A refreshed version of Renault's popular Captur SUV is revealed at the Geneva motor sporting new features including an updated colour palette, LED lights and the option of a panoramic glass roof.The facelifted Captur will have 30 potential colour combinations, along with six different interior trims, giving it great potential for personalisation. The new Captur has a more upmarket look and a stronger family resemblance to its larger Kadjar and Koleos SUV siblings thanks to a grid-like design featuring upper trim strips either side of the oversized Renault badge.
The French brand’s small SUV has been revamped with a range of changes inside and out, in a move that Renault will hope see the Captur remain on the shopping list for compact crossovers – locally, we’re talking: in Europe it was the biggest selling model in that segment last year, with a huge 215,670 sales. The facelifted model comes almost four years after the Captur went on sale globally, and it brings updates to its styling such as new LED headlights on some models with C-shaped LED daytime running lights integrated into the lower bumper. The rear lights, too, are LED and have a similar design. The grille has been redesigned to make it look more like the bigger Kadjar (not sold here), with a chrome strip highlight. There are skid plates on the front and rear bumpers, too. There are four new wheel options available – two 16-inch designs, and two 17-inch spinners. For those who like to let the light shine in, there’s a new optional fixed glass roof.
In essence, the Renault Captur is a Clio with a smattering of SUV traits and the style factor turned up. The result is a high-riding small hatchback that benefits from the added practicality of a sliding rear bench seat, plus supermini-like running costs and a variety of colourful interior and exterior themes that include a contrasting colour roof. The Captur was one of the first small SUV rivals to Nissan’s groundbreaking Juke, and it remains one of the best offerings in the class. Increasingly, buyers in this market also want to personalise their cars, and Renault offers a vast array of ways to customise your Captur, be it with different paint options or styling packs designed to make the Captur look like a rugged SUV.
The 2018 Kia Niro Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid breathe new life into the hybrid segment, with a practical wagon shape and excellent interior you’d never know was a hybrid.
Pros Utility vehicle styling Good noise suppression Handsome, intuitive interior 40-mpg-plus fuel economy Plug-in version priced well
Cons AWD unavailable Sluggish acceleration at speed No crash-test data yet Plug-in range now only average
The 2018 Kia Niro ranked #5 in Subcompact SUVs. Currently the Kia Niro has a score of 8.1 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 14 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Magnificent fuel economy Spacious, comfortable seats Generous cargo capacity Upscale cabin
Cons Less athletic than rivals Not available with AWD High base price
The most significant change for the 2018 Niro is the addition of lane keeping assist, replacing the previous lane departure warning system. It's included in the Advanced Technology package available on LX and EX trims, and it's standard on the top Touring trim.
PROS Impressive fuel economy from the base trim model One of the more affordable hybrids in the segment Batteries are hidden under the rear seat and don't affect cargo space
CONS Feature-laden Touring trim sacrifices fuel efficiency Less cargo space than most rivals Feels lazy when driving in the default Eco mode All-wheel drive isn't offered despite crossover styling
