Renault Symbioz review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

The small and medium SUV segments are currently the most hotly contested in the business and no manufacturer can afford to be out of it, writes Brian Byrne. Even with multiple closely-related offerings. That's where the new Renault Symbioz comes in.

It arrived here quickly and rather quietly in the late part of last year after a global reveal only in May. Based on the current Captur small SUV, it shares width and height but the extra length pushes it into the seriously busy compact-crossover arena where Toyota's C-HR and Kia's Niro, among others, are players. It also offers an option a bit smaller in all dimensions than the compact-medium SUV from Renault, the Austral. Crucially, the Symbioz doesn't get a longer wheelbase than the Captur, but does gain a significantly extended cargo area.

The extra length gives Symbioz a stronger presence on the road, and there are minor retakes on the front end styling and more significant ones on the rear from the Captur, but the relationship is clear.

That's even more so with the interior. They didn't change the dashboard and instruments layout from the shorter car which was refreshed earlier last year. It's ergonomically good, as are all Renaults at the moment. The vertical-aspect centre screen and the driver instrument cluster both have bright and colourful graphics, with information presented in large format that makes a glance enough to take in whatever is needed. The brand's current mix of always-on virtual buttons and piano-style switches for climate and comfort management are, as I have noted before, excellent.

My review car was in the Esprit Alpine grade, which adds some visual tweaking to an already high-quality finish. These included some blue stitching on the leather-style trim and seating and some appropriate badging. There's an interesting glass roof option that provides four different levels of opacity, by voice command or switch.

Room is the rear is similar to Captur, which could be cosy enough if the front passengers are both long-legged. Two comfortably, three for shorter journeys.

The only powertrain available is a petrol-hybrid marketed under Renault's E-Tech moniker for electrified cars. It's the familiar 1.6 petrol inline four with a 145ps output and 6-speed automatic transmission system. It does operate in EV mode, and there's a facility to fully top up the battery while on the run to provide a longer electric performance for a time while in town driving.

It is all proven and works smoothly, though I had a feeling that the petrol engine was revving a little high in some slower driving (there's no rev-counter in most hybrids these days so it's hard to tell).

The full set of mandatory driver assist technology is provided. Over-limits warning sounds are not overly-intrusive, so I didn't bother switching them off as is my habit with some other brands.

In my time with the car it felt nicely balanced under a variety of conditions. I had to do six-hours of long-distance driving on one day in a mix of country, main road and motorway, and arrived home quite fresh. Proving Renault's traditional reputation for comfort.

PRICE: From €36,995, review car €41,395. WHAT I LIKED: The sense of bigger without bulk.  

Skoda Kodiaq PHEV review: Trish Whelan, Irish Car

Skoda introduced a plug-in hybrid variant to its Kodiaq SUV line-up last year in the form of the Kodiaq iV, joining the two 2.0 TDI 150hp and 193hp diesels, the latter mated to a 4x4 all-wheel-drive transmission. 

While the original large 7-seat Skoda Kodiaq was one of the Czech brand’s best-selling models with over 12,000 vehicles delivered to Irish families since 2017, the iV PHEV version is only available as a 5-seater. The car stands 1,674mm high, is 1,864mm wide and has an increased wheelbase to 2,790mm. It also has chrome roof rails and tinted windows. 

The exterior has crisp, elegant lines and a distinctive light signature that I’m sure won’t date for many years to come. It can be fitted with up to 20-inch wheels. The iV badge at the rear distinguishes this as the PHEV version. Light beams into the cabin through the panoramic sunroof (€1,680) making it bright and airy. The very well laid out dash has the new easy-to-use 13.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display as well as the navigation system. These were part of the Technology pack at €1,471. A 10.25-inch driver’s information cluster shows all the relevant information including your digital speed. There are three large knobs for the climatronic air conditioning system and front seat heaters. 

A stand-out feature for me was the beautiful tan-coloured Cognac leather upholstery which, besides looking so good, proved very comfortable for both myself and my front seat passenger. The driver’s seat comes with power seat adjustments including lumbar support and three memory seat settings. 

You can charge two mobile phones wirelessly in the Phone Box compartment in the dash. There’s a USB port beside the rear view mirror while the small USB ports over the storage compartment allow data transfer as well as charging. Storage areas include two gloveboxes, a deep area below the slidable centre armrest and huge door bins. You can lower the second row of seats at the touch of a lever. There’s a highish tunnel for the person seated in the middle seat to manoeuvre their feet around, but rear knee room is more than generous and head space absolutely fine for most adults. You’ll also find two lightening USBs, a 12V socket and an air conditioning control panel. 

