.25-inch digital driver's display, plus there are a couple of USB-C ports both front and rear - and better models get a wireless charging mat. Leather and chrome have been banished from this updated Captur to reflect Renault's sustainability ambitions and recycled fabrics feature heavily. As before, this Captur features a sliding rear bench (still not that common in the segment) and there's a little more legroom than you usually get in a supermini-based crossover. Boot space of course, depends on the position of the rear bench; it's 326-litres (down from 422-litres with the conventional model) when it's slid back. Fold flat the rear bench and the cargo area is extendable to 1,149-litres.

Market and Model

Captur E-Tech full hybrid 145 prices start from around £24,500 upwards for the full hybrid version - that's around £3,500 more than the conventional TCe 90 version. There are three trim levels - 'evolution', 'techno' and 'esprit Alpine'. The latter top trim level has 19-inch wheels, sporty features and elegant nods to the Alpine brand. Avoid base trim and your Captur will come with Renault's latest 10.4-inch 'Open R Link' central screen with wireless smartphone-mirroring, Google Maps and Google Voice Assistant built in. Plusher versions get a 10.25-inch digital driver's display and a wireless charging mat. With its new electronic architecture, this updated Captur is now on a par with the best for active and passive safety. New-generation driving aids, such as Active Driver Assist, with Level 2 autonomous driving, and Predictive Hybrid Driving (with the hybrid powertrain) optimise efficiency by maximising the use of electrical energy while driving. The European General Safety Regulation (GSR2) requires some ADAS features to be activated by default every time the car is started. For this purpose, a new function to the left of the steering wheel - My Safety Switch - lets drivers enable or disable their preferred settings for five ADAS at the same time, at the touch of a button.

Cost of Ownership

You're not going to be able to go very far on all-electric drive in this Captur E-Tech full hybrid, but that's not the point of the HEV powertrain. Instead, it's there to constantly cut in and out with battery power at urban speeds. The result may not be the 3-figure WLTP-rated combined cycle fuel figure achieved by the old PHEV variant, but we'd suggest that this hybrid 145 model's official 60.1mpg figure is far more real-world achievable, as is its quoted 105g/km CO2 reading. You can see why Renault no longer offers a Captur diesel. There'll certainly be a lower BiK tax rating than the one which would apply to a conventional petrol Captur (26% as opposed to 31%). Of course, official figures are one thing; actual day-to-day returns are another and mindful of this, Renault has provided a variety of e-driving tools to enable Captur Hybrid drivers to get as close as possible to the stated readings. As you drive, you'll need to keep a close eye on the central dial, keeping its needle as often as possible in the 'Charge' rather than the 'Power' section. You'll also want to make use of the piano key-style EV drive mode button below the central screen. This is for slow town traffic and when activated, it prioritises battery-electric drive up to about 27mph, providing there's sufficient charge. Renault reckons that it should be possible for a Captur E-Tech full hybrid 145 owner to drive around town at low speeds in all-electric mode for 80% of the time. On the open road, remember to switch the auto gear lever to its 'B' position so that you can maximise regenerative brake energy harvesting and so preserve battery charge.

Summary

Historically, in our market, the Captur has never sold quite as well as it does in Continental Europe, but such is the step forward represented by this updated MK2 model that we think there's scope for that to change. It's passionate, practical and pretty stylish; as a result, many target customers will find it quite an endearing thing, especially in this full hybrid form. And in summary? Well you could either see this as a small SUV with needlessly expensive technology. Or wonder who wouldn't want a small, economical little crossover borrowing its transmission and motor technology from the most up-to-the-minute thinking in F1. In short, there's a lot to like about what Renault's served up here.

Body Glass

Heated rear windscreen

Automatic front wipers with rain sensors

Rear wiper

Drivers one touch window with anti-pinch feature

Dark tinted glass in rear windows and tailgate

Front and rear electric windows

Brakes

Front dash warning indicator in case of heavy braking

Anti-lock Brake System + Emergency Brake Assist

Hill start assist

AEBS - active emergency braking system

Electronic stability control

Electric parking brake with auto hold function

Communication

Wifi smartphone integration compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

2 front USB-C ports

2 rear USB-C ports

Driver Aids

Driver attention alert system

Adaptive cruise control with speed limiter

Variable assistance power steering

Eco mode

Front and rear parking distance sensors

Emergency lane keep assist including solid line, oncoming traffic and road edge detection

Lane departure warning system

Driver drowsiness alert system

Traffic sign recognition with over speed prevention

Multisense with 3 driving modes + 8 ambient lighting colours

Side parking sensors

Rear view camera

Driver Convenience

Wireless phone charger

Driver Information

Trip computer

Renault automatic emergency assist

10.25" digital driver display

10.4" OpenR link touchscreen with with built in Google Automotive Services and navigation

