Among the best-selling compact SUVs in Europe, Renault is betting on the Captur to expand its electrified range. The E-Tech version places all its bets on plug-in hybrid technology, with a high electric-only range (around 65 kilometres in the city, around fifty on mixed roads) and a price among the most accessible on the market, starting from €32,950, from which any government Ecobonus or various regional incentives for low-emission vehicles may be deducted: with 32 grams of CO2/km on the mixed cycle, the Captur plug-in hybrid falls into this category. Following the small Clio and the Mégane saloon, this practical SUV-crossover also joins the range — a range that shares in common a 1.6-litre petrol engine paired with two electric motors (one with a starter function) and a highly innovative automatic transmission, though with power levels and performance figures that differ by model.

Captur: the plug-in hybrid makes use of a petrol engine and two electric motors

Built on a modular platform that can be shared across multiple models and designed from the outset to allow electrification, the Captur features a hybrid system with two electric motors (a 49 kW unit acting on the wheels and another serving as a starter and generator), a 9.8 kWh lithium-ion battery and a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 91 horsepower. Total available power is 160 horsepower, absolutely adequate for the weight and size of the car. This is paired with an automatic gearbox that works well and delivers a satisfying performance — highly efficient and, as we shall see, capable of offering a fluidity and sense of serenity at the wheel that is truly remarkable. Electric charging can take place from a home socket at up to 7.4 kW, with charging times ranging between 3 and 5 hours from a standard domestic power outlet. The dimensions are reasonable and well suited to city use, with a length just over 4.20 metres.

On board: space and practicality

Before describing what the Captur plug-in hybrid offers on the road, let's step inside. The first impression is one of comfort, space, and materials that are pleasant both to the touch and to the eye. Passenger space is ideal for four, with a useful sliding rear seat. There is also a reasonable amount of luggage space (noticeably reduced by the hybrid system's battery) and a handy compartment beneath the load floor for stowing charging cables. The interface with driver and passengers is handled by a large fully digital instrument cluster (10.2 inches) that is clear and intuitive to read, while a second central display allows you to monitor the various available driving modes and to easily access important information for a hybrid car, such as the remaining electric range, energy flows and energy recovery — possible both on downhill sections and whenever the accelerator is released, as the two electric motors recharge the battery. Safety is taken care of by ADAS systems such as automatic emergency braking, a lane-change assistant (which acts on the steering in the event of an error or drowsiness) and blind-spot monitoring.

The efficiency of the hybrid system and that sense of serenity

Now let's come to the dynamic test. Starting, naturally, with those 60-plus kilometres of electric range, which in many cases make it possible to handle the daily commute without having to resort to petrol. But with the reassurance that, if necessary, thanks to the efficiency of the hybrid system the journey could be far longer, without depending on the charging infrastructure. The aspect that makes driving most enjoyable is the sensation of fluidity, where the petrol engine and the electric components, well orchestrated by the highly efficient gearbox, allow every type of route to be tackled with the right amount of energy. In practice, at least as long as the battery's state of charge is sufficient, the petrol engine only intervenes when more power is demanded, or to recharge the battery. In effect, you always leave home in the silence of electric power — already a fine way to start the day. It then falls to the driver to choose, for example, to make the most of the regenerative charging capacity by selecting B-mode, which in practice makes use of the brake pedal superfluous. The 160 horsepower ensures impressive bursts of acceleration and, as mentioned, a truly pleasurable driving experience, allowing you to travel on electric power alone at up to around 130 kilometres per hour.

You can choose when to travel on electric power only

Naturally, the driver is offered several options: E-save, to preserve as much electric range as possible in order to use it when desired; Ev, to travel on zero emissions as much as possible; and Sport mode, perfect for when you are in a hurry. Manual gear selection is not available, as the electronics handle everything. The overriding sensation when driving the Renault Captur plug-in hybrid is one of overall balance, a general sense of serenity at the wheel, and the awareness that — with a declared fuel consumption of 1.4 L/100 km (not far off real-world figures, which hover around 3–4 litres for comparable distances) — the plug-in hybrid solution is an increasingly rational alternative for those who cannot yet choose an electric car.