Renault Captur II

The Renault Captur is basically a Renault Clio with heightened ground clearance but like most wannabe SUVs, this crossover prefers to enjoy on the streets rather than on the great outdoors. For the second-generation model, the new Captur is basically a slightly rugged alternative to the fifth-generation Renault Clio. Question is, should they buy it rather than the Clio? Of course they do. It's a crossover! Everybody loves crossovers.

2020 Renault Captur

With the starting price of just 18,600 Euros plus on road costs, it's slightly more expensive than today's Renault Clio but it's still the cheapest crossover you can buy. Needless to say, because being the cheapest crossover in the Renault lineup, there are several reasons why first-timers got tempted to drive the new Captur but let's narrow it down to the basics.

2020 Renault Captur

Starting with the design, the new Captur is surprisingly better-looking than the previous Captur, judging by its radicalized front face, streamlined side view, and the rear design which the rear lamps look suspiciously similar to any Subaru concept car in the past. Anyway, while this is basically a jacked-up Renault Clio that behaves like a Clio, the new Captur is worth looking at the eyes of commoners.

2020 Renault Captur interior

Just like the new Clio, the new Captur's interior now boasts a tablet-sized touchscreen like every other Renault of the present era possesses and although not fit for speedo boys many, it's a yuppie treat and it works like an office desk on wheels, meaning it packs a lot of infotainment to toy around while getting accommodated by its more comfortable interior that is about as spacious as the previous model as well as its decent boot space big enough for just about everything. Now, where did I said that before but still, you get the point.

2020 Renault Captur

Like the Clio, the new Captur offers a choice of petrol and diesel engines but let's ignore the diesels because of you know why. The most powerful version is the one with the 155PS power output from its 1.3L TCi engine which is capable of hitting 0-100kph in 8.6 seconds and onwards to about 202kph thanks to its EDC gearbox. That's faster than any Japanese compact crossovers on its class. For those looking for efficiency but don't like diesels like every European do, you can expect a hybrid variant joining the range soon and it promises to be as efficient as any hybrids get but without the stereotypical scenario most hybrids face.

Using the same new platform as the new Clio, the new Captur is more livelier to drive in the bends and more comfortable to drive on the city. The only downside is that while this is basically offered as a front-wheel drive, there's no gadget similar to everyone's favorite front-wheel drive crossover, the Citroen C3 Aircross, meaning this is not made to be an elephant in the room. No Hannibal, no way. Sorry.

The new Captur still carries the same verdict as the new Clio even though it's not fit for the role of an elephant in  Hannibal's hands but it still works as any practical crossover should. Needless to say, there's one very good reason why most first-timers will get their hands on the Captur more than the Clio; it's a crossover! Period!

Photo: Renault