Renault Captur Compact SUV gets bigger and better

When Renault launched the Captur in 2012 it didn’t have to try too hard because until then, nobody had even thought of making a compact crossover.

Today its ‘B-SUV’ as the trade now calls this type of car, has more than 20 rivals including the T-Cross from Volkswagen. The new Captur had better be good then.

For now, it comes with a choice of petrol and diesel engines – but early next year a plug-in hybrid version will also be available. That powertrain features some very clever technology including a novel gearbox. The engine likely to be most popular with buyers is the 1.0-litre 99bhp three-cylinder petrol.

There will be three trim levels rising from Play, to Iconic, then the S-Edition as the poshest. Our next-door neighbours have a Renault Captur, so it’s a daily sight for me. This version looks fresher and up to date. Also, when you compare it to most of its opposition, its design flair certainly sets it apart. But the real leap forward comes inside. The dash is essentially the same as the one in the new Clio, and that’s a good thing.

Those coming out of the old car into this one will delight in the palpable improvement in the quality of materials. Almost all surfaces are soft and there’s the option of an orange interior pack. Shame you can only order it on the S-Edition model. Also only available on the top-level version is a 10in digital instrument cluster.

The standard infotainment screen is 7 inches, but you can order a 9.3in portrait-format screen as an option. It’s impressive, easy to use and has excellent graphics.

The other eye-catching feature is the ‘floating’ centre console on which the gear lever on our six-speed manual test car sits. Ahead of it is a wireless charging plate for your phone, and underneath it a storage area. With a new platform comes new vital ­statistics. The Captur is 110mm longer, 19mm wider and 17mm taller than it used to be.

The old car was hardly cramped, but there’s even more legroom in the new one. The rear seats slide back and forward over a 160mm range and the luggage area holds an impressive 536 litres if you’ve slid the rear seats as far forward as they’ll go. Go for maximum legroom and you’ll still have a useful 422 litres of load space.

Not only is the Captur’s new body bigger, it’s stiffer.

On the road this is obvious in a car that feels more robust, is quieter and more insulated from engine, tyre and wind noise.

If you’re looking for a fun car to drive, you’re looking in the wrong place – but the Captur has light steering, is surefooted in corners, has minimal body roll and ­acceptable ride comfort.

Our test car has 18in wheels, but I suspect the 17in rims fitted to the TCe100 will give a better ride. The 128bhp engine in this is more than powerful enough. The lower-powered unit might struggle with a full load of people and luggage, but most of the time it’ll be more than adequate.

The top-selling VW T-Cross is reckoned by most critics to be the best of the bunch in the packed world of compact crossovers.

It’s very competent but I found it dull to look at, inside and out.

My money would go on this more distinctive and interesting, and equally able, 2020 Captur from Group 1 Renault.

Article source: https://wheelwonderings.postach.io/post/renault-captur-compact-suv-gets-bigger-and-better

Renault Duster TechRoad is practical, frugal and well priced

In a nutshell, you could say that the latest version of Renault’s Duster has been to ‘finishing school’, but it hasn’t forgotten what it is.

The first generation Duster was conceived as an affordable SUV for the masses. No fancy trimmings or finishes, just plain old good value. With the second generation, released in late 2018, Renault gave it a more eye-catching design as well as a smarter look and feel inside, but without impacting on affordability. To this day it offers plenty of metal for the money. 

Recently Renault added a little more polish to the Duster with the introduction of the TechRoad model grade, which replaced the 4x2 Dynamique derivatives. We recently spent some quality time with the EDC version of the TechRoad, with Renault having lent it to us over the December holiday period. Needless to say, a road trip to the KZN coast was in order.

It must be said that the Renault Duster is sensibly sized for a family vehicle. It’s small enough to be efficient and easily manoeuvrable, yet large enough to cope with holiday luggage. The boot is particularly vast and feels much bigger than the claimed load volume of 478 litres suggests, and rear legroom should prove adequate for most occupants.

I was also impressed by the new seat trim that’s fitted exclusively to the TechRoad models. It’s a dark and durable cloth with red and grey accents that lift the ambience of the cabin. For the record, this version is also set apart by red trim on the air vents, centre console and inner door panels. 

On the outside, the Techroad distinguishes itself with diamond-cut 17-inch alloy wheels, complete with red centre caps, as well as gloss black side mirrors with red stripes. The Duster is, in my humble opinion, a good looking vehicle by modern SUV standards and these changes make it all the more appealing.

