Oleg recently relocated to Moscow from Suvorov, a town in the Tula region, after living in two houses for a long time. Over three years his Kaptur covered more than 83,000 kilometers, and not all of it on regular roads.
Before the capture era, Oleg used a mix of foreign and domestic cars, including the UAZ-469 and ZIL-130. For Renault, he owned a Niva VAZ-2131 from 2004, which carried the family on serious off-road trips from 2012 to 2018. The car was beloved, but major repairs finally took their toll. A replacement was needed.
Choice
The decision began in April 2018 after another serious breakdown of the cherished Niva. A family meeting led to replacing the car with a newer model.
The short list included contenders from China and Renault. However corrosion issues, widely discussed online, ruled out the first option. Renault Sandero Stepway became the candidate, but a test drive with the wife near a showroom stopped near Kaptur and the car won their hearts.
The test drive impressed them: varied roads, towns, bumps, and rough tracks tested the car’s steadiness. The couple easily reached 125 km/h, enjoying a smooth ride and confident handling in corners.
The loan approval came quickly. On April 30 they returned to the dealership for customs clearance. The Niva was traded in for 80 thousand. Extra floor mats, a bumper mesh, and an alarm were added. On May 3, 2018, the Kaptur with Drive equipment, 1.6 engine, 5-speed manual transmission, front-wheel drive, and about 7 km was ordered.
First kilometers and impressions
The early impressions were overwhelmingly positive. The car ran quietly, comfortably, and smoothly. The break-in period surprised them with steady performance rather than roughness. At 100 km/h the engine ran at about 2800 rpm, providing a calm yet purposeful pace. The owner relied on cruise control to maintain speed, even at highway speeds, and appreciated its usefulness during the break-in. The average fuel consumption settled around 7.1 L/100 km.
Cruise control proved so convenient that keeping a steady pace became almost effortless. The new vehicle offered a feature long desired by the owner, and it did not disappoint during the purchase decision.
By June 3, the odometer showed 3000 km of km driven, marking the end of the break-in. A further 500 km were logged in a moderate pacing mode. With the accelerator pressed more firmly, speeds climbed to 130–140 km/h (approximately 3500–4000 rpm). It felt excellent, albeit briefly. On July 1, a mechanical issue resulted in a fine. The kids celebrated the moment when Dad finally got caught—happily for them as a milestone.
People say the car feels faster after the break-in. The owner did not observe a dramatic change; fuel consumption rose to about 8.4 L/100 km during later testing. The vehicle passed zero-to-50 checks with ease and held steady performance through the next cycles. The engine oil level stayed nearly unchanged. About 50 grams of antifreeze were added, and the rear wiper was deactivated due to wear.
First questions
In Suvorov, neighbors saw him as a pioneer. Passersby slowed, approached, and asked many questions. Suvorov is known for its energy engineers, and the silver Kaptur with plate T125NO drew the label of a small, unconventional transformer. Questions arrived in quick succession:
Why choose Kaptur? Why opt for a non-privately driven model after the previous Niva? Why not Duster, suggested as a feminine option?
Some opinions came from stereotypes rather than clear logic. In Moscow, coworkers were curious only about the mechanical choice. The owner explained that the appeal lay in a high ground clearance, practical doors and interior, strong acceleration, and a price tag around a million rubles four years ago. The cockpit layout was familiar, and the vehicle did not trigger motion sickness for the wife or daughter, unlike many other cars.
Concerning four-wheel drive, the Kaptur offered either a 4×4 with a 2.0-liter (143 hp) engine or a 4×2 1.6-liter (114 hp). The third option was not available. If a 1.6 4×4 had been offered, the choice would be clear. Four-wheel drive is particularly useful for starting on ice and negotiating snowdrifts. The top priority, though, is clearance, which the Kaptur provides adequately. There is little difference on the road, so the extra cost seemed unnecessary to the owner.
Remarkably, after 7,500 miles, there was no need to engage four-wheel drive. Even when the front bumper got stuck in a hole and the front left wheel hung, the accelerator pushed the car free. The moment was shocking in a good way.
Was the Kaptur a car for girls? That notion did not appear on the technical passport. Future pages will discuss money-saving tips for useful accessories and early problems with the car [citation].