I’ve experienced both as long term rental cars. The Mk2 Captur is a massive improvement over the Mk1 which always looked a bit dumpy and felt extremely cheap inside built using horribly low rent hard plastics. The Mk2 interior features lots of soft touch plastics, nicely damped buttons and switches plus better overall comfort. The Mk1 didn’t drive particularly nice either, light and bouncy on the road. The Mk2 feels much more grown up and stable. Best small crossover on the market.
Just discovered this channel. I love cars- but mainly normal run of the mill cars. I refuse to pay the premium for a brand new car - so this channel hits the spot. Many thanks
I love the first gen Captur diesel…..I bought one new 7 years ago, my partner now runs it and it still looks like new, drives like new and does nearly 60mpg….can’t beat it…🎉❤
I was loaned one and I must say I was very impressed with the 1-5 diesels performance and fuel consumption,I’m used to driving a larger engined vehicle but found this little diesel great to drive. I had a Renault Scenic dti 100 in 2000 brand new and it performed perfectly,prior to that I had a 1-9 Clio diesel which also performed well,I have had good service out of Renault diesels and so have my children,we all had new Clio diesels and were very satisfied with them perhaps we were the lucky ones.
I work at a Renault garage, and these new Capturs seem to be ok, but I prefer the first generation. The big problem with them just now is the front lower control arms. The bushes seem to be wearing out quite quickly, no one makes them aftermarket yet, and there's no stock of genuine ones (it took 6 months for a pair to arrive for one car, other later ones seem to be quicker though in fairness). I drove a hybrid one the other day, and I think it might be the worst car I've driven (the normal petrol and diesel ones are alright though)
@@deanobmx I’ve found they’ve mostly been alright over the past decade or so. They’ve been getting worse again over the past 5 or so years though, and the AdBlue on the Trafics is absolutely awful (I’ve replaced countless AdBlue computers on them)
I have a2017 mk4 scenic. Had the front drop links replaced at 20k miles. It’s on 26k now and the ride is horrid. But value for money it’s pretty good. Is this suspension issue recognised on scenics also ? As a quickly discontinued model information is scarce
Hi Matt, my parents have a mk1 Captur 0.9 TCe dynamic while I have a mk5 Clio TCe 130 EDC RS-Line which has the same dash as a mk2 Captur. Personally, I think there is a massieve improvement in interior quality, but it really depends on the level of spec. I actually do think that the Captur you tested was a entry level trim called “Life” as it doesnt have rear parking sensors. I would suggest to get at least the Intense trim which has decent amount of spec and a lot more soft touch materials in the interior and upholstery. PS: this rental was very dirty!
The higher end trim gets soft touch plastic on the door cards and center console. Also it has AEB as standard, not just warning you but actually stopping the car if needed. Higher end ones get either a 7 or 10 inch dash and an optional 9 inch center screen. Having been a tech at Renault for four years the basic models do feel rather cheap and nasty ngl
I was surprised by your comments (and the love in the comments) on the MK1 Captur, because for me it was the worst car I've ever driven, I used to use hire cars quite a lot, and there was a few cars I didn't get on with, but the Captur was the first, and only one I've given it back and asked for something else. After a day of driving it my back was in agony, it was so devoid of any feeling to drive that when I turned the wheel I had to hope it would go where I wanted it to, I've never experienced such dead steering (maybe it was broken), so I called Europcar and asked if I could swap it for something else. I don't dislike Renault, the Clio is pretty decent, and the Kadjar was a very pleasant surprise, in fact if the eventuality arises that I need a crossover(heaven forbid), the Kadjar would be very high on the list, I do like the look of the new Renaults too. The Captur though, I genuinely hated it, everytime I see one I find myself shaking my head that someone chose a Captur over literally any other car on sale. I've not driven a MK2, so my judgement only goes to MK1s.
@MrSparklespring this was a facelift model as far as I know, a 2018 one with LED headlights. I hope I never have to drive a prefacelift if they're worse.
My mate used to rent cars for work, and he had an early mk1 Captur once. Looking around the car I was pleasantly surprised by its style and practicality. Then I had a drive of it myself and the pleasant surprise was replace by mild horror at the vagueness of the steering. I've never driven anything with such slow and devoid of feel steering as that Captur. I can't remember what engine it had, but it was gutless, too. Shame, because I think the style has aged well.
A bit surprised by so many of the negative comments towards French cars? I’m German living in Ireland, so I don’t have skin in the game other then driving the first version of the capture 😅 It’s been super reliable and when I did some research before buying the ADAC (German auto thingy guide) listed it as one of the most reliable as well? Is the one whole French thing maybe a bit of an old stereotype? Great video though 👍🙏😊
Having owned a Mark 1 Captur and now on my 3rd Mark 2 (don't ask it's a PCP thing) I have to disagree with the review. My opinion is the Mark 2 is much better in every way. The ride,comfort, technology, quality and general driving experience is miles better and the 6 speed gearbox matched with the 0.9 litre engine is pretty good. A good value for money SUV. Just to add I found it odd that you complained about changing the volume on the Media screen when you can just use the buttons on the end of the Audio stalk !
Interesting that you and some commenters like the 1st gen capture. A friend of mine has one that is the colour of a prosthetic limb. Having been a passenger on a long journey I have concluded it's crap. The stereo is offensively bad, it doesn't ride well, the boot is small and the interior quality clearly took advice from the people who convert wheelie bins into dashboards in America.
I drove a rental mk1 with the 0.9tce engine from Porto to the algarve, fully laden with 5 people and luggage… not a setup I’d recommend to anyone. The engine felt acceptable when there was only me inside but with passengers it’s totally gutless… it did eventually get up to a cruising speed, but it took many miles. If asked I’d definitely recommend going for the 1.3tce at least.
