Facelifted 2024 Renault Captur revealed

A comprehensive makeover for the 2024 Renault Captur has appeared in Europe, adopting the French brand’s latest design language and more cabin technology to keep the small SUV fresh in an increasingly crowded segment.

The new-look Renault Captur is now more closely aligned with both the Megane E-Tech and Scenic E-Tech SUVs, adopting new LED headlights linked with arrow-shaped daylight running lamps and a redesigned front bumper.

At the rear there’s a tweaked bumper and diffuser, plus a pair of new tail-lights with revised LED graphics.

Elsewhere, the near-four-year-old second-generation Captur’s body carries over largely unchanged.

The revised Captur is now offered in 14 different colours, including the option of two-tone paint, while alloy wheels range in size from 17 to 19 inches.

The high-series RS Line has been replaced by a new Esprit Alpine model grade that adds grey bumper inserts, gloss black accents, the largest 19-inch wheels and a new “multi-textured” fabric in place of leather.

Inside, the sportiest trim level also adds Alpine and French flag emblems, blue stitching, a blue and grey insert on the dash and aluminium pedals.

Other headline items on the updated Captur include a new 12.5-inch digital instrument cluster and a larger 10.4-inch infotainment screen that runs the Android Automotive 12 software, introducing Google Assistant and up to 50 different apps via the Google Play store.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard, USB-C charging ports are deployed up front and in the rear, there’s a wireless charging pad and new ambient interior lighting that alters depending on what time of day it is.

Finally, there’s the option of a more powerful nine-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.

Based on the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi CMF-B platform, the Captur is just 4239mm long but, thanks to sliding rear seats, boot space can be increased from 422 litres to a very respectable 536 litres.

Real leather has been dropped as part of the facelift, with more recycled fabrics introduced instead, with the Esprit Alpine claimed to use over 26 per cent of reclaimed or recycled fabrics.

While Australian buyers are currently offered only a 113kW/270Nm 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine combined with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, in Europe the powertrain gets 48-volt mild-hybrid tech and produces 118kW.

There’s also a tiny 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo (66kW or 74kW) and a 107kW E-Tech hybrid version that combines a 1.6-litre petrol, two electric motors, a 1.2kWh battery and an unusual multi-mode ‘dog-clutch’ auto.

All-versions are strictly front-wheel drive.

As part of the model refresh, Renault claims there’s now up to 18 driver assist systems, including driver fatigue detection. A new My Safety button allows the driver to personalise their own safety settings into one handy shortcut, avoiding the tiresome need to cycle through the menu to toggle off irritating warning systems.

To improve the drive, engineers say they have tweaked the suspension geometry and recalibrated the power steering to sharpen responses and reduce body roll.

The facelifted 2024 Renault Captur is set to land in European dealers in the coming weeks, but Australian launch timing and other details are still to be confirmed.

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