Renault Captur E-Tech PHEV Review

Pricing

There are just two models in the Captur E-TECH range to choose from currently; the S Edition and Launch Edition. Both are at the top end of the Captur range and the extra £500 of the Launch Edition buys some bigger alloy wheels and slight differences in trim.

Both versions are well equipped, but even so the £30,495 starting price is going to raise a few eyebrows in the showroom. It makes the PHEV at least £8,000 more expensive than the petrol versions of the Captur, and puts it head to head with pure electric rivals such as the Peugeot e2008,Hyundai Kona and new Skoda Enyaq. The MINI Countryman PHEV is a few hundred pounds more but has four-wheel-drive, more power and a premium feel. Stretch to another £3,000 and you could have a larger, more impressive Ford Kuga PHEV. 

Running costs

The savings you’ll make in running a Captur E-Tech versus a petrol or diesel car are the main reasons for buying a PHEV, and it should help you saving a decent chunk every month – especially if you are a company car driver and remember to plug it in! 

The new benefit in kind rules for tax mean that the E-Tech is levied at just 10%, compared to 26-30% for the petrol and diesel models – that’s enough to make savings in the thousands every year for business drivers.

If you are a motorist who can use the electric power for your everyday commute, the Captur will save a decent amount in fuel too – even more so if you can plug in at work and charge for free. If you don’t charge or regularly go on longer journeys, don’t expect diesel-like economy, although the Captur is lighter than most PHEVs and should therefore be more efficient. 

The costs are kept low too by long service intervals of 18,000 miles or a year and Renault’s highly-competitive five year warranty.