The fact that it doesnt have a volume knob would put me off the whole car alone. and i can see and feel the cheap hard textured door card plastics without even touching them
Dude you can change the volume, songs, sound source etc from the controls behind the steering wheel under the wipers lever lol. I can confirm there is no need to touch the touchscreen for anything after you start your trip. You can even manage navigation etc with voice commands.
I have a mk1 diesel which I bought from new in 2014. Apart from a dramatic loss of pixels on the infotainment screen (only noticeable at night tbf) it’s been absolutely faultless. We bought a mid range model which we thought was cheap compared to its competitors in 2014, just had a look at the comparable mk2 and it feels like they’ve upped the prices considerably.
If you make a car with poor rear visibility I can't see why you would not shove a few cameras in the back and make use of that screen to assist in reversing, the customer is going to get fed up and buy after-market cameras you might as well build them in and be done with it.
I've owned a mk1 (2015 reg) from 2 years old with around 10k on the clock and it has never missed a beat (although I've serviced it every year) and the spec is excellent. Keyless entry and go, auto headlights and wipers, start/stop (which I detest and never use), cruise control, satnav, aircon and auto climate control. Would I personally recommend one? Hell yeah. I was thinking of changing to a 2nd gen but after watching this I think I'll stay put!! Great review, thanks.
Hi Matt, I have to say that I have a mk2 Captur and it sounded like you were describing a totally different car........then I realised you almost are! Mine is a 2020 Captur S-Edition with a spec no longer available in the UK like electric heated leather seats, a huge iPad style screen, a heated steering wheel, 360 cameras, parking sensors everywhere, self-parking modes and chrome accents. Also, I have an engine that is no longer available the TCe 155bhp, which is a quick little thing (for an SUV) when tied into the 7 speed EDC box. My Dad has a lower spec version with a lower powered engine and an EDC box and it feels like a different car! Anyway, with the poverty spec versions, they are offering now (they don't even have electric folding mirrors!) I will not be getting a new one when I replace my car in a few months.
I drove the original Captur as a hire car in Spain(I've had four Renaults - Clio II/Megane II/III and the Kadjar) and couldnt fault it. Much better than the bog standard Golf I was given on my last trip.
I get what you’re saying about the weird spec, I’ve recently took my next car a new shape Yaris with no parking sensors but rear camera, spare wheel as standard to! In this day and age was a bit of a shock 😮
Looks like the base model you are in, having just ordered the arkana engineered the finish seems much better then you described, even if it is a sheep in a wolfs skin.
I love my 2017 Megane 1.6 diesel signature Nav, so comfortable, smooth and economical. I normally change my cars every three years, I’ll have had it 5 years in August and have no intention of changing it.
We had one 4 years old, front suspension and steering just started falling apart. Engine was rattly too. Part exed it. Only done 20k, looked after. We use my old skoda for all the tip runs and long drives.
It often seems that when a manufacturer brings out a Mk2 version these days, they see it as an opportunity to increase their margins. They think the customer won't notice, while distracted by very minor tweaks.
I too agree Renault is pretty attractive truthfully I'm actually a fan of the Koleos even though it's a Nissan X-Trail under the skin but truthfully it's actually more stylish
We were long years Renault family. We still have Clio IV 0,9 Tce, great car. Reliable, decently economical, fast enough if you get on it. And I have to say I also hate this new volume controls. Who thought that pressing volume button was more ergonomic than pulling it. They were perfect but they ruined it.
I daily a Seat Leon FR which went in for repairs so I had a Mk1 Renault Captur as my courtesy car. Now, I don't know what I expected and it may be because it was a courtesy car but it drove absolutely terribly. The gearbox was the most mushy gearbox I've ever used, the clutch and breaks were almost non-existant and it rolled to quite a dangerous amount when going around a roundabout or even a slight corner at times. The seats were also way too bouncy and slippery for cloth which really didn't help added onto the roll in cornering. It also felt really cheap and horrible to me. I was so glad to have my Leon back! Now granted, people may buy these for the practicality and I can't fault that, for such a small car it does carry an awful lot of stuff, but it just seems like most other cars in its class give you a much better driving experience.
I was really surprised at there not being any volume controls on the steering wheel so did a quick google. Apparently the lower stalk on the RHS of the wheel has volume toggle controls on its end, maybe others have already pointed it out. Must admit though, that spec model does look a bit cheap and nasty.
That was the entry level version. Just like entry level Volkswagens these Capturs get the job done, but look and feel nearly as cheap. I've driven the hybrid version and I liked it. Overall a clear improvement on the facelifted mk1 Captur that I drive.
Very interesting comparison but I'm not in agreement on some major issues. My wife's former car was a 2019 1.5 dCi GT-line which was recently changed for a 2020 1.0TCi Iconic. Both bought used. My main points are : Finish on later Captur much better - lots of squishy material on dash etc and much less scratchy hard plastic. Less idiosyncratic than formerly. Both exactly same colour combination as your rental but I reckon yours was a lower spec. interior (European rental market?) Good paintwork. Gearbox better on earlier model and I accept your point on the huge gearknob! The Iconic does have reversing sensors but no rear camera. Much better instruments and infotainment on later model. 3-pot engine sporty even if a bit vocal whereas diesel could be noisy. Always enjoy your videos and I love the asides! 😂
Hey Matt, the Captur you reviewed seems to be a low spec model. You should totally check out a better spec GT-Line Model, or a Techno, since they really do not feel cheap at all!
I've got a 2014 Captur mk I diesel auto (EDC) bought new with a significant discount. Whilst it's nothing "special" and much of the interior seems to be made of very cheap plastic, it has been problem-free so far but the second generation Captur doesn't really seem to move things along. If I had to replace it now, I'd almost certainly go for a VW T-Cross. Trouble is, there has been a huge jump in new car prices and discounts are now hard to come by, too.
