More and more Renault models are made to measure to the markets where they are being sold. For that very reason the Renault Kaptur was launched in Russia in March 2016. The same model was unveiled two years ago on the motor show of São Paulo. And although the Brazilians call it Captur, this car is fully dissimilar from the European versions.
The Captur is one of Renault’s most successful models of today. And as soon as we are handed over the keys to a Brazilian Captur, our test drive seems nothing more than another re-acquaintance with a car that we know so well. Still though, this South-American variant is all different to the European Captur.
Back in 2016, Renault launched the Kaptur in Russia. The ‘K’ in its name is believed to fit in better with the Russians, but the South-American market is something else, hence the Captur model designation. The Captur is based on the underpinnings of the Dacia Duster, giving the car better ground clearance. Its base is of course the B-segment floorpan.
To start with that floorpan, the car’s wheelbase is 6.7 centimetres longer than we are used to, making it similar to that of the Dacia Duster. The Duster remains the existing model here, which continues to be sold throughout South-America as the Renault Duster. Looking further at the dimensions of the Brazilian Captur the car’s overall length turns out to have grown with no less than 20.7 centimetres. It’s also 3.5 centimetres wider plus over 5 centimetres taller. The ground clearance comes at 21 centimetres, which means an addition of 4 centimetres extra.
Still then, the design team has managed to keep the spirit of the European Captur up, quite an effort! The same two-tone colours, with contrasting roofs are available here. The car’s front comes with all the typical Captur features: its characteristic radiator grille, brightwork, C-shaped daytime running lights and aluminium skid plates below the bumper. The added length is concealed in the car’s sides. The black buffer edge, sweeping up from under the doors, comes with chromed inlay. The Intense-versions use 17” alloy wheels of a well-known design while the arch extenders are carried out in black also.
The car’s rear even seems totally similar to the Captur that we know. The design of the rear light clusters, the placing of the rear fog light, the skid plate under the rear bumper, the lines of the boot and roof spoiler… you really have to look twice to keep this car apart from its European sister model. One tiny little difference is in the exhaust tip: visible on the South-American version. This longer Captur is South-America’s answer to the people’s desire to be able to buy a proper Renault car rather than a Dacia wearing Renault badging. And it works well. Renault recently announced to give Dacia-derived Renaults as much of a character of their own as possible.
When we compare the two dashboards of both cars, the similarities are striking. Or should we say that the differences are kept to a minimum? The European versions, for example, use a drawer as a glovebox, while the Brazilian versions come with a more traditional locked lid. Still though, the dashboards are fully different from each other with slightly dissimilar designs, different boxes on top of the centre console and other framings for the switches left of the steering column. Apart from that the materials used on the French Captur are of better quality, where the Brazilian cars use more hard plastics. This while other elements, such as the leather clad steering wheel and the Clio-sourced instruments, are identical. On the other side of the Pacific Ocean, Renault sells the car with its MediaNav system, integrated similarly into the centre console just like the R-Link system in the top versions of the more compact Captur that we know.
Engine-wise the differences are bigger. Top of the line is the Intense version, equipped with a 2-litre 16-valve engine, which pumps out 143hp. This unit runs well on ethanol, too, giving it slightly better performances and 148hp. The 2-litre engine is mated to a four-speed automatic, driving the front wheels, as a standard. Apart from that there is a 1.6-litre 16-valve engine available with five-speed gearbox. It’s good to know that the 2-litre Kaptur, as sold in Russia, comes with four-wheel drive as a standard, mated to a six-speed manual or optional four-speed automatic. Four-wheel drive is not available to the South-American versions, though.
The increased dimensions do lead to a more spacious interior, both for the passengers in the back as for the luggage space, which grows from 377 to 437 litres. Quite an advantage!
Losange Magazine drove the Renault Captur on a sunny Sunday in São Paulo. It was impossible to accomplish the car’s maximum performances, but the test drive never the less gave a good impression of the car’s driving characteristics. The 2-litre engine with automatic transmission is sufficiently smooth. The extra ground clearance comes in handy, too, especially on junctions with deep gutters. The seating position is up high, giving great all-round visibility. Meanwhile, it’s hard to actually feel the car’s extra dimensions. Size-wise it’s closer to our Kadjar than our Captur. The suspension is somewhat softer, though, but that fits in fine with a Renault.
The Captur is well received in Brazil, and you can spot these Renaults regularly on the roads now. It’s a car with a familiar face to Europeans, even though it is fully dissimilar.
En détail...
Renault Captur
Engine:
4-cylinder in line, 16 valves, capacity 1.597/1.998 cc. Power 1.6: 118 hp at 5.500rpm, torque 156 Nm at 4.000rpm. Power 2.0: 143 hp at 5.750rpm, torque 198 Nm at 4.000rpm.
Transmission:
5-speed gearbox/4-speed automatic (on 2.0 only). Gear ratios 1.6 5-speed: 1st - 3,727, 2nd - 2,048, 3rd - 1,321, 4th 0,935, 5th - 0,756. Max speed 168/174 km/h, acceleration 0 to 100 km/h in13,3/12,0 seconds. Tyres 215/60R17 H.
Suspension:
McPherson front suspension, semi-independent rear suspension with coil springs at the rear and stabilizer bar.
Dimensions/weight:
Lenght 4,329mm, width 1,813mm, height 1,619mm, wheelbase 2,673mm. Weight: 1.273/1.352 kg. Luggage compartment: 437 liter. Fuel tank capacity 50 liter.