Renault Captur

The small-SUV landscape has changed dramatically since the first Renault Captur, but then so has the Captur itself.

You won’t spot the changes to the 2019 Renault Captur externally, but jump behind the wheel and a punchy new engine tells its own story.

Which is the Sweet Spot in the Renault Captur range?

There’s a titanic battle for the hearts and minds (and cash) of Australia’s ravenous small SUV buyers. In 2017, over 104,000 compact SUVs rolled out of dealer showrooms and into the garages of their new owners.

Prices across Renault's three smallest passenger cars and SUVs have risen by up to $1000 for the new year.

The future of one of Australia’s top-selling small SUVs is unclear, as a new model is revealed for Europe cloned from a Renault – with no Australia-bound replacement on the horizon.

Here's your breakdown of everything bound for Aussie shores this month.

Need a car that parks itself? Here are five compact models that offer a helping hand.

Got questions about car brand pronunciations? We break down the most commonly mispronounced model and brand names from the car industry.

6 months in, still happy. The quirky, French baby SUV still manages to put a smile of inner satisfaction in me. Driving the Dynamique model of the range has been a pleasure although there are a few quirks that tend to bug me. Overall the comfort level of the Captur is exceptional. With the combination of comfort, functionality and ride engagement, this is a fun and smooth vehicle. After viewing the competition and always finding a major dislike in most of the models, the Captur was the most balanced of the mini SUV range available for me. The bòot space is great compared to the competition. Without detracting from one outstanding competitor (Honda's HRV), the ability to drop the boot depth, split-fold seating and the option to have a flat space from the boot lid to the back of the driver's seat is fantastic. The heated leather and height adjustability of the seats are unsurpassed in the category. Automatic lights and wipers are handy and quiet running adds to the driver's comfort. The media interface is user friendly. Rear proximity alert and camera are standard along with a healthy list of other features. Good warranty and servicing are above average. Stylish, comfy and economical but... However, some of the quirks may go to far. The eco mode is something that you will not regularly use. When power is needed the eco mode can be a hindrance. Infotainment and the rear camera lags on start especially with pre-inserted USB drive. Substandard audio output and inconvenient USB placement is annoying. Insufficient acceleration while in auto can be a challenge when at low speed. Manual gear shift is available but without paddles. Angled seat adjustment is very difficult especially with a central console. The ergonomic feel is fluent but surprisingly spacious and the surface of the interior is easy to keep clean. Hill assist is a bonus along with other 5 star safety features. Finish and build quality is above average in its class. Quirky button placement and the lag issues aside, overall the small Renault SUV is pretty satisfying. Let's see what the future holds...

I have had my Captur for 2 months and so far loving it. As I drive 2 hours a day, I was specifically looking for a car that was economical, but also had a great look, had integrated Bluetooth and navigation and offered a higher seating position, to allow for better visibility while in traffic. To find the elevation I was looking for, I test drove mainly small SUV type cars. eg: Honda HRV – good, but Bluetooth and navigation only integrated with an iPhone. Mazda CX-3 – a good car with high quality interior, however it does not offer any elevation so not much better than sitting in a Corolla hatch. Subaru XV – better than I expected it to be, but due to the all-wheel drive it was a lot more expensive and these cars are everywhere! Way too common. I also looked at the Kia Sportage and the Hyundai ix35 but ultimately loved the look and style of the Captur. The pump up driver’s seat has offered better viewing and I am spending a 3rd less than what I was in petrol as my previous car. It is super economical, drives well around town and on the open road. Loving the automatic everything – lights, wipers, locking system …. and if you have the opportunity to definitely upgrade to the heated leather seats - they are a dream. There are three issues that I find distracts from rating this car 100%. 1. The Bluetooth connectivity. Although you can synch more than one phone every time you get into the car you have to nominate which phone you want to use. My previous experience with Bluetooth, the car has automatically connected to which ever phone begins to ring. This proves difficult if you have more than one phone as inevitably the one that is not synced rings. 2. The car is very slow off the mark when you put your foot down, so you have to negotiate intersections with a lot more care as you may not get across in the time you are used to. 3. The air-con is not very powerful and am not sure how it will cope in a Melbourne summer. Hopefully these issues are resolved in future models.