Can't wait to get shot of my 2019 Captur. Had to get a new set of brakes last year, and a new gear box and clutch this year, which all happened as soon as the warranty ran out! I have absolutely no confidence in the car at all now and get paranoid every time it makes a noise or moves in a different way than normal. I'll never buy a French car again.
Hey Matt, I see you're in Spain, As a Land Rover fan, here's a chalenge, find a Santana to review! Pref an Anibal they're a bit never, that's an interesting story!
Matt, you teasingly said that it was too early to say for sure what the reliability will be like except to say it “will probably be a mixed bag”. I would say its a Renault so it should do ok for about 6 months after which everything will break and need replacing every month until either you buy a cheaper to maintain Aston Martin DB9 or end up in the Bankruptcy Court. Sure the Renault it will be better than a Peugeot - they fall apart after 4 months. I speak from experience. And yes, Im not joking when I say the DB9 will be cheaper to maintain.
I think they've come a long way in reliability although some of the cheap aspects of that mark 2 like the badly fitting doors are concerning they've done some cost cutting.
Good evening Matt, I like the way the car looks back to be perfectly honest the interior doesn't do the bodywork Justice looks very much like the Dacia Sandero inside now and to be perfectly honest you might as well get one of those new rather then the Renault and save yourself a few quid.cheers Phil form Newark
Parents have a mk1 Captur diesel. Really good on fuel (60mpg+) but for me the hard, hollow scratchy plastic dash and door cards and unrefined ride quality are its biggest failings. So really surprised to hear you say that this is worse!
My mum recently changed from a 2018 Clio to a brand new clio hybrid and, to be honest, I didn’t realise how underwhelming the new car is until you’ve just pointed it out. It’s like there’s no invention or imagination. It’s just like a (slightly cheaper built) Polo now, just bland and uninspiring
You don’t have to go into the infotainment screen to reduce the volume, just reduce it from the stock control. Except of course if you’re the passenger 😂. I’ve got mixed feelings about the mark 2. I’ve had two mark 1’s (all three were/are diesel). The new mark 2 engine is quieter to drive. I suppose the argument about whether it feels cheap or not inside depends what your used to. The air con system in the mark 1 is significantly better than the mark 2, unless we’ve just been unlucky. Other downside is the passenger seat, which is set too high for tall passengers with no height adjustment unless you go higher than the Iconic. The mark 1 passenger seat was set area more realistic height. 2021 models, Iconic and above come with rear parking sensors plus lots of nice touches missing in other cars of similar price, eg speed sign reading which shows up on the drivers screen. Seats aren’t as comfortable in the mark 2. So it’s a bit of a mixed bag. Overall though, it’s a good car, it could be a great car if the passenger seat was set lower and the air con worked properly (it’s been back at the dealers twice for this, and still not fixed). ❤
When I first saw it from the side I thought the gear stick was a can of pop in a holder, I thought he’s covered the name of the pop, then you mentioned the gearstick and I realised 😂 time to change my specs 🤓
Another great entertaining video Matt. Chuckled at your caressing the bumper of the car behind 😂 I would never buy one (avoid French, Peugeot specifically) the new Renault Megan electric does looks interesting though.
Matt I'm just watching at 3.13 and I can't be more agree with you. I just rented a car in France and it was a Clio. Yes it looks good but it's horrible on the inside. Steering wheel is too big, controls on it make no sense (where is volume for music?), the silly idea of volume on the screen is very dangerous, the radio buttons at the right side? What the? Should be as in any proper car, at left side. So when you drive and change gears you can even play the sound. And the gear lever is stupidly massive. Plus it doesn't really guide well to 4th and 6th gear. No reverse camera?? And then NO rear brake disks (very dangerous). Plus the signals rack is so small you need to kind of take your hand off the wheel to indicate/use your indicators. In my car while holding the wheel I can easily move this stick. Also silly and dangerous. Overall those are a joke of cars that should cost nothing as your life is in danger plus is going to be very boring while "driving" these. And I would understand if they'll sell for 8.000€. Because they include almost NO tech, and neither safety as they do NOT come with 4 brake disks, plus all the other "features" explained before. And yes rear visibility is very bad too! The steering wheel is very fluffy and loose in the Clio. No resistance at all. Not even at high speeds (dangerous once again) There is more: seats are very hard to set in a comfortable position due to the head rest. And after 2hs drive you feel tired due to the poor quality of them, they are too soft. Those should bring you pain in a 6h journey. My 20yo car has better seats, better brakes (4 disks) better gear leaver and overall still holds up well (it has everything in place and working and makes using stuff very simple and quick)
Tell you what I see in Tesco car park close to my house. I no it’s nothing to do with this video. I seen a Vauxhall frontera limited 2002 3.2 v6 in black. I got talking to the elderly lady driving it and she said it only covered 14,000 miles. It was immaculate.
Is worth putting a patio area for summer use? It would mean taking up a bit of garden space. Then there's the question of does the bathroom really need to be replaced? If it's for tenant use. Oh. No. I've only gorn and dun it again! Wrong channel!! I got confused and thought this was the property channel. What am I like.
Main problem for me is it related to the Juke, albeit in a far nicer shape. Also related to Dacia Duster which is getting better looking in its latest version.
Had one of these as a hire car. i completely agree, the interior is quite awful, The screen is so slow and you must use the volume through it which is very dangerous. The ride is quite good but when going around a corner it feels like it will fall of the road, but i guess thats all modern crossovers.
The title says this was posted 4 days ago but I think this video is much older than that! We have been looking at Captur in the last few weeks and they are superior to the one in the video. There is electronic handbrake and better quality interior finish
I and my wife disagree with you on the interior space of the new captur, we found the new one cramped in the front with less arm and leg room , we do agree the mK1 to be the better buy but we ended up buying a Hyundai ix20.
@@HighPeakAutos Hi Mat. It's 6.00 am, in the UK, and I'm straight to your video, no point in watching the news headlines, it's always bad these days. Great video. Yes, why change what already works? I can understand the body, but some of the modern touches are a distraction from driving. Thanks for a another great video, keep up the good work.
