Renault announces automatic diesel Captur

Renault has given buyers of its Captur crossover SUV the option of combining a diesel engine with an automatic gearbox – a choice not previously offered.

Up until now, the Renault Captur could only be specified with an automatic gearbox if you chose the most powerful TCe 120 petrol engine. Following a substantial interior and exterior facelift earlier this year, Renault now offers the six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox with the dCi 90 diesel engine – the least expensive diesel engine in the Captur range.

The 1.5-litre dCi 90 engine produces 89bhp and will take automatic Captur models from 0-62mph in 13.8 seconds, an increase of just 0.7 seconds compared with the five-speed manual version. Importantly, fuel consumption doesn't suffer too badly either, dropping slightly from the manual car's claimed 78.5mpg to a figure of 72.4mpg.

The automatic gearbox is offered on Captur Dynamique Nav models and up, with prices ranging from £20,125 on the road for that model, to £24,005 for the Signature S Nav. Standard features of this range-topping model include leather upholstery with heated front seats, 360-degree parking sensors with a reverse parking camera, blind spot warning and a BOSE stereo system.

This kit comes in addition to automatic climate control, seven-inch touchscreen infotainment with sat nav, cruise control and LED daytime running lights, which all automatic Captur models can boast, along with practical touches such as zip-removable seat covers.

Business users will find the Captur slots into the 22% Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) company car tax bracket based on claimed CO2 emissions of 101g/km. The dCi 90 manual model, by comparison, emits 95g/km of CO2 for a 21% BiK rating.

Among the Captur's automatic diesel competition, the Peugeot 3008 1.6 HDi diesel automatic is perhaps its closest rival It emits 108g/km for a 23% BiK rate and its fuel consumption is heavier than that of the Captur too, with an official figure of 67.3mpg.

The Renault Captur 1.5-litre dCi automatic is available to order now, with UK customer deliveries commencing in October.