Renault Captur 2020 revealed: Bigger, safer, hybrid, and partially autonomous

Renault has unveiled its all-new Captur small SUV, following in the footsteps of the new-generation Clio hatchback unveiled earlier this year.

The Captur has not radically changed its design, despite being the second Renault to move to the CMF-B architecture shared with Nissan. It will also be the first Renault to have a plug-in hybrid variant, at least in overseas markets.

On the exterior the new Captur has been brought in line with the current Megane, with its C-Shaped LED light fittings at the front and rear, as well as a 110mm longer body and 20mm longer wheelbase. The small SUV has received styling tweaks all over to give it a slightly tougher-looking silhouette.

Renault says the Captur will be continue available in a variety of bright colour schemes and will also be offered with 16-, 17-, or 18-inch alloy wheels.

On the inside there is a completely overhauled cabin, including bigger seats, as well as a new 10.25-inch digital dash cluster and a 7.0- or 9.3-inch portrait-oriented multimedia screen, similar to the one in the brand's current Koleos mid-sizer.

Either version of the multimedia screen will have a new software suite which supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as built-in navigation on higher grades.

The rear seats offer 17mm more legroom than the outgoing Captur, and the boot is rated at 536-litres, a significant improvement over the current car’s 377L.

The 2020 Captur will be the first Renault with a plug-in hybrid variant, dubbed the E-TECH plug-in. This variant will have 45km of “mixed use” fully-electric range before having to rely on a 1.6-litre four cylinder petrol engine.

Other drivetrains available internationally include a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, and an updated version of the 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine – in two states of tune – which the Captur shares with the Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

There are also two 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel engines in different states of tune that will become available to some markets, but they are unlikely for an Australian launch.

The new Captur will also have a significantly improved suite of active safety features including auto emergency braking (AEB), blind spot monitoring (BSM), traffic sign recognition (TSR), lane departure warning (LDW) with lane keep assist (LKAS), rear cross traffic alert, active cruise control with stop and go function, as well as a 360-degree parking suite.

Renault says the new Captur’s ‘Highway and Traffic Jam Companion’ suite of features allows it to achieve Level 2 autonomy, as the car can lane centre itself as well as bring itself to a full stop and continue without driver intervention.

There is no information on an Australian launch window or the drivetrains that will be made available Down Under yet. Stay tuned for local pricing and spec.

What do you make of the new tech-heavy Captur? Share your thoughts in the comments below.