*THE DANGERS OF TOUCH-SCREENS:* In my opinion, EURO NCAP should mark ANY and ALL cars with touch-screens as being a HUGE mark-down for safety. *Anything* which stops or distracts the driver from looking at the road ahead is potentially VERY dangerous. In fact, IMO touch-screens should be BANNED on ALL vehicles, and in ALL countries, PERIOD.
Its too bland so just doesnt stand out as much as the mk1. I bought a Kamiq and although it is too probably quite boring its the safer choice. And at least being a Skoda it has that extra bit of practicality that other car makers dont give you so you can justify boring especially when its being used as a family car.
I completely disagree. The second generation Captur is a HUGE improvement interior wise in styling and qaulity over the mk1, Which is horrendous. Even compared to the same era Clio they were very poor. We had both, and the new Captur was hugely improved.
@@HighPeakAutos Definitely, Be a boring world if we all felt the same. Do love your car reviews though. No nonsense and always real. Always appreciate your thoughts & experiences.
Don't know what's going on with the Renault model naming, but I'm not a fan. That Captur(e) has a sloping roof allied to a high waistline giving a really small glass area. It must be like the black hole of Calcutta in the back.
Don’t people prefer a slightly older but higher value car with tons of spec? £14k you can get yourself a nice Audi A5 or a BMW 3 series. 2.0 diesel, ULEZ exempt, relatively low tax and pushing 50mpg. Way more value for money.
I can’t stand the Captur, chiefly because I drove a 1st gen 19 plate high spec diesel one through Europe last year. It was rough, unrefined, sluggish, and didn’t drive in a straight line even though it had been for an alignment and 4 new tyres the day we set off. I drove a new Peugeot 2008 about 6 months after, and the difference was like comparing Eddie Jordan’s yacht with an inflatable dinghy.
I hired one of these in Portugal last year, and it sounded like something was going to fall off the front suspension. I was very unhappy. Very loud clonking underneath. The next day I returned it using back roads and keeping below 40kmh, and when I got to Faro airport, it was inspected and they looked rather concerned. To apologise they gave me a Jeep Renegade as a free upgrade. Reading one of your other comments, 'The big problem with them just now is the front lower control arms.' Yes. I think it was about to fall off! Dreadful build quality.
Interesting thanks, my Ma has a mk1 dci dynamic nav on a 2017 plate. I love it when I go to visit if I don’t take a car with me. Guess I’ll not push her to upgrade to a mk2 just yet…….
Looks like you got a poverty spec rental car. Manufacturers seem to do a special cut down version for rentals. I had a seat mii as a rental and it didn't even have electric windows or mirrors in 2017! When it rained on the roof it sounded louder than in a tent. Driving through a puddle sounded like I'd gone through a river.
Don't know if it's possible, but, when you go abroad it would be good if you could do cars we don't get in the UK, i.e. Renault Talisman etc. Just to see what we're missing out on.
I hate those steering wheels that are warped to view the instrument cluster. New Jags aswell. Almost as weird as the old Rover SD1 with it's virtually square one. Suggests a design mess up to me?
Take the badges off, and it could be any manufacturers car. Dull as ditch water, just like the rest...IN MY OPINION, which I appreciate, counts for zilch.
Have to agree that in this generation (~2015-2020) Renault has been cheaping out pretty much across the board; having used a Mk.3 Megane I was disappointed by how the mk.4 interior looks cheaper and the driving also has less feel..I'm also not a fan of the "grandpa's eyebrows " headlights, but that's more personal I guess.
I’ve experienced both as long term rental cars. The Mk2 Captur is a massive improvement over the Mk1 which always looked a bit dumpy and felt extremely cheap inside built using horribly low rent hard plastics. The Mk2 interior features lots of soft touch plastics, nicely damped buttons and switches plus better overall comfort. The Mk1 didn’t drive particularly nice either, light and bouncy on the road. The Mk2 feels much more grown up and stable. Best small crossover on the market.
Just discovered this channel. I love cars- but mainly normal run of the mill cars. I refuse to pay the premium for a brand new car - so this channel hits the spot. Many thanks
I love the first gen Captur diesel…..I bought one new 7 years ago, my partner now runs it and it still looks like new, drives like new and does nearly 60mpg….can’t beat it…🎉❤
I was loaned one and I must say I was very impressed with the 1-5 diesels performance and fuel consumption,I’m used to driving a larger engined vehicle but found this little diesel great to drive. I had a Renault Scenic dti 100 in 2000 brand new and it performed perfectly,prior to that I had a 1-9 Clio diesel which also performed well,I have had good service out of Renault diesels and so have my children,we all had new Clio diesels and were very satisfied with them perhaps we were the lucky ones.
they want diesels off the road and us into evs that way you cant travel as farm..diesels all the way
I work at a Renault garage, and these new Capturs seem to be ok, but I prefer the first generation. The big problem with them just now is the front lower control arms. The bushes seem to be wearing out quite quickly, no one makes them aftermarket yet, and there's no stock of genuine ones (it took 6 months for a pair to arrive for one car, other later ones seem to be quicker though in fairness). I drove a hybrid one the other day, and I think it might be the worst car I've driven (the normal petrol and diesel ones are alright though)
Hi ,Is that door card issue the same on all cars?
