Baby crossovers are all the rage right now, offering a little SUV cool on the footprint of a supermini. Here we pitch the Renault Captur against the Nissan Juke and the Ford EcoSport.
In the Metal
So different are the three cars under test in terms of appearance that we can well imagine buyers making their minds up before they see the prices, lists of standard equipment or running costs. The EcoSport looks the most SUV-like with its spare wheel carrier on the side-hinged boot door (that's not standard any more), though its proportions are a little curious - it looks tall and narrow. Even after its minor 2014 update, the Nissan Juke remains a quirky looking car. It's a design that's aging well, and despite what we consider to be divisive styling it's still garnering sales at an impressive rate. It's well-proportioned at least. In terms of appearance, the Renault Captur is my favourite, just not in the orange and white finish of our test car. It looks contemporary and classy in more subtle shades, or indeed the latest 'Signature' colours.
The cabin of the Captur is the most interesting in terms of design too, though the removable storage box in the back is a little cheap to the touch. The washable seat covers and nifty touchscreen system make up for that somewhat. In contrast, the Nissan Juke's interior feels of higher quality than the others, with tactile seat cloth and a lovely steering wheel. The touchscreen system's graphics won't be everyone's cup of tea, though at least there's decent elbow room up front - and that sloping roof line doesn't detract from rear headroom as much as you might expect.
The Ford wins the competition for headroom though, with more in all seats than the others, notably in the rear - where legroom is the best of the three too. It's a shame the cabin feels so narrow. Its boot is the smallest, but it counters that with cleverly designed rear seats that not only split and fold, but also tumble forward, creating a bicycle-swallowing area. Nonetheless, we weren't all that impressed by the perceived quality of the interior fittings. It might last a long time, and stand up to the attention of grubby children, but it doesn't feel all that nice to touch.
Driving Them
Given the EcoSport's roots (the Fiesta is one of the best superminis on the market in terms of driving dynamics), we expected big things of Ford's new small crossover. It's not bad, but it's far from sparkling. The 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is a little gem as ever, and the five-speed gearbox shifts sweetly, but it never feels like it's producing the full 125hp - nobody will rev it out to the redline as its usually smooth veneer crumbles at very high revs. And the chassis is competent rather than excellent. Refinement isn't as high as it could be either. The Renault fared a little better, though the 0.9-litre engine isn't as good as Ford's. This car is better as a diesel, that's for sure. Nissan's 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine isn't bad, though rather characterless next to the Ford's; and the Juke's six-speed gearbox isn't very pleasant to use. Still, it's the Nissan that ends up being best of the three on the road, with good road-holding manners and stability, allied with decent comfort when you need it most. It stood out as having the best chassis.
What you get for your Money
There's no obvious winner here so buyers are advised to take a detailed look at the equipment. Nissan offers more choice in the Juke with three trim levels (XE, SV, SV Premium and SVE) and (ignoring the minority interest Juke Nismo) three engines, though the CVT automatic can only be had with the old-school 1.6-litre petrol engine, which is in Band B2 for road tax. Prices range from €19,995 to €26,945. The Renault Captur can be had in Life, Intense or Signature trim levels with a choice of 0.9-litre turbocharged petrol or 1.5-litre turbodiesel engines (the latter is actually the same engine as in the Juke). Uniquely, Renault does offer buyers the choice of an automatic gearbox with its diesel engine, which could find favour. Pricing varies from €19,790 to €25,690. The smart money goes on the 1.5-litre dCi diesel in Intense specification, costing €22,890 with a manual gearbox.
Ford's EcoSport is offered in Zetec or Titanium spec, costing €22,995 or €25,835 respectively. For each trim level, at the same price, the buyer then chooses between the 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, a 1.5-litre diesel with 95hp and a five-speed manual gearbox or 110hp version of that diesel paired with and automatic transmission.
Summary - Shane O' Donoghue
This is one of the toughest group test calls we've had in a while. No individual model stands out as the best and we can't help but wonder how the Peugeot 2008 would have done in this company (none were available at the time of the shoot). I'd like the engine and gearbox from the Ford, the driving manners and interior quality of the Nissan allied to the styling inside and out of the Renault. I'm not going to sit on the fence, but I am going to split the vote in a way that might actually help buyers. If you're a low mileage driver and you're going for a modestly priced petrol car then the Nissan Juke wins, powered by its 1.2-litre engine. If, however, you have a little more cash and want a diesel engine, go for the Renault Captur. I'll admit to being a little swayed by the style of the car, but then again: who isn't?
Second Opinion - Paul Healy
The Ford EcoSport, for all its good qualities (engine and transmission) is just too expensive. Yes it is very well equipped, but I get the feeling Ford would attract more buyers if it offered a less well specified car for circa €20,000. The Renault is undoubtedly the better looking of our three cars both inside and out, but the gap is not what it once was. While still divisive looking, the styling of the Juke has matured and it's likely to attract as many buyers as ever. Unlike Shane I got on well with the Juke's gearbox and while its new 1.2 engine is not a patch on the Ford EcoBoost unit it is better than Renault's 0.9-litre. All told, the Juke is my car of the three.
Ford EcoSport Tech Specs
Nissan Juke Tech Specs
Renault Captur Tech Specs
Renault Captur Tech Specs
Please note that, since we conducted this group test, the EcoSport received a facelift. Read our 2016 Ford EcoSport review here.