Renault plans to capture attention with this lill beauty

The non-media crowd that swarmed to the Captur just as the covers were removed could be a good indicator that Renault may finally have a market-defining vehicle that does not have an R.S. nameplate. It isn’t at all surprising seeing as how car-buying people, in general, are swarming towards compact SUVs.

Perhaps the Captur can count on its striking looks and the promise of a better driving dynamics – the Clio underpins Renault’s baby SUV – to give it an edge over the competition. Having said that, the engine will be the headliner in many cases. It is a tiny 1.2-litre TCe 120 turbocharged engine, producing 120bhp at 4900rpm and 190Nm from 2000rpm, which will put the Captur on par with the rivals. Renault says that the powerplant delivers performance equivalent to a traditional 1.8-litre engine. Yup.

The drivetrain is complete with the six-speed EDC. Renault claims the fuel efficiency of the Captur to be best-in-class, which is 5.4l/100km. An extra 10 per cent fuel can be saved with the press of the Captur’s ECO button.

In terms of safety, the Captur is armed with four-airbags, pedestrian protection, ESC with Roll Movement Intervention, Hill Start Assist, ABS and Emergency Brake Assist. Other salient features of the Captur includes reverse camera, multi-position reversible boot floor, large lidded stowage set on top of the dashboard and a rear bench that can be slid 160mm fore/aft.

It comes in four two-tone paint jobs, where the body and roof features different colours. A five-year/unlimited mileage manufacturer’s warranty makes ownership less stressful and the 10,000km service internal would keep you away from the service centre longer. Prices are estimated to be between RM118,000 to RM122,000. The compact SUV will be officially launched early in the fourth quarter of 2015.

If you’re interested to have a look, the Captur is now displayed in Bangsar Shopping Centre this weekend before making its rounds around selected Renault showrooms in August, in West Malaysia. You can also head to www.captur.com.my to register your interest.