Renaults are awful cars end of so glad to of part ex mine someone else’s reoccurring nightmare
@@scotty-837 I’ve not seen it personally
@@deanobmx I’ve found they’ve mostly been alright over the past decade or so. They’ve been getting worse again over the past 5 or so years though, and the AdBlue on the Trafics is absolutely awful (I’ve replaced countless AdBlue computers on them)
I have a2017 mk4 scenic. Had the front drop links replaced at 20k miles. It’s on 26k now and the ride is horrid. But value for money it’s pretty good. Is this suspension issue recognised on scenics also ? As a quickly discontinued model information is scarce
Hi Matt, my parents have a mk1 Captur 0.9 TCe dynamic while I have a mk5 Clio TCe 130 EDC RS-Line which has the same dash as a mk2 Captur. Personally, I think there is a massieve improvement in interior quality, but it really depends on the level of spec. I actually do think that the Captur you tested was a entry level trim called “Life” as it doesnt have rear parking sensors. I would suggest to get at least the Intense trim which has decent amount of spec and a lot more soft touch materials in the interior and upholstery. PS: this rental was very dirty!
The higher end trim gets soft touch plastic on the door cards and center console. Also it has AEB as standard, not just warning you but actually stopping the car if needed. Higher end ones get either a 7 or 10 inch dash and an optional 9 inch center screen.
Having been a tech at Renault for four years the basic models do feel rather cheap and nasty ngl
I’m not a Renault owner but I think you are driving the base model with no parking sensors or decent size info screen.
I was surprised by your comments (and the love in the comments) on the MK1 Captur, because for me it was the worst car I've ever driven, I used to use hire cars quite a lot, and there was a few cars I didn't get on with, but the Captur was the first, and only one I've given it back and asked for something else. After a day of driving it my back was in agony, it was so devoid of any feeling to drive that when I turned the wheel I had to hope it would go where I wanted it to, I've never experienced such dead steering (maybe it was broken), so I called Europcar and asked if I could swap it for something else.
I don't dislike Renault, the Clio is pretty decent, and the Kadjar was a very pleasant surprise, in fact if the eventuality arises that I need a crossover(heaven forbid), the Kadjar would be very high on the list, I do like the look of the new Renaults too. The Captur though, I genuinely hated it, everytime I see one I find myself shaking my head that someone chose a Captur over literally any other car on sale. I've not driven a MK2, so my judgement only goes to MK1s.
The driving abilities and chassis were much improved on the facelifted versions. So Renault acknowledged that there was a huge problem...
@MrSparklespring this was a facelift model as far as I know, a 2018 one with LED headlights. I hope I never have to drive a prefacelift if they're worse.
My mate used to rent cars for work, and he had an early mk1 Captur once. Looking around the car I was pleasantly surprised by its style and practicality. Then I had a drive of it myself and the pleasant surprise was replace by mild horror at the vagueness of the steering. I've never driven anything with such slow and devoid of feel steering as that Captur. I can't remember what engine it had, but it was gutless, too. Shame, because I think the style has aged well.
Nothing that a good “buff” cant solve 😂
A bit surprised by so many of the negative comments towards French cars?
I’m German living in Ireland, so I don’t have skin in the game other then driving the first version of the capture 😅
It’s been super reliable and when I did some research before buying the ADAC (German auto thingy guide) listed it as one of the most reliable as well? Is the one whole French thing maybe a bit of an old stereotype?
Great video though 👍🙏😊
Having owned a Mark 1 Captur and now on my 3rd Mark 2 (don't ask it's a PCP thing) I have to disagree with the review.
My opinion is the Mark 2 is much better in every way.
The ride,comfort, technology, quality and general driving experience is miles better and the 6 speed gearbox matched with the 0.9 litre engine is pretty good.
A good value for money SUV.
Just to add I found it odd that you complained about changing the volume on the Media screen when you can just use the buttons on the end of the Audio stalk !
Interesting that you and some commenters like the 1st gen capture. A friend of mine has one that is the colour of a prosthetic limb. Having been a passenger on a long journey I have concluded it's crap. The stereo is offensively bad, it doesn't ride well, the boot is small and the interior quality clearly took advice from the people who convert wheelie bins into dashboards in America.
I have driven top spec Captur auto for nearly 3 years. It's a great car, and I have not had any problems with it.
I drove a rental mk1 with the 0.9tce engine from Porto to the algarve, fully laden with 5 people and luggage… not a setup I’d recommend to anyone. The engine felt acceptable when there was only me inside but with passengers it’s totally gutless… it did eventually get up to a cruising speed, but it took many miles. If asked I’d definitely recommend going for the 1.3tce at least.
The fact that it doesnt have a volume knob would put me off the whole car alone. and i can see and feel the cheap hard textured door card plastics without even touching them
Dude you can change the volume, songs, sound source etc from the controls behind the steering wheel under the wipers lever lol. I can confirm there is no need to touch the touchscreen for anything after you start your trip. You can even manage navigation etc with voice commands.
I think the Captur looks better the higher spec you go.
As you mentioned the Arkana I have to say I love the design and drive. Hence why I bought one.
I have a mk1 diesel which I bought from new in 2014. Apart from a dramatic loss of pixels on the infotainment screen (only noticeable at night tbf) it’s been absolutely faultless. We bought a mid range model which we thought was cheap compared to its competitors in 2014, just had a look at the comparable mk2 and it feels like they’ve upped the prices considerably.
Just wondering, if u have compared this price with prices in EU? :)
If you make a car with poor rear visibility I can't see why you would not shove a few cameras in the back and make use of that screen to assist in reversing, the customer is going to get fed up and buy after-market cameras you might as well build them in and be done with it.
The amount of times Matt says "oh there's one now" is amazing haha
It’s always perfect timing
I've owned a mk1 (2015 reg) from 2 years old with around 10k on the clock and it has never missed a beat (although I've serviced it every year) and the spec is excellent. Keyless entry and go, auto headlights and wipers, start/stop (which I detest and never use), cruise control, satnav, aircon and auto climate control. Would I personally recommend one? Hell yeah. I was thinking of changing to a 2nd gen but after watching this I think I'll stay put!! Great review, thanks.
