It's midlife model facelift time for the second-generation Renault Captur and the French firm really hasn't messed around - with a dramatic, wide-looking front-end redesign inspired by the new Scenic, the updated Captur almost looks like an all-new model rather than a refresh of existing content.
Significant nose job
Adopting a more distinctive design language, gone is the somewhat apologetic nose of the old Captur, replaced by a sleeker appearance which includes the 'Nouvel'R' one-piece logo in a multi-faceted grille, with a more pronounced-looking bonnet above it. Renault has also introduced a two-tone look with a large plastic contrast insert in the front bumper (there will be 14 possible combinations of finish available there), either side of which are the new 'vertical half-diamond' daytime running lamps.
There's less changed around the back of the car, where the C-shaped lamp clusters are retained, although they are now transparent to give the Captur a fresh look. Similarly, the rear diffuser and the boot logo are new, although they're less noticeable alterations when compared to that front-end overhaul. Beyond this, there are three sizes of alloy wheel available (17-, 18- and 19-inch items), as well as a 17-inch 'Flexwheel' alloy lookalike on base-spec cars. At 4.23 metres long, the Captur retains its 422-litre boot as the TCe 90, while the E-Tech Hybrid 145 has reduced capacity at 326 litres.
Larger digital screens, as ever
Inside, as with so many cars these days, the big talking point is the enlarged infotainment touchscreen. Previously, lowlier specifications of Captur had a seven-inch R-Link display, with the upmarket models featuring a 9.3-inch item. However, there's now a massive 10.4-inch vertical touchscreen in the updated car, as well as the option of having a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.
This is all powered by the latest Android Automotive 12 operating system, which Renault claims is a world-first for the B-segment, while elsewhere, the company is doubling down on its commitment to remove animal products and ecologically unsound materials from its cabins - in the Captur, there is no leather any longer, instead replaced by sustainable fabrics and textiles that have a large recycled content to reduce their carbon footprint. Renault is even limiting the use of chrome in the cabin of the crossover, too.
Petrol and hybrid power offered
Although the revised Captur has six powertrains available to it in global markets, we're likely to retain just the familiar two here - these being the TCe 90 petrol and the E-Tech Hybrid 145. The former is a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged unit producing up to 90hp and 160Nm and equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox driving the front wheels. The latter is the sophisticated 1.6-litre petrol-electric system with a six-speed automated gearbox, a 36kW electric motor and a 18kW high-voltage starter generator, plus a 1.2kWh battery pack. Combined maximum outputs are 145hp and 205Nm, according to Renault.
You can expect 5.8-5.9 litres/100km from the TCe 90 on the WLTP combined cycle, while the E-Tech Hybrid improves those numbers to 4.7-4.9 litres/100km. All models also get revised suspension geometry, as well as tweaks to their dampers and power steering, although the E-Tech Hybrid is said to gain an all-new design of shock absorber anyway.
The revised Renault Captur should be on sale in Ireland from the third quarter later this year, and we'll bring you more details on Irish specifications and prices as and when we have them.