New Renault Captur E-Tech Hybrid on sale now

• Priced from £24,500 
• Available in three trim levels 
• 143bhp output 

Order books are open for the new Renault Captur E-Tech Hybrid SUV, with prices starting from £24,500. A rival for the likes of the Toyota C-HR and the Hyundai Kona Hybrid, it sits between the conventionally powered Captur models and the plug-in hybrid. 

Unlike the existing plug-in hybrid version of the Captur SUV, this new hybrid doesn’t need plugging in because it has a much smaller battery. This also means it can’t be driven very far on electric power alone; the plug-in model can do up to 30 miles in EV mode, whereas this ‘self-charging’ version can only creep for short distances at very low speeds. This difference partly explains why the PHEV model costs around £7,000 more to buy.

What is a self-charging hybrid car?

The new hybrid Captur is powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine linked to an electric motor, a 1.2kWh battery pack and an integrated starter-generator. This combined setup generates 143bhp, which drives the front wheels via an automatic gearbox.

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Owners can select from three driving modes: Pure, MySense and Sport. The former sees the Captur E-Tech hybrid run purely on electric power, while the second engages the electric system based on the owner’s driving style. The latter, meanwhile, optimises the powertrain for the best performance.

The Captur E-Tech Hybrid officially claims 56.6mpg and emits just 114g/km of CO2. Along with lower running costs, there’s another benefit from the onboard electric motor: it fills the gaps between gear changes, helping to ensure a smoother driving experience. 

The on-board battery pack is charged on the move via regenerative braking and allows for short pure-electric motoring at low speeds. In the low interference mode, regeneration is only activated when the brake pedal is pressed. In ‘B Mode’, however, regeneration is more intense and allows for one-pedal driving when running on electric power, allowing you to come to a complete stop without touching the brakes. 

The Captur E-tech Hybrid can be specced in the three trim levels called Iconic, S Edition and R.S. Line. The entry-level Iconic featurs LED headlights, Renault’s trademark C-shaped daytime running lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass and rear parking sensors.

The cabin gets a leather steering wheel, a seven-inch infotainment screen with sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4.2-inch digital display dial cluster, and automatic climate control. Buyers will also benefit from a suite of safety features and driver aids, including lane-keeping assist, active emergency braking and traffic sign recognition.

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For an additional £1,500, the mid-range S Edition adds two-tone paint, 18-inch alloy wheels, roof bars and a seven-inch digital instrument cluster. It also gets front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, high-beam assist, and an electronic handbrake with hill hold assist.  

In R.S. Line trim, the Captur E-Tech Hybrid gets some sporty styling upgrades. Priced from £27,695, upgrades include a honeycomb grille, larger and more striking front and rear bumpers, and chrome exhaust tail pipes. 

Inside, range-topping models get a cabin to match the sporty exterior. Features include R.S. Line-specific upholstery, carbon-fibre effect dashboard trim, a sports steering wheel, black headlining, aluminium pedals and RenaultSport branded tread plates. The infotainment display is larger too, measuring in at 9.2 inches.  

Want to find out more about hybrids? Read our guides to the best hybrid cars on sale today.