Renault Captur

2014 Renault Captur

The Captur from Renault can easily be defined as the French take of the Nissan Juke. However, despite being France's answer to the Nissan Juke, this is just a fourth-generation Renault Clio with some outdoorsman credentials that doesn't make sense at all, probably because it's available only in front wheel drive. Thanks to the fact that it's a FWD hatchback-based crossovers, the Captur is not made for the outdoorsman. It's made for someone who thinks the Clio IV's not to big enough for them. Who cares about it?

2014 Renault Clio

Inside, the Captur really feels like the latest Clio, but because this is just a Clio, the Captur kinda feels like Miranda Hart and Catherine Tate switched places. It's like Miranda being Donna and Catherine's being Miranda. See? Wrong stuff told, just like the Clio-based Captur because it may look like an SUV but it isn't. It isn't really really that close. Renault claims that the new Captur combines the expressive styling and driving position of an SUV, cabin space and modular interior of an MPV, and the agility and driving enjoyment of a compact saloon car.

However, where does this point at? I'm sorry but this crossover feels like it's been headed south of the border. As for the riding, thanks to some flickering to the handling dynamics, the Captur is about as dreary as memorizing a song came from a kid's show. Just like me, I'm getting some sort of Last Song Syndrome, songs from the kids show a baby might watch, especially my sister's baby, gets stuck in my head. Ugh, there goes that "shake your peanut" song from Mickey Mouse stuck in my head.

The Captur shares some engine choices from the Clio such as this 0.9L Energy TCe engine, a 1.5L Energy dCi, or a 1.2L turbocharged engine. If you had chose the one with the 1.2L TCi engine, watch out for the double clutch transmission because like what we've expected on the Clio, the EDC maybe quicker to shift but lacks the feel. If you're going to reverse it, it's gonna take clicks on the left paddle and you'll be losing to the one with the manual transmission in a game of who's going to shift reverse first.

2014 Renault Captur

Pricing stats at 15,500 Euros, meaning that is almost two thousand more than the latest Renault Clio IV and almost a thousand euros more than the Clio Estate as well. However, this is cheaper to buy than the hideous Nissan Juke so it's a smart buy for those who didn't like the Nissan Juke but sometimes for a Frenchman, I would go for the Clio IV instead because the Captur is like a Clio with some outdoorsy credentials that doesn't deserve and with that change, I would rather use it for grocery purposes or donate it to charity without a doubt.

Photo: Renault