[Taboleo] Renault Captur, French Sensibility Design with Space Utilization

Cute Exterior Design Combined with Space Practicality
Luxurious Interior Design Competitive Among Peers
Flying Console and 9.3-inch Touchscreen Navigation Draw Attention
TCe 260 Gasoline Engine Ensures Solid Urban Driving Performance

#Renault Captur #CompactSUV #QM3Successor #2ndGenerationCaptur #OlderSisterCar #FrenchSensibility #EditionParis #LuxuriousInterior #CuteAppearance

[Asia Economy Reporter Woo Su-yeon] Renault Samsung Motors scored back-to-back home runs this year by launching two compact sport utility vehicles (SUVs) in the domestic market. The stars are the coupe-style SUV 'XM3' and the traditional SUV style 'Renault Captur.' Among them, the Renault Captur is the second-generation complete redesign model of the compact SUV familiar to us under the name QM3. In Europe, where compact cars are preferred, it has maintained the No. 1 sales position in the compact SUV market for six consecutive years, proving its product competitiveness. The Renault Captur's biggest strengths are not only its sophisticated French-sensibility exterior but also its luxurious interior design. We test-drove the 'Edition Paris' trim equipped with the 'TCe 260' gasoline engine to see how the Renault Captur performs on the road.

Renault Captur Exterior Design

- How is the exterior design?

▲ The first impression of the Renault Captur was 'cute yet sophisticated.' The overall lines actively use curves, giving a rounded and cute image. The delicate treatment of the vehicle lines, such as the front bonnet, also stood out. The Renault emblem located at the center of the grille indicates that the Renault Captur is an imported car directly brought from Renault's Spain factory, not a vehicle made at Renault Samsung's Busan plant.

This car is also equipped with Renault's signature 'ㄷ-shaped' LED headlamps. All trims feature a two-tone exterior color scheme, completing a style full of personality. With seven body colors and two roof colors?white and black?various combinations can be created.

Renault Captur Interior

- I heard the interior is good compared to vehicles in the same class?

▲ Despite being a compact SUV model, the Renault Captur's interior stands out for its luxurious feel. Since the Captur is an imported car, there are no additional options that must be selected separately. Essential options come somewhat standard when the vehicle is delivered. The Edition Paris trim I test-drove especially emphasized a stylish interior. The diamond-quilted leather seats with brown stitching enhanced the sense of luxury.

Another eye-catching feature was the 'flying console.' The console appears to float in the air below the gear lever without any mechanical connection. By utilizing the electronic gear shifter 'e-Shifter,' the space previously occupied by the gear lever was reduced, creating new storage space in its place. If you place your smartphone in the storage space under the flying console, wireless charging is also available.

The Renault Captur is equipped with a 10.25-inch digital cluster and a 9.3-inch touchscreen navigation system. The large 9.3-inch navigation screen gives the impression of a vertically mounted tablet PC. The screen's touch sensitivity is quite good. It also includes SK Telecom's T map navigation, overcoming the common limitation of navigation systems in imported cars.

Renault Captur Flying Console

- What are your impressions after driving it on the road?

▲ The Renault Captur I test-drove was equipped with a 1.3-liter gasoline turbo engine, the TCe 260. Paired with a 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission, it delivers a maximum output of 152 horsepower and a maximum torque of 26.0 kg·m. In urban driving, it felt solid enough not to lack anything. Cornering was stable, and the driving feel was much smoother than the XM3, which uses the same engine. However, at first, the accelerator response was slower than expected, so being impatient, I found myself pressing the accelerator more deeply. This sometimes caused sudden acceleration or jerky movements. I believe this is something that can be quickly overcome by getting used to the Captur's characteristics and syncing with the car. The Captur's fuel efficiency is 13.5 km/L (combined fuel economy, based on 17-inch tires), which is more economical than competing models in the same class like the Tivoli (12.0 km/L) and Kona (12.6 km/L).

- How about the advanced convenience features?

▲ Since compact cars have a high proportion of first-time car buyers, advanced convenience features are essential. Various safety features are a great help to novice drivers who are not yet skilled. The Captur is equipped with an around-view monitor, 360-degree parking assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking assist steering system, enhancing convenience in parking, which is the most challenging task for beginner drivers. It also includes an emergency braking assist system that detects pedestrians, bicycles, and occupants around the vehicle, as well as a blind-spot warning system that helps with lane changes. I also tested the smart cruise control function, which adjusts the distance from the car ahead and maintains a set speed. It even has a feature that starts moving automatically after a complete stop, making it quite useful in heavily congested roads during commuting hours.

Renault Captur 9.3-inch Navigation Display

- Since it's a compact SUV, I assume space utilization is limited. Can it be used as a family car?

▲ It would be difficult for a family of four with two or more children to use the compact SUV Renault Captur as a family car. However, it seems sufficient for a family of three with one child, a couple, or a single driver in terms of space usage. The Captur's second-row seats are designed to slide about 16 cm forward and backward. When passengers sit, the seats can be moved backward to secure legroom in the second row, and when loading luggage, the second-row seats can be folded or pushed forward to enlarge the trunk space (up to 536 liters). For those who find large family cars burdensome and have three or fewer family members, I recommend adding the Renault Captur to the purchase list. The price of the Renault Captur gasoline model is 24.65 million KRW for the Intense trim and 27.48 million KRW for the Edition Paris trim.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.