For the extended weekend, we managed to get behind the wheel of a renovated Renault Captur, and to make the most of our time, we went on a short trip from Goričko to Lendava.
Captur has been charming Slovenian hearts since its launch in 2013, as it has become a real bestseller alongside the already well-established Clio. In 2024, it achieved a flattering third place in the Slovenian sales charts with 1.604 registrations, but its older but smaller brother, the Clio, achieved first place with 2.299 registrations. Last year, the Captur underwent a facelift in its second generation, which brings a new face, differently tuned suspension and technical solutions, which we were able to test out on our relatively short trip.
Our Sunday lap begins on the well-known regional road from Ormož to Ljutomer, which has proven to be a pretty good test of car suspension over the years. The Captur is still very soft and consequently comfortable on such roads, although it dampens short bumps a bit harshly, but even this remains quite well hidden thanks to the pleasantly soft and comfortable seats, so it is not even remotely disturbing. From Ljutomer to the first stop, Grad Grad, we are still a good 40 km away, which are completely unknown to me despite being relatively close to home. As it turns out, the Captur is a very good companion for such cases, as the updated version boasts an infotainment interface that is upgraded with Google. Navigation has become almost a non-remarkable fixture in cars in the last decade, but the Captur's built-in Google maps are simply to be praised. The interface is exactly the same as the one on our mobile devices, so the thing is very clear and easy to use. If you're connected to your Google account, it also remembers searches from your mobile device, which can help you keep your eyes on the road for longer in many cases.
The first stop was at Grad Castle, one of the largest feudal complexes in Slovenia. Over the centuries, it belonged to the Knights Templar, noble families and was the scene of historical battles. Today, it hosts the Goričko Landscape Park, a wedding hall, museum collections and local craft workshops. Unfortunately, since we arrived before it opened, we didn't have the opportunity to visit, but the lack of crowds meant that the Captur was able to pose for the camera in front of the castle itself without any disturbances.
We continued our journey towards Lendavske gorice, and up to there Goričko served up beautiful roads – perfect for testing the driving dynamics of the Captur. Yes, it's true, driving dynamics are not very high on the wish list of most Captur buyers, but such roads, in conjunction with Renault's claims about improved driving dynamics, can only lead to a test of dynamics. The car leans quite a bit in corners, but at the same time it does not force it out of the corner, which gives the driver an additional sense of safety. The steering mechanism is pleasantly weighted and precise enough, and in Sport mode it is further strengthened and becomes a little more direct. When driving like this, when you sometimes exceed the limit by a kilometer or so, the car will of course start beeping due to European legislation, but Renault has elegantly solved this with the programmable My Safety Perso button, with which the driver can turn off all assistance systems that are bothering him by pressing the physical switch twice. Renault, commendable.
The engine did not disappoint on our trip either, quite the opposite in fact. The test unit was powered by a 1,3-liter four-cylinder engine, which sends power to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission. The engine is flexible, quiet and pleasantly bouncy. We were positively surprised by its affinity for low engine speeds, as at only 1.600 rpm it does not “whine” at all, which you will appreciate very much in a calm drive. Even when loaded with four adults, it is still powerful enough. It is worth emphasizing that those on the back seat did not grumble at all. On our trip, the total consumption was 7,1 l/100 km, which is a solid figure considering our not very economical driving around Goričko.
For our last stop, we chose the Vinarium tower in Lendavske gorice, or, in other words, the Eiffel Tower of Pomurje. We took a moment to have a coffee by the tower and enjoyed the view of the wine-growing landscape. Although we didn't climb it due to the capricious weather, we were able to admire all of its 53,3 meters of height from the perspective below.
The Captur has proven to be a very rational car. With its pleasant engine, comfortable ride, good space and user-friendly technology, it quickly proved why it is so popular in Slovenia. The entry price for the TCe 140 engine and the Techno equipment package is €25.490, while the test model with extensive additional equipment increases the price to €28.720. The ticket to the world of Captur can also be cheaper, as the basic model with the TCe 90 engine is available for as little as €21.790.
THE VEHICLE TEST WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE COMPANY
