The alloy wheel sizes range from 16 to 18 inches. Renault is offering 11 exterior colours and four contrasting roof finishes, which mean there are 90 different configurations for drivers to choose from. Pay extra for GPS navigation and you get a 9.3-inch centre screen. Turned towards the driver, this screen, with its EASY LINK connected system, comprises all the multimedia, navigation and infotainment features as well as the car's MULTI-SENSE driving settings. This vertical and subtly curved tablet visually enlarges the dashboard and lends the cabin a more contemporary feel. Standard kit across the range includes what Renault calls its 'Smart Cockpit', a key component of which is the standard 7-inch multimedia screen, the biggest ever on a Renault model.
In MK2 form, this car is 110mm longer, 20mm wider and fractionally taller than before. This second generation Captur looks a sportier thing, primarily because of its stylised LED headlamps which are like those on the latest generation Clio supermini. Renault reckons this package is good for 28 miles of WLTP all-electric range and has an electrified top speed of 83mph. There's also the option of a plug-in hybrid, the E-TECH Plug-in Hybrid 160 auto model, which uses a 1.6-litre petrol engine and has a couple of electric motors powered by a 9.8kWh battery and a multi-mode direct-transmission auto gearbox. We'd suggest a better bet though, would be the E-TECH Hybrid 145 model, a petrol/electric self-charging auto variant that delivers diesel-like efficiency figures. Next up is a four-cylinder 1.3-litre TCe powerplant with 140hp - also only offered in six-speed manual form. The 91hp three-cylinder 1.0-litre TCe with a six-speed manual gearbox is the entry-level option. Under the bonnet, there are three petrol units, diesel having been abandoned. This second generation model's new CMF-B platform is lighter and stiffer than the old Captur's underpinnings, which should improve refinement and handling.
So what's it like? If you're used to a supermini, the more commanding driving position will be welcome - unless you're the kind of enthusiastic owner who realises that with extra ride height, you usually also get extra body roll through the bends. It continues to be based on the Clio supermini and is pitched at the more affordable end of this segment, claimed strongpoints being extra versatility and buyer personalisation, along with class-leading running costs and a decently responsive driving experience. Here's one of the most tempting - the second generation version of Renault's Captur. The real sales growth though, is coming from smaller-sized supermini-based SUVs, cars that have built on the original success of Nissan's pioneering Juke and are now a hot ticket for almost every mainstream brand. It's a segment that's now divided into a couple of sectors, the larger one typified by cars like Nissan's Qashqai and Peugeot's 3008 and based on Focus-sized models. You can't fault the thinking behind the modern SUV Crossover, a class of car that aims to blend the versatility of a people carrying MPV, the attitude of a high-riding SUV and the sharp driving dynamics of a family hatchback. Renault Captur Motability Advance Payment Offers Prices start from £495 Advance Payment, or it's £1295 if you want to order a plug in hybrid (section updated July 2022). The Renault Captur is back on the Motability Scheme with updated trim levels that include the 'Evolution', 'Techno' and the tweaked 'RS Line'.