Gear change indicator

Driving Mirrors

Auto dimming rear view mirror with light and rain sensor - frameless

Electrically folding door mirrors

LED turn indicators on door mirrors

Heated door mirrors

Body coloured door mirrors

Embellishment Trims

Black soft touch dashboard

Entertainment

DAB radio with Bluetooth

Exterior Body Features

Gloss black window frame

Rear side wing doors

Chrome around front air deflectors, on front wing deco element and window lining

Longitudinal roof bars

Body colour door handles

Diamond black contrasting roof

Shark fin antenna

Body coloured bumpers

Exterior Lights

Automatic high/low beam

Automatic headlights

Rear fog lights

Full LED front and rear lights

Day time running light

LED high level brake lights

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Automatic climate control with one touch demist function and air quality regulator

Heating system with pollen filter

Rear air vents

Interior Features

Middle console with armrest and storage

Aluminium sports pedals

Synthetic leather steering wheel

Esprit alpine interior styling

Heated steering wheel

Modular boot floor

12V Accessory socket

Glovebox

Height/reach adjust steering wheel

Flying console for auto transmission

esprit Alpine enveloping synthetic leather/cloth upholstery

Interior Lights

2 front roof LED lights and central rear roof light with 3 reading LED lights

Safety

Driver height adjustable seat belt

3 rear seatbelts

Passenger airbag deactivation system

Driver and front passenger and 3 rear passengers seatbelt reminder

Tyre pressure warning light

Distance warning alert

Front driver and passenger side airbag deactivation

Driver and front passenger, side, head and curtain airbags

Approaching vehicle sound for pedestrians

Rear door and window child locking function for rear door

Seats

3 bench rear seats in 2nd row

Driver and front passenger seat with electric height adjustment

Single front passenger seat

Front head restraints

Rear seats - 1/3:2/3 foldable sliding bench

Rear head restraints

Heated front seats

ISOFIX child seat fixing points on rear outermost seats

Security

Deadlocking system

Anti drill door locks and locking fuel cap

Hands free keycard with push button and start/stop function

RAID (Renault Anti-Intruder Device) automatic door locking

Central door locking

Vanity Mirrors

Sunvisor with mirror and light

Wheels - Alloy

19" esprit Alpine Elixir alloy wheels

Electric Vehicle Data

Battery Type: Lithium-ion

Battery Capacity in kWh: 1.2

Emissions - ICE

Particles: N

HC+NOx: N

Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 6

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEL: 105

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEH: 105

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb: 105

Engine and Drive Train

Number of Valves: 16

Gears: 6 SPEED

Transmission: AUTO

Engine Layout: FRONT TRANSVERSE

Catalytic Convertor: No

Fuel Delivery: MULTI POINT FUEL INJECTION

Camshaft: DOHC

Cylinders: 4

Cylinder Layout: IN-LINE

CC: 1598

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): 83.6

Cylinders - Bore (mm): 78

Fuel Consumption - ICE

WLTP - MPG - Comb: 60.1

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: 0

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb: 4.7

General

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: 76

Special Edition: 0

Special Order: 0

Based On ID: N

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 16E

Service Interval Mileage: 18000

Service Interval Frequency - Months: 12

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: No

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: 80

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: 76

NCAP Safety Assist %: 69

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: 4

Badge Power: 145

Badge Engine CC: 1.6

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Generation Mark: 2

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Coin Description: E-Tech hybrid 145

Coin Series: esprit Alpine

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 12

Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 3

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 60000

Performance

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 110

Engine Power - KW: 105

Engine Torque - NM: 149

Engine Torque - RPM: 3600

Engine Torque - MKG: 15.2

Engine Power - BHP: 143

Top Speed: 106

0 to 62 mph (secs): 10.6

Engine Power - PS: No

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Test Cycles

RDE Certification Level: RDE 2

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

Tyres

Tyre Size Front: 225/45 R19

Space Saver?: 0

Alloys?: No

Wheel Type: 19" ALLOY

Wheel Style: ELIXIR

Tyre Size Rear: 225/45 R19

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Vehicle Dimensions

Wheelbase: 2639

Width (including mirrors): 2004

Height: 1575

Height (including roof rails): 1584

Width: 1797

Length: 4239

Weight and Capacities

Gross Vehicle Weight: 1900

Minimum Kerbweight: 1417

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 48

Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 750

Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: 720

Max. Loading Weight: 483

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 326

No. of Seats: 5

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 11.1

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 1276

Exterior Body Features

Additional special metallic paint

Additional metallic paint

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Flame red

Metallic - Oyster grey

Metallic - Diamond black

Metallic - Arctic white

Metallic - Ceramic grey

Paint - Special

Special metallic - Iron blue

Trim - Part Leather

Esprit Alpine enveloping synthetic leather/cloth - Grey with blue stitching and red, white and blue flag with Alpine logo

Wheels - Spare

Space saver wheel kit