Impressive economy

Both versions of the Techroad are fitted with Renault’s 1.5-litre dCi turbodiesel engine, the difference being that in the manual version the outputs are 66kW and 210Nm, while the EDC auto model is blessed with 80kW and 250Nm.

The little diesel unit makes the Duster much more economical than you’d expect from a vehicle of this size, and our car averaged 5.2 litres per 100km on the 1200km round trip, with the trip meter recording 4.8 l/100km on the downward half of the journey and 5.6 l/100km on the 'great climb' back to Joburg.

The performance was decent in most situations and will certainly be acceptable for the average owner. 

The EDC version is fitted with Renault’s six-speed EDC dual-clutch gearbox. Most of the time it gets on with its job unobtrusively. Personally I feel that a simpler torque converter auto box would have worked better in this vehicle as dual-clutch gearboxes are complex and if luck isn't on your side it could be costly to repair when the vehicle gets older, although if you’re buying new then there should be little to worry about as the Duster comes with a five-year/150 000km warranty. 

We subjected the Duster to a variety of road surfaces and its suspension delivered a comfortable ride, and the vehicle also felt reasonably stable through the bends. 

When it comes to road and engine noise, however, the Duster is not as whisper-quiet as many of the modern SUVs on the market these days, particularly those from South Korea, but that certainly wouldn’t be a deal-breaker for me if I was in the market for one, and here we should also keep in mind that the Duster is somewhat cheaper than most other vehicles of a similar size. 

All in all, though, it got us to our destinations comfortably and efficiently, and it had me questioning why many people choose to spend so much more money on the more premium SUVs on the market.

In terms of features, the Duster Techroad ticks most of the boxes, with standard kit including cruise control, single-zone automatic climate control and a touchscreen infotainment system with integrated satnav, reverse camera as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. 

VERDICT

If you’re looking for a reasonably sized SUV for the price of a smaller one, the Duster gives you lots of metal for the money, while the 1.5-litre turbodiesel engine provides acceptable performance and excellent fuel economy. You're essentially getting something almost as big as a C-segment SUV, in the lower end of the B-segment price range. 

The Duster is a comfortable vehicle too and it looks like an SUV should look. Most models are 4x2s, but if you want to go off-roading, there is also a 4x4 version on offer, albeit with a manual gearbox only. 

All considered, the Duster range offers excellent value for money and it worth keeping at the top of your list if you’re looking for a family-sized vehicle. Test drive a new Duster at Group 1 Renault if you would like to experience it first hand.

Article source: https://wheelwonderings.postach.io/post/renault-duster-techroad-is-practical-frugal-and-well-priced

Renault Kwid Restyled for 2020

Renault has applied some SUV-inspired design updates to its Kwid budget car, see details below...
Although not immediately noticeable, the Kwid has grown slightly in size. It's 52 mm longer bumper-to-bumper, whilst the width remains unchanged.

The popular entry-level crossover sees a significant redesign for the 2020 model year. The most noticeable visual change is a new split headlight configuration, which positions LED daytime running lights at either end of the grille. Renault’s stylists have also repositioned the main headlamps in a lower position within the front bumper.

The Kwid’s grille also features a more defined horizontal slat design and around the rear, there are redesigned LEDs within the taillamps.

Renault’s Kwid Cimber variant gains a set of pseudo-adventure trim elements, which include skid plates, roof rails and 14-inch alloy wheels instead of the standard steel rims.

Inside the Kwid features improved seat fabrics, Renault’s latest 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system (with voice command recognition), and a reshaped 3-spoke steering wheel. The Climber also has seats finished in bright orange trim.

There are no mechanical changes to the facelifted Renault Kwid. Engine options continue to be a 0.8-litre 3-cylinder, which produces 40kW and 72Nm. The slightly larger 1.0-litre engine is good for 50kW and 91Nm. Gearbox choices are either a 5-speed manual or an automated manual.

The new Kwid has slightly increased ground clearance compared to its predecessor, adding 4 mm of height. With 184 mm of underbody clearance, it is particularly well adapted to gravel roads and surviving pothole strikes, which is particularly useful in a South African context. 

The new Renault Kwid can be expected to reach South Africa in the first quarter of 2020 and local specification and pricing will be confirmed on the Group 1 Renault website closer to launch. 

Article source: https://www.cars.co.za/motoring_news/renault-kwid-restyled-for-2020/47513/