Although the Renault Captur has garnered a good deal of positive press since its introduction to the South African market last year, there’s always been something of a disconnect between the engine/transmission options on offer that many have felt could be resolved with the addition of a diesel-engined model to the range.
Now Renault has heeded the market’s cri de coer with the introduction of a 1,5-litre turbodiesel model. Could this frugal, torquey little number be the pick of the Captur litter?
Sunset strip
Coinciding with the launch of the diesel model, Renault SA has also unveiled a new limited-edition styling kit that’s limited to 100 units of the 1,5 dCi Dynamique on the local market. Externally, the Sunset package sees the Captur finished in Diamond Black metallic paint with Sunset Orange finishes for such elements as the foglamp surrounds, roof, wing mirror caps, side mouldings, lower grille and rear nameplate holder.
The orange-on-black motif continues in the cabin, with contrasting surrounds of the infotainment system cluster, speakers and air vents. A graffiti-esque finish on the lower steering wheel rim and orange seat bolster panels round off the interior touches. Unlike many clumsily applied special edition packages, the Sunset treatment works really well on the curvaceous and detailed canvas of the already distinctive Captur.
A welcome change that spans both Sunset and standard models is the update to the Captur’s infotainment system, which ushers in further smartphone functionality for the Aha app (compiles custom-made music/radio/podcast content) and Apple’s Siri software. In addition to updated graphics, the system also sports a nippier processor that makes switching between functions and navigation a smoother affair than before.
Diesel déjà vu
If the 1,5 dCi moniker rings a bell, it’s because the four-cylinder turbodiesel unit is one of the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s most prolific engines, with variants thereof doing service in vehicles as diverse as the Renault Mégane III, Nissan NP200 and Mercedes-Benz A-Class. In the Captur this unit is tuned to develop 66 kW, an output matching that of the somewhat thin-feeling three-cylinder turbopetrol. But it’s this unit’s 220 N.m at a low 1 750 r/min – not to mention its coupling with a five-speed manual ‘box – that lends the 1,5 dCi a great deal of promise.
On the open road
The local launch route encompassed a leisurely drive along the warren of motorways and B roads between OR Tambo airport and the Bronkhorstspruit region of Gauteng, the perfect environs in which to see whether the new engine serves up the accelerative shove that’s lacking in its peers and the frugality that’s eluded our 1,2-litre turbopetrol-engined long-termer. In short, the diesel ticks both of these boxes with aplomb.
With just a gentle diesel rumble permeating the cabin at most speeds and hardly anything in the way of powertrain vibration throbbing through the pedals and steering wheel, it’s an impressively refined unit. The combination of close-set gearing, a gearshift action that’s typically Renault (pleasingly direct with just a hint of rubberiness that precludes banging the stick through the gate) and an easily modulated, progressive clutch make the diesel Captur a pleasantly nippy little round towner.
But it’s on open roads where the diesel really begins to impress. With that handy dollop of torque arriving low in the rev range, overtaking manoeuvres are no longer the floor-it-and-grimace exercises that they tend to be in the lesser engined, or so-so dual-clutch transmission-sporting, Capturs. There’s hardly any perceptible lag and the torque balloons satisfyingly into the meat of the rev range, making this Captur feel stronger than its fairly modest outputs suggest.
Dynamically there’s little to distinguish the diesel from its petrol-engined brethren; it’s perhaps a touch nose-heavier and the slight choppiness that afflicts its peers is still present, but with those Clio-derived underpinnings it’s still a pleasantly engaging little car to drive.
Although the engine isn’’t that brawny and doesn’t feel frenetic at motorway speeds, you do get the impression that it could cope with a sixth gear to grant a more relaxing lope to speeds above 120 km/h and perhaps even aid with fuel efficiency. But that was another matter altogether…
Fuel for thought
Rumours of our launch drive entailing a fuel economy challenge had rippled among the gathered press, but it was only after a deal of leafing through our route guide that the presence of this usually odious challenge was confirmed. With more than half of our drive already completed with little regard to average speeds, gentle acceleration and measured gear changes, we decided to largely eschew such antics and rather pilot the diesel Captur in the manner that most would do, confident that Renault’s claimed 3,6 L/100 km fuel economy figure was purely pipedream stuff. Even so, the Renault Captur 1,5 dCi Dynamique Sunset Ltd Edition still posted a very respectable 4,5 L/100 km under our custodianship. One of the teams that better anticipated the challenge managed to eke out an impressive 3,8 L/100 km, although such a figure requires some very measured driving.
The pick of the Captur clique?
The Captur has been crying out for a torquey engine coupled with a good old-fashioned manual ‘box to lend atone for the shortcomings of its petrol stablemates. And with its extra degree of nippiness and usability, and the dCi model has delivered in spades. The Sunset package furthers its appeal, but those too late to grab one are at least still presented with a wide enough palette of colour schemes and combinations to render their cars distinctive. Factor in a sticker price that comfortably undercuts that of the 1,2 dual-clutch model, especially in the case of the standard car’s R289 900, and the Renault Captur 1,5 dCi is very much the pick of Renault’s compact crossover litter.
