Renault Captur with mild hybrid system. You will notice that it works right away

You might think Renault has slept on this whole hybrid trend a bit, but that would be a clear mistake. I have already had a chance to drive a hybrid Renault Clio, which can match Toyota Yaris in terms of fuel consumption. We are talking about results of less than 4 liters per 100 km outside the city. Finally, it was time to electrify the Kaptur.

Of course, the “classic” hybrid is offered in the top version, which demands no less than 120.000 on the table. zlotys. However, the most powerful variant (in terms of the catalog) only uses the mild hybrid system (it’s based on a 12-volt system anyway). The starter-generator unit assist is somewhat negligible, but in this version the Captur has a whopping 158 hp which is partly why it’s only available in the RS Line version.

The RS Line is more than just a design line, but you can’t be shy about what’s under the hood. And there we will find out four-cylinder unit With a volume of 1.3 liters, it generates – in addition to 158 horsepower – up to 270 Nm of torque from 1800 rpm. The engine is already known, for example, from the Mercedes A-Class or, say, the Ducia Duster. It does not look very attractive, but it has good “downhill” traction, which, in combination with a dual-clutch transmission, provides an average speed of up to 100 km / h in 8.5 seconds.

What amazed me, however, was how the startup system worked. Usually, in the case of a mild hybrid, we are talking about turning off the power unit at low speeds, when rolling in a traffic jam. Renault’s solution (of course, depending on the settings) “takes no prisoners” – even at around 100 km/h, usually taking your foot off the accelerator power unit off. This does not happen for example in sports mode, but how many people move in it every day?

Such drastic steps can be seen in the combustion results. In the city, the Captur should take in 6 liters of unleaded lead per 100 km, and consume a little less under the city. On the highway we are talking about 7 liters per 100 km.

For the same price, you can choose a full hybrid, which is slightly weaker and provides worse dynamics (10.6 seconds to hundreds), but in the city it can be a little better – it will allow you to reduce fuel consumption by about a liter. What is the best choice? It’s up to you. Sure, don’t be put off by the R and S in the name—the Captur isn’t memorable, though there is a hint of French softness.

However, it should be noted that in the RS Line version we have a dark interior (although it still has fabric upholstery), a steering wheel covered in pleasant leather and decorative elements inspired by carbon fiber. You may like it all. Add to this a large trunk with a sliding sofa and a double bottom, and it turns out that being in the Captura is simply a pleasure.

It is also pleasant that the build quality has improved significantly. During the first tests before the pandemic, the Captur’s center console wobbled so much it looked like it was about to fall off. Now it is definitely better. However, this does not mean that it is perfect. The multimedia system clearly does not like Android Auto (Szymon Jasina in the Traffic Wagon noted similar problems), and the position behind the wheel favors people with short legs (or long arms).

Renault offers the Captur from 85,500 PLN (end of March 2023), but the highest priced hybrid costs 122,300 PLN. That means PLN 1,143 per month (EasyBox credit, 25 months, 30,000 km, 21% special payment) or PLN 1,421 in a Renault Business plan lease (48 months, 60,000 km, 10% special payment). On the other hand, on the Superauto website you can find such a car for PLN 1,743 (60 months, 18% special payment, 10% refund).

The competition is incredible, because everyone wants to be their player in this segment. An example is the Nissan Juke starting at 98,000. PLN, but the hybrid drive is a minimum of 127 thousand. zlotys. The Toyota C-HR Hybrid is just getting started at this level. In turn, in the case of Škoda, we fall into a gap between the well-equipped Kamiq and the “poor” Karoq.