Back to reviews

Renault Captur Is Gone for Good — Here's What Replaces It

Renault has quietly killed the Captur's Australian comeback, and WA buyers need to know what's filling the gap.

AutoReady WA Editorial·3 min read·24 May 2026
Renault Captur Is Gone for Good — Here's What Replaces It

If you've been holding out for the updated Renault Captur, stop waiting. Renault Australia has confirmed the compact SUV won't be returning to the lineup, and the reasoning is blunt: there's simply no room for it anymore.

Australian stock of the Captur sold out in late 2024 as part of what was supposed to be a temporary pause before a refreshed model arrived in the second half of 2025. A test vehicle even made it to local shores. Then nothing. Now Renault has closed the door officially.

Why the Captur Got Axed

Renault Australia general manager Glen Sealey puts it plainly: the Duster and the incoming Symbioz have made the Captur redundant.

"For us, and the range that we have, there's actually not room for Captur," Sealey said.

The logic tracks. The Duster — a slightly larger SUV sold under the budget Dacia brand in Europe — starts from $31,990 plus on-road costs and anchors the bottom of the range. The Symbioz, a stretched Captur with hybrid power and a bigger boot, will slot in above it. Squeezing the Captur between those two would just create confusion and cannibalise sales.

For Perth buyers who liked the Captur's compact footprint for navigating tight carparks in Claremont or Karrinyup, the Symbioz is around 200mm longer bumper to bumper — closer in size to a Mazda CX-5 than a CX-3. That's a meaningful difference if you're parking in older suburbs with narrow street bays.

As for Mitsubishi launching a rebadged version of the Captur as the new ASX — built in the same Spanish factory, no less — Sealey says that had zero influence on the decision. Take that at face value or not, but the outcome is the same either way.

What WA Buyers Are Getting Instead

The Symbioz is the headline act. Renault hasn't confirmed pricing yet, but given the Duster opens at $31,990 and the larger Koleos starts at $39,990, expect the Symbioz to land somewhere in the high $30,000s to low $40,000s plus on-road costs — likely dearer than the old Captur, which ran from $33,000 to $41,300 plus ORCs.

Two drivetrains are confirmed for Australia:

  • **Mild hybrid:** 104kW 1.3-litre turbo-petrol with a 48-volt system and seven-speed dual-clutch auto. The electric motor assists the petrol engine and can shut it off briefly to save fuel, but this isn't a full EV-mode setup.
  • **Full hybrid:** 1.8-litre petrol paired with an electric motor — this one can run on electric power alone, similar to how a Toyota or Kia hybrid operates.

For WA drivers doing long runs between Perth and regional centres like Mandurah, Bunbury or Albany, that full hybrid could make a genuine dent in fuel costs. With Perth fuel prices regularly spiking above the national average on weekends, real-world hybrid efficiency matters here more than most places.

Sealey is talking up the Symbioz's European handling and Google-based infotainment, and promising an "aggressive" price when the announcement comes. We'll believe it when we see the driveaway figure.

Should You Consider the Mitsubishi ASX Instead?

If the Captur was on your shortlist, the Mitsubishi ASX is the mechanical twin — same platform, same Spanish factory — but with a larger dealer network across WA and a longer warranty backing it up. That's not nothing, especially if you're outside the metro area and need servicing access in places like Geraldton or Kalgoorlie where Renault coverage is thin.

The Renault Symbioz is shaping up as the more premium, better-equipped choice for buyers who can wait and stretch the budget. The Duster suits those who want something practical and affordable without the frills.

Renault says the Captur remains available in right-hand drive globally, so a future return isn't impossible. But for now, it's off the table — and the WA small SUV market moves on without it.

Get WA car news in your inbox

New reviews and buying guides for Western Australian buyers.