Hi Matt, I have to say that I have a mk2 Captur and it sounded like you were describing a totally different car........then I realised you almost are! Mine is a 2020 Captur S-Edition with a spec no longer available in the UK like electric heated leather seats, a huge iPad style screen, a heated steering wheel, 360 cameras, parking sensors everywhere, self-parking modes and chrome accents. Also, I have an engine that is no longer available the TCe 155bhp, which is a quick little thing (for an SUV) when tied into the 7 speed EDC box. My Dad has a lower spec version with a lower powered engine and an EDC box and it feels like a different car! Anyway, with the poverty spec versions, they are offering now (they don't even have electric folding mirrors!) I will not be getting a new one when I replace my car in a few months.
Thanks for making these videos. I live in the US and don't get to see a lot of the cars you drive.
Glad you like them!
I drove the original Captur as a hire car in Spain(I've had four Renaults - Clio II/Megane II/III and the Kadjar) and couldnt fault it. Much better than the bog standard Golf I was given on my last trip.
Just like my phones, I don't like thick bezels, I prefer the Peugeot 2008, has more flare. Thanks for the review
I get what you’re saying about the weird spec, I’ve recently took my next car a new shape Yaris with no parking sensors but rear camera, spare wheel as standard to! In this day and age was a bit of a shock 😮
I think the harder plastics where due to this car being a base model
Looks like the base model you are in, having just ordered the arkana engineered the finish seems much better then you described, even if it is a sheep in a wolfs skin.
I love my 2017 Megane 1.6 diesel signature Nav, so comfortable, smooth and economical. I normally change my cars every three years, I’ll have had it 5 years in August and have no intention of changing it.
We had one 4 years old, front suspension and steering just started falling apart. Engine was rattly too. Part exed it. Only done 20k, looked after. We use my old skoda for all the tip runs and long drives.
A good review which goes deeper. We love our mark 1 here in Oz. See no reason to change it.
Nice reference to the old school bodybuilder big Lou ferigno, aka the Hulk.
the old captur looked better than this. the old one was quirky like you said
The old one was much better
I agree. This one looks plain and boring in comparison.
@@HighPeakAutos agreed. The Vauxhall mokka and Peugeot 2008 are really quirky and this Renault is a bit Toyota esque
@@Alexander_l322 your right Alex. Thank you for joining the chat 🍻.
Always loved it's looks
not a bad car i was looking through the classifieds before and saw a captur think it was £3600 looked nice
It often seems that when a manufacturer brings out a Mk2 version these days, they see it as an opportunity to increase their margins. They think the customer won't notice, while distracted by very minor tweaks.
I too agree Renault is pretty attractive truthfully I'm actually a fan of the Koleos even though it's a Nissan X-Trail under the skin but truthfully it's actually more stylish
Please do a renault laguna mark 3 estate, preferably the top spec initiale model. Your content is fab.
Matt my man I need you to do some RAV4 reviews :D. Especially hybrid gen 4 & 5 versions. Cheers!
We were long years Renault family. We still have Clio IV 0,9 Tce, great car. Reliable, decently economical, fast enough if you get on it. And I have to say I also hate this new volume controls. Who thought that pressing volume button was more ergonomic than pulling it. They were perfect but they ruined it.
I daily a Seat Leon FR which went in for repairs so I had a Mk1 Renault Captur as my courtesy car.
Now, I don't know what I expected and it may be because it was a courtesy car but it drove absolutely terribly.
The gearbox was the most mushy gearbox I've ever used, the clutch and breaks were almost non-existant and it rolled to quite a dangerous amount when going around a roundabout or even a slight corner at times. The seats were also way too bouncy and slippery for cloth which really didn't help added onto the roll in cornering.
It also felt really cheap and horrible to me. I was so glad to have my Leon back!
Now granted, people may buy these for the practicality and I can't fault that, for such a small car it does carry an awful lot of stuff, but it just seems like most other cars in its class give you a much better driving experience.
I was really surprised at there not being any volume controls on the steering wheel so did a quick google. Apparently the lower stalk on the RHS of the wheel has volume toggle controls on its end, maybe others have already pointed it out. Must admit though, that spec model does look a bit cheap and nasty.
That was the entry level version. Just like entry level Volkswagens these Capturs get the job done, but look and feel nearly as cheap. I've driven the hybrid version and I liked it. Overall a clear improvement on the facelifted mk1 Captur that I drive.
To be fair, you can adjust the audio volume using that stalk you zoomed in on.
Very interesting comparison but I'm not in agreement on some major issues. My wife's former car was a 2019 1.5 dCi GT-line which was recently changed for a 2020 1.0TCi Iconic. Both bought used. My main points are :
Finish on later Captur much better - lots of squishy material on dash etc and much less scratchy hard plastic. Less idiosyncratic than formerly.
Both exactly same colour combination as your rental but I reckon yours was a lower spec. interior (European rental market?) Good paintwork.
Gearbox better on earlier model and I accept your point on the huge gearknob!
The Iconic does have reversing sensors but no rear camera.
Much better instruments and infotainment on later model.
3-pot engine sporty even if a bit vocal whereas diesel could be noisy.
Always enjoy your videos and I love the asides! 😂
Like your good self Matt no French car for me thanks . Massive respect to you tho you know your stuff
Cheers!
Kindly review the second generation Volkswagen touareg
That would be a great strapline for the Mk2 "Change for..." Interesting video of an interesting car..
Please review a Hyundai Elantra if you can find one. They are really great used cars(I have a 2013).
Hey Matt, the Captur you reviewed seems to be a low spec model. You should totally check out a better spec GT-Line Model, or a Techno, since they really do not feel cheap at all!
I've got a 2014 Captur mk I diesel auto (EDC) bought new with a significant discount. Whilst it's nothing "special" and much of the interior seems to be made of very cheap plastic, it has been problem-free so far but the second generation Captur doesn't really seem to move things along. If I had to replace it now, I'd almost certainly go for a VW T-Cross. Trouble is, there has been a huge jump in new car prices and discounts are now hard to come by, too.
