Renault have never been afraid of trying something a little different. Who can forget their ‘I See You Baby (Shakin’ That Ass)’ for the unusually well-endowed second generation Megane which borrowed its styling cues from the equally avant garde Vel Satis?

Then there’s the electric Twizy, which is what the Sinclair C5 wanted to be when it grew up.

The Renault Captur is the French firm’s own take on the mini SUV and its unique looks are in good company alongside the equally expressive Nissan Juke, with which it shares its engines.

When Renault unveiled its urban crossover they boldly claimed that it would change everyday lives by combining the styling and high driving position of an SUV, the space of an MPV and the driving dynamics of a compact hatchback.

Based on the same underpinnings as the Clio, the Captur is, for the time being at least, the ultimate interpretation of a supermini SUV. There are a few nods at off-road ruggedness with chunky rubbing strips on the bumpers and doors but the curvaceous body tells a slightly different story.

And while there’s some weight behind its MPV-SUV claims the same, sadly, can’t be said about the driving dynamics. The ride is, unsurprisingly, biased towards comfort rather than driving thrills although thanks to its compact dimensions, light controls and commanding driving position it’s very easy to drive with real accuracy.

The suspension is on the soft side which means that the body is prone to roll in corners and, particularly over speed bumps, there can be a significant amount of longitudinal wallowing but the springs do a very good job of smoothing out all but the roughest of roads and the light steering is a boon for driving around town.

The Captur feels a little underpowered, and I often found myself in a lower gear than I expected so you'll quickly find that there’s very little to be gained by trying to coax real performance from either the chassis or the 1.5-litre diesel so it’s best to enjoy the little SUV for what it is: A very capable, and comfortable runabout.

The bold design touches are carried over to the inside, with coloured borders surrounding the centre console, speakers and air vents and even extends as far as the pockets on the back of the front seats, which, in my test car, was a fan-like arrangement of bright orange lengths of elastic (trust me, it looks better than it sounds).

Much of the switchgear is shared with the Clio and some of it can feel a little flimsy but equipment levels are generous. There are four trim-levels to choose from - Expression+, Dynamique Nav, Dynamique S Nav and Signature Nav – and even the base model comes equipped with cruise control and speed limiter, emergency brake assist and Bluetooth.

Speaking of Bluetooth I found the connection between my phone and the media system to be inconsistent which meant that it was all but useless for audio playback. Of course, this could easily be a phone issue so don't read too much into my experience.

Dynamique models add sat nav, keyless entry, heated front seats and climate control while the S version comes with 17in alloy wheels as standard. Finally Signature versions include a high end stereo with Renault’s R-Link multimedia system.

The fun doesn’t have to stop there, however, because it’s entirely possible to create an even more eye-catching design courtesy of a range of personalisation options that include bold alloy wheels, contrasting roof colours and bodywork decals.

The boot will swallow a Juke-bashing 377 litres of your luggage with the rear seats in place or 1,235 litres with the rear seats folded. Rear seat passengers enjoy plenty of headroom but a lack of legroom in the back belies the Captur’s supermini roots.

The Renault Captur is no shrinking violet. Its bold colours and striking design set it apart from most of its peers. Its on-road dynamics can’t match the best in class but for comfort and practicality it’s hard to beat. Whether this car is for you, and simply looking at the number on the road suggests that it is for many, really depends on where your priorities lie. The focus on comfort rather than thrills doesn’t make the Captur a bad car, it just offers buyers a welcome alternative and for many, arriving at their destination feeling fresh and relaxed is all they could ask for. The Captur could be the answer.

Renault Captur S MediaNav ENERGY dCi90

Price: £18,095

As tested: £18,795

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder diesel

Power: 90hp

Transmission: Five-speed manual

Acceleration (0-62mph): 13.1sec

Max speed: 106mph

Urban: 67.26mpg

Extra urban: 83.1mpg

Combined: 76.4mpg

Emissions (CO2): 95g/km

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