Renault Captur Dci 90 Dynamique S Medianav

But there’s no denying that the Captur does look chic and is certain to attract buyers.

Displaying elements of the Clio alongside its high-rise hatchback stance, Renault’s supermini crossover is offered in a bold and bright choice of exterior colours, including two-tone paintwork, plus Mini-like contrasting shades for the roof, wheels and air intake frames.

The end result is a car with the capacity to shame some of its more conservatively styled rivals.

At the front, the distinctive look is built around the Renault emblem, which is rendered more prominent by being set against a gloss black background. There are curves galore and very few hard edges, with the rounded theme particularly pronounced in the muscular treatment of the rear quarters.

At the rear, the split light cluster design has allowed a wide tailgate opening to be created and helped avoid a boxy look.

The five-door hatchback layout apes that of the compact Clio hatch, and in light of an increasing number of buyers downsizing from larger vehicles there’s a lot to be said for the Renault’s modest dimensions.

Built on the same platform as the Clio and Nissan’s Juke, it is a fraction over four metres in length, it has 200mm of ground clearance and towers over the Clio. The result is a lofty and, for an increasing number of buyers, desirable driving position that has the associated benefits of good all-round visibility.

Factor in a wide opening tailgate, complete with a waist level load lip and reversible boot liner and you’ve got a package Renault hopes will tempt families out of their existing, conventional hatchbacks, estate cars and possibly larger, more costly to run SUVs and people carriers.

But the Captur has appeal not only for private buyers - the business community is also voicing approval.

The small business motoring website, Business Car Manager, recently voted it Best Compact Company Car, with a judging panel headed by Vince Cable, Secretary of State for business, innovation and skills, praising its striking styling and bold SUV looks, low running costs and company car tax rates.

With a starting price from just £12,495, the Captur boasts fuelefficient engines that can deliver up to 76.4mpg There’s no doubt that for urban motoring the Captur’s 1.5-litre 90 horsepower diesel motor is more than capable and registers just 95g/km CO2. You might need to regularly shift down a gear on motorway inclines and if carrying a full load, but it’s never vocal or unrefined. The four-cylinder 1.5 dCi 90 diesel engine was comprehensively upgraded prior to its installation in the latest Clio and these improvements similarly benefit Captur, including a 10 per cent increase in torque.

For all the Captur’s accomplished ride and modest footprint, for many the real focus will be on the car’s practical elements.

Being quite a tall car, the Captur boasts a generous level of cabin headroom along with plenty of legroom. A sliding rear bench means you can also increase load space or legroom, depending on your needs.

Up front there’s the now familiar fascia design first seen on the latest generation Clio featuring, depending on the model, a slick touchscreen incorporating audio and navigation functions.

Although the cabin plastics are hard to touch, this will likely prove attractive to families willing to place durability over plush trim. That said, Renault is pushing hard the concept of personalisation, and offers a wide choice of themed interior colour combinations and designs.

Furthermore, the Captur can be had with a high-end audio and navigation system, Bluetooth phone and MP3 player connectivity plus removable and washable seat covers and a full keyless go option.

However, I was disappointed to find that FM was the only frequency available on the radio and that there was no CD player. That’s a trendy step too far for most buyers, particularly those like me who like to listen to the football commentaries on AM or DAB frequencies and have a colossal CD collection.

Core equipment includes 16 or 17- inch alloy wheels, cruise control, 60/40 folding and sliding rear bench seat, front and rear electric windows, trip computer, Hill Start Assist, Electronic Stability Control and Traction Control, speed limiter and fuel-saving Eco driving mode that reduces engine torque, modifies throttle response and adjusts the control programme for the air conditioning and heating to optimise efficiency.

As a visual reminder, a driving style indicator in the display moves through green, yellow and orange zones, giving the driver real-time feedback on how efficiently they are driving.

On models with manual transmission, a gearshift indicator lights up at the best point to make an up or downshift. But without employing the Eco mode I was able to get a return of 69mpg.

At the top of the range the Dynamique S MediaNav also provides rear parking sensors, a folding function on the door mirrors and extra-tinted rear window and tailgate glass.

Yes, the Captur is certain to capture a new audience for Renault, and not only for its class-leading looks.

Fact file

Renault Captur Dci 90 Dynamique S Medianav

PRICE: From £17,895 (Captur range from £12,495 to £18,895)

ENGINE: 1.5-litre diesel unit developing 90bhp

TRANSMISSION: Five-speed manual transmission as standard, driving the front wheels

PERFORMANCE: Top speed 106mph, 0-62mph 12.6 seconds

ECONOMY: 76.4mpg

CO2 RATING: 95g/km