Thanks for that We're looking at captur for wife I really value your revues
Out of all the French cars, Renault is the only one I would pick. If Mercedes can use their engines it’s good enough for then
Harsh!
****ing solid.
Well done.
Can't wait to get shot of my 2019 Captur. Had to get a new set of brakes last year, and a new gear box and clutch this year, which all happened as soon as the warranty ran out! I have absolutely no confidence in the car at all now and get paranoid every time it makes a noise or moves in a different way than normal. I'll never buy a French car again.
Hey Matt, I see you're in Spain, As a Land Rover fan, here's a chalenge, find a Santana to review! Pref an Anibal they're a bit never, that's an interesting story!
Matt, you teasingly said that it was too early to say for sure what the reliability will be like except to say it “will probably be a mixed bag”. I would say its a Renault so it should do ok for about 6 months after which everything will break and need replacing every month until either you buy a cheaper to maintain Aston Martin DB9 or end up in the Bankruptcy Court. Sure the Renault it will be better than a Peugeot - they fall apart after 4 months. I speak from experience. And yes, Im not joking when I say the DB9 will be cheaper to maintain.
I think they've come a long way in reliability although some of the cheap aspects of that mark 2 like the badly fitting doors are concerning they've done some cost cutting.
Good evening Matt, I like the way the car looks back to be perfectly honest the interior doesn't do the bodywork Justice looks very much like the Dacia Sandero inside now and to be perfectly honest you might as well get one of those new rather then the Renault and save yourself a few quid.cheers Phil form Newark
Hey Matt. Love your work 👍
Parents have a mk1 Captur diesel. Really good on fuel (60mpg+) but for me the hard, hollow scratchy plastic dash and door cards and unrefined ride quality are its biggest failings. So really surprised to hear you say that this is worse!
sounds like you never tried the edc7 in the captur... marvelous gearbox in the city
Great review!
Wot no volume knob, scrap it now. No wait, what are these under my middle finger, ok cancel the scrappy man. Great vid as always.
Used to work for Renault, and drove many of these, hateful things after a Qashqai and Juke.
A better interior and engine are probably a good idea from the way you've said it to be. But the exterior styling is really good looking
My mum recently changed from a 2018 Clio to a brand new clio hybrid and, to be honest, I didn’t realise how underwhelming the new car is until you’ve just pointed it out. It’s like there’s no invention or imagination. It’s just like a (slightly cheaper built) Polo now, just bland and uninspiring
You don’t have to go into the infotainment screen to reduce the volume, just reduce it from the stock control. Except of course if you’re the passenger 😂. I’ve got mixed feelings about the mark 2. I’ve had two mark 1’s (all three were/are diesel). The new mark 2 engine is quieter to drive. I suppose the argument about whether it feels cheap or not inside depends what your used to. The air con system in the mark 1 is significantly better than the mark 2, unless we’ve just been unlucky. Other downside is the passenger seat, which is set too high for tall passengers with no height adjustment unless you go higher than the Iconic. The mark 1 passenger seat was set area more realistic height. 2021 models, Iconic and above come with rear parking sensors plus lots of nice touches missing in other cars of similar price, eg speed sign reading which shows up on the drivers screen. Seats aren’t as comfortable in the mark 2. So it’s a bit of a mixed bag. Overall though, it’s a good car, it could be a great car if the passenger seat was set lower and the air con worked properly (it’s been back at the dealers twice for this, and still not fixed). ❤
When I first saw it from the side I thought the gear stick was a can of pop in a holder, I thought he’s covered the name of the pop, then you mentioned the gearstick and I realised 😂 time to change my specs 🤓
Another great entertaining video Matt. Chuckled at your caressing the bumper of the car behind 😂 I would never buy one (avoid French, Peugeot specifically) the new Renault Megan electric does looks interesting though.
Erm, Matt, wasn't that volume controls that I saw on a stalk??
Agree with your point on touchscreens being a danger.
Matt I'm just watching at 3.13 and I can't be more agree with you. I just rented a car in France and it was a Clio. Yes it looks good but it's horrible on the inside. Steering wheel is too big, controls on it make no sense (where is volume for music?), the silly idea of volume on the screen is very dangerous, the radio buttons at the right side? What the? Should be as in any proper car, at left side. So when you drive and change gears you can even play the sound. And the gear lever is stupidly massive. Plus it doesn't really guide well to 4th and 6th gear. No reverse camera?? And then NO rear brake disks (very dangerous).
Plus the signals rack is so small you need to kind of take your hand off the wheel to indicate/use your indicators. In my car while holding the wheel I can easily move this stick. Also silly and dangerous.
Overall those are a joke of cars that should cost nothing as your life is in danger plus is going to be very boring while "driving" these. And I would understand if they'll sell for 8.000€. Because they include almost NO tech, and neither safety as they do NOT come with 4 brake disks, plus all the other "features" explained before. And yes rear visibility is very bad too!
The steering wheel is very fluffy and loose in the Clio. No resistance at all. Not even at high speeds (dangerous once again)
There is more: seats are very hard to set in a comfortable position due to the head rest. And after 2hs drive you feel tired due to the poor quality of them, they are too soft. Those should bring you pain in a 6h journey. My 20yo car has better seats, better brakes (4 disks) better gear leaver and overall still holds up well (it has everything in place and working and makes using stuff very simple and quick)
Little side note. That car could have been cleaned before they let you do the road test.
Outside the UK you can get one with a Mitsubishi badge called the ASX
I just hope the engine doesn't explode 😂😂😂 brilliant work matt love to see some high performance car as well? And cheap cars.
Tell you what I see in Tesco car park close to my house.
I no it’s nothing to do with this video. I seen a Vauxhall frontera limited 2002 3.2 v6 in black. I got talking to the elderly lady driving it and she said it only covered 14,000 miles. It was immaculate.
