Renault Captur E-TECH Hybrid In-Depth Review - Best Small Hybrid SUV?

BUY, LEASE OR FINANCE A RENAULT CAPTUR E-TECH PLUG-IN HYBRID FROM OSV: https://bit.ly/3iNz7iJ

Renault has been a market leader in delivering Plug-in hybrid technology in smaller cars - models like this one, the Captur E-TECH Plug-in Hybrid 160. This compact crossover offers a 31 mile electric driving range and super-low Benefit-in-Kind taxation exposure, both things common in this class and highly valued by potential customers. Here though, it's all presented with a combination of family friendly flexibility - the sliding rear bench for instance - and a bit of Gallic pizzaz courtesy of the available opportunities for bodywork and cabin customisation. Which all creates a car that's worth a second look.

TIMESTAMPS
00:00​​​​ Introduction
00:50 Background
02:29 Driving Experience
10:30 Design & Build
22:42 Market & Model Range
35:03 Cost of Ownership
40:39​​​ Summary

Background

Slowly but surely, Plug-in Hybrid technology is beginning to get more affordable amongst family cars - and the list of choices available is gradually widening. If you want this kind of tech when the time next comes to swap your car or your lease, then here's one of the most affordable ways to get it - Renault's Captur E-TECH Plug-in Hybrid 160, the PHEV version of our market's favourite Renault model.

There are actually two Captur E-TECH hybrid models. The other is a more affordable variant you can't plug in, the E-TECH Hybrid 140, which uses the same powertrain fitted to petrol/electric versions of the Clio supermini and might actually be a better bet for quite a few customers perusing what's on offer here. Our focus in this test though, is on this Plug-in Captur 160 model, which thanks to its much larger 9.8kWh battery can offer the commuting distance all-electric driving range that its self-charging E-TECH showroom stablemate lacks. And, thanks to that, the kind of super-low CO2 reading that in turn, delivers a super-low Benefit-in-Kind tax liability.

Driving Experience

This plug-in Captur always pulls away on full-battery power. What then happens once you get going depends on how much charge there is in the battery and which of the various driving modes you've selected. There are three, 'Pure' (which engages all-electric drive) joined by 'Sport' (which is engine-only) and 'My Sense' (which is a hybrid setting engineered to use both power sources most efficiently). If, when in town for instance, you want the car locked into battery-only drive, then you'll activate this 'EV' button on the fascia. Otherwise, the hybrid 'MySense' drive mode will be your most flexible everyday setting choice, one that'll see the engine occasionally cutting in and out to help the battery until the electric range - WLTP-rated at 31 miles - is used up and full-time combustion power becomes necessary. The combustion unit in question is of 1.6-litres in size, which is paired with a 49kW electric motor and a smaller integrated starter-generator, which together draw their energy from a 7.5 kWh lithium-ion battery housed beneath the rear passenger seat and generate a combined output of 160hp.

The gearbox is an auto of course (but of the more unusual 'dog box' clutchless variety) and it offers an extra 'B' mode which maximises regenerative braking - to the point where you hardly ever have to use the actual brake pedal. Whatever your chosen transmission setting, nearly all the time when you're either off-throttle or slowing the car down, restorative energy is being fed back into the battery. Much of it is then used to aid acceleration, but if you want all of it to be saved for battery-only town travel when you'll most need it, then an 'E-SAVE' setting's available to allow for that. Inevitably, all of this clever tech carries quite a weight penalty (nearly 400kgs), which has an effect on both ride quality and cornering body control. But unless you go throwing the car about, you'll probably be quite happy at the dynamic balance Renault has achieved here.

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