Renault Kaptur

The Kaptur at a glance

Kaptur or Captur: two different cars

The name causes confusion. Renault showed the original Captur at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2013; it was built in Valladolid, Spain, on the B platform of the Clio. For emerging markets Renault developed a second car with almost the same styling but a different base: the Duster's B0 platform, which Renault calls Global Access.

Compared with the Clio-based Captur, the Global Access car has a longer wheelbase, more ground clearance and the option of all-wheel drive. The B0 base was also cheaper to build and gave more cabin space. Where it was badged "Kaptur", the spelling with K was chosen to make the name easier to pronounce in the local language. If you want the original platform car, see our page on the Renault Duster, which supplied most of the Kaptur's engineering.

Markets and production

India was the shortest story. Production and pre-orders started in September 2017 at the Chennai plant, with the car placed above the Duster against the Hyundai Creta. The Indian Captur was dropped in 2020 after fewer than 7,000 units in four years. Brazil kept the car longest: a facelift with the 1.3 turbo went on sale in July 2021, and production ended in late 2023 because of component shortages.

Renault Kaptur engines and gearboxes

The Kaptur-badged car began with two naturally aspirated petrol engines from the Renault–Nissan alliance. A May 2020 update moved the car to the B0+ platform, with electric power steering, and replaced the 2.0-litre with a 1.3-litre turbo.

Other markets used other engines. The Brazilian Captur ran on petrol or ethanol: the 1.6 gave 118–120 hp, the 2.0 143 hp on petrol, and the later 1.3 TCe 160–167 hp. Brazilian Captur gearboxes were a five-speed manual, a CVT or a four-speed automatic. The Indian car had a 1.5-litre petrol of 106 hp and a 1.5 diesel of 110 hp and 240 Nm, which was dropped in April 2020.

By our calculation the Kaptur's 1.3 turbo gave about 5 % more power than the 2.0 it replaced (110 against 105 kW) from 35 % less displacement. You can compare outputs in hp, PS and kW with the power converter.

All-wheel drive and running gear

The all-wheel-drive system is the Duster's: a multi-plate clutch at the rear axle sends torque backwards when the front wheels slip. Front suspension uses MacPherson struts. Front-wheel-drive cars have a torsion-beam rear axle, while all-wheel-drive cars get a multi-link rear suspension, as the old version of this page explained. The Kaptur's steering was hydraulically assisted until the 2020 update brought electric assistance.

The old text gave 205 mm of ground clearance and approach and departure angles of 31° and 20°, figures typical of the Duster family. With large plastic wheel-arch guards and lower door cladding, the Kaptur was meant for poor roads and snow rather than serious off-roading.

Body, cabin and equipment

Outwardly the Renault Kaptur follows the Captur's style: C-shaped LED daytime running lights, a strong front bumper, large wheel-arch guards and the option of a contrasting roof colour. Full-LED headlamps were offered on higher Kaptur versions, and wheels were 16 or 17 inches.

Inside, the Indian version had a dual-tone cabin and a 7-inch touchscreen with Media Nav navigation and Bluetooth, and the Kaptur used the same system. The boot holds 387 litres and up to about 1,200 litres with the 60/40 rear seat folded, according to the old data sheet; the rear seat backs do not fold completely flat. A full-size spare wheel sits under the floor, and rear headroom is limited for tall passengers because of the sloping roof.

Safety

Latin NCAP tested the Brazilian Captur with four airbags and the 2.0 engine in 2017. The Captur earned four stars for adult occupant protection (30.27 of 34 points) and three stars for child occupants (33.68 of 49 points). By our calculation that is 89 % of the adult maximum but only 69 % for children.

Kaptur standard equipment depended on the market but included electronic stability control, hill-start assist, emergency brake assist and, on higher versions, a rear-view camera and parking sensors. Cornering lights built into the fog lamps were also offered on the Kaptur.

Sales of the Captur Global Access

The six years add up to about 300,000 Captur Global Access cars by our count. After the 2018 peak, sales fell every year: India dropped the model in 2020, the Kaptur-badged version ended in 2022, and Brazil followed in 2023.

Should you buy a used Kaptur?

A used Renault Kaptur or Global Access Captur makes sense for someone who wants Duster toughness with a more stylish body. Choose the all-wheel-drive version if you drive on snow or unpaved roads, and the 1.3 turbo for the best mix of power and economy. Check the condition of the CVT on front-wheel-drive cars and the rear differential and clutch on all-wheel-drive ones, and remember that parts are shared with the Duster, which helps. Rivals worth comparing are the Nissan Kicks, built on related engineering in India, and the Hyundai Creta. Use the comparison tool to set the Kaptur against them. Renault's later coupé-crossover is described on our Renault Arkana page, and every Renault is listed on the Renault catalogue page.