Is worth putting a patio area for summer use? It would mean taking up a bit of garden space.
Then there's the question of does the bathroom really need to be replaced? If it's for tenant use.
Oh. No. I've only gorn and dun it again! Wrong channel!! I got confused and thought this was the property channel.
What am I like.
Main problem for me is it related to the Juke, albeit in a far nicer shape. Also related to Dacia Duster which is getting better looking in its latest version.
Had one of these as a hire car. i completely agree, the interior is quite awful, The screen is so slow and you must use the volume through it which is very dangerous. The ride is quite good but when going around a corner it feels like it will fall of the road, but i guess thats all modern crossovers.
You can use the wheel mounted controls for the volume even though they aren't as good as the previous ones much easier than using he screen
The title says this was posted 4 days ago but I think this video is much older than that! We have been looking at Captur in the last few weeks and they are superior to the one in the video. There is electronic handbrake and better quality interior finish
Just can't get excited by this type of car. Looking forward to seeing you back in a wet car park near Manchester!
I and my wife disagree with you on the interior space of the new captur, we found the new one cramped in the front with less arm and leg room , we do agree the mK1 to be the better buy but we ended up buying a Hyundai ix20.
ARGH! A new video from High Peak! I'll leave it for tomorrow morning. I can't wait, but I'll have to
Haha thank you. Patience is a virtue
@@HighPeakAutos Hi Mat. It's 6.00 am, in the UK, and I'm straight to your video, no point in watching the news headlines, it's always bad these days. Great video. Yes, why change what already works? I can understand the body, but some of the modern touches are a distraction from driving. Thanks for a another great video, keep up the good work.
*THE DANGERS OF TOUCH-SCREENS:* In my opinion, EURO NCAP should mark ANY and ALL cars with touch-screens as being a HUGE mark-down for safety. *Anything* which stops or distracts the driver from looking at the road ahead is potentially VERY dangerous. In fact, IMO touch-screens should be BANNED on ALL vehicles, and in ALL countries, PERIOD.
Its too bland so just doesnt stand out as much as the mk1. I bought a Kamiq and although it is too probably quite boring its the safer choice. And at least being a Skoda it has that extra bit of practicality that other car makers dont give you so you can justify boring especially when its being used as a family car.
I completely disagree. The second generation Captur is a HUGE improvement interior wise in styling and qaulity over the mk1, Which is horrendous. Even compared to the same era Clio they were very poor. We had both, and the new Captur was hugely improved.
🤷🏼♂️ each to their own
@@HighPeakAutos Definitely, Be a boring world if we all felt the same. Do love your car reviews though. No nonsense and always real. Always appreciate your thoughts & experiences.
@@cjtr83 that’s right. Cheers - I appreciate it
hello Matt, could you do a review on a renault grand scenic mk3?
nice video Matt!
Don't know what's going on with the Renault model naming, but I'm not a fan. That Captur(e) has a sloping roof allied to a high waistline giving a really small glass area. It must be like the black hole of Calcutta in the back.
Don’t people prefer a slightly older but higher value car with tons of spec? £14k you can get yourself a nice Audi A5 or a BMW 3 series. 2.0 diesel, ULEZ exempt, relatively low tax and pushing 50mpg. Way more value for money.
I can’t stand the Captur, chiefly because I drove a 1st gen 19 plate high spec diesel one through Europe last year. It was rough, unrefined, sluggish, and didn’t drive in a straight line even though it had been for an alignment and 4 new tyres the day we set off. I drove a new Peugeot 2008 about 6 months after, and the difference was like comparing Eddie Jordan’s yacht with an inflatable dinghy.
It’s a long time since I’ve seen such low grade plastics used on a car interior… and I include Dacia in that.
Try a Ford Puma Matt - they have a 5 star rating ( in the motor mags!!)
i prefer the look of the peugeot 2008 and vauxhall mokka though. this looks a bit bland in my opinion
What kind of car do you recommend for a first car. Low insurance
I hired one of these in Portugal last year, and it sounded like something was going to fall off the front suspension. I was very unhappy. Very loud clonking underneath. The next day I returned it using back roads and keeping below 40kmh, and when I got to Faro airport, it was inspected and they looked rather concerned. To apologise they gave me a Jeep Renegade as a free upgrade. Reading one of your other comments, 'The big problem with them just now is the front lower control arms.' Yes. I think it was about to fall off! Dreadful build quality.
Interesting thanks, my Ma has a mk1 dci dynamic nav on a 2017 plate. I love it when I go to visit if I don’t take a car with me. Guess I’ll not push her to upgrade to a mk2 just yet…….
Looks like you got a poverty spec rental car. Manufacturers seem to do a special cut down version for rentals. I had a seat mii as a rental and it didn't even have electric windows or mirrors in 2017! When it rained on the roof it sounded louder than in a tent. Driving through a puddle sounded like I'd gone through a river.
Don't know if it's possible, but, when you go abroad it would be good if you could do cars we don't get in the UK, i.e. Renault Talisman etc. Just to see what we're missing out on.
Good idea
Funny fact: Matt was talking inside my washing machine (I had to use the torch/flashlight while watching the video and fixing the washer)
I hate those steering wheels that are warped to view the instrument cluster. New Jags aswell. Almost as weird as the old Rover SD1 with it's virtually square one. Suggests a design mess up to me?
Might be change for cost sake but anyway, love your work, cheers.
Take the badges off, and it could be any manufacturers car. Dull as ditch water, just like the rest...IN MY OPINION, which I appreciate, counts for zilch.
Have to agree that in this generation (~2015-2020) Renault has been cheaping out pretty much across the board; having used a Mk.3 Megane I was disappointed by how the mk.4 interior looks cheaper and the driving also has less feel..I'm also not a fan of the "grandpa's eyebrows " headlights, but that's more personal I guess.