My car had a power tailgate and high boot floor, some hooks and a handy net for securing luggage. An under floor area is for storing cables. 

Trims are Selection, Selection+ (my car) and Sportline. Each is well specced. My Selection+ trim had seven airbags, Adaptive Cruise control, Hill hold control, Forward collision warning, Rear Assist, front and rear parking sensors, trailer hitch preparation (towing weight braked is 1800kg, unbraked 750kg), rear view camera system, and three child seat anchors. 

This was the 1.5 TSI 204hp petrol coupled with a DSG 6-speed gearbox. The electric motor and powerful 25.7kWh lithium-ion battery allow for an emission-free electric range of over 100km in the WLTP cycle which is more than enough for most people’s daily commutes. The selector gear lever located on the right of the steering column includes a S mode which allows the gears to change at higher speeds. Drive modes are Comfort, Eco, Individual and Sport. To activate pure electric drive, you select the E-mode function. The model ditches the very back two seats of the 7-seater to make room for the big battery but still leaving 745 litres of luggage capacity which can be expanded with the second row of seats folded down. 

The Kodiaq PHEV has a claimed fuel consumption of 0.4-0.5 L/100kms. My fuel return - driving mostly in hybrid mode - came in at 7.2L/100kms (-0.6 kWh/100km). Torque is 250Nm and from 0-100km/h takes 8.4 seconds. Annual road tax is €140. I was able to get an excellent driving position and found this big car very easy to drive and even to manoeuvre. Handling was also very good; steering was perfectly weighted. Full marks for the excellent blind spot detector, on the inside of the side mirrors, that shows a large warning light when a vehicle is approaching from either side. Skoda sell a lot of diesel cars and the Kodiaq 7-seat diesel returns around 4.5/5.5 L/100kms and is priced from €53,970. 

A real niggle, as in many new cars, was the Lane Assist feature which in this case was far too sensitive, almost taking over the steering if it detected I was not in the centre of my lane, when indeed I was driving correctly in my lane. I turned it off, as usual. 

Charging the PHEV with a DC fast charger to 80pc takes 25 minutes, but most owners will charge at home overnight. Diesels are priced from €53,970; the mHEV 7-seater from €54,68; my PHEV car €63,290. Optional equipment and metallic paint added another €4,166 taking the price of my car as tested to €67,456. The standard version of the Skoda Kodiaq was awarded a maximum five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP in 2024 along with its sibling Skoda Superb.

 

 

Mercedes-Benz Vito review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

In the last few years I haven’t reviewed that many vans, easing back on a bit of my workload and opting out of the Irish Van of the Year jury on which I have served for decades, writes Brian Byrne. But I always liked vans, and still do. 

A panel van is an honest vehicle, with a specific purpose that nevertheless spans everything which the world needs in delivering our daily needs. It’s a shifter of goods of every kind. It can be in passenger form an economical small bus, or a luxury car for small groups touring or hotel transfers. It can be a mobile fridge, in conversion a travelling holiday residence (I’m thinking here of a VW pop-top we drove once from Liverpool to Lands End and back with our then small two eldest children. Even though it was an undeniably fun trip it kind of cured me early on of the 'romance' of the camper van open road.)

The Mercedes-Benz Vito has been around as a panel van since 1996. It’s in its third generation, and my reason for looking at it now is a refresh that took place for MY 2024. The changes helped win the light commercial vehicle the Irish Van of the Year 2025 in association with Continental Tyres.

Most vans have an inevitable boxy look at the business end, the space that carries boxes of various shapes and sizes. Vito stands out because it has this gently swooping profile. Its distinctiveness has helped to make it an owner-operator favourite van. Not a mass-market LCV in fleet terms, the buyer profile is very much the one-man van. Reflected in the fact that seven out of ten owners opt for the automatic transmission which my review vehicle had, a much higher ratio than normal fleet vans in the medium segment. When you're spending your day in a mobile place of work, and you're paying for it yourself, you'll spend the bit extra for things that will make your life easier.

External changes in last year's facelift included a bigger grille with a revised bumper and fascia, as well as an upgraded headlights system. The small M-B badge mounted on the bonnet is another tell-tale for the design nerds. Two sliding side doors are standard. My version was the long wheelbase, a hauler of stuff up to the 675kg payload that would make it either a good small packages delivery vehicle or a craftsman's mobile workshop.

More significant changes in the cabin are notably in the infotainment and driving information areas, now fully up to scratch with the MBUX systems which Mercedes provide in their passenger cars. The centre screen is large, housed in a glossy premium look. No-nonsense manual buttons and switches for climate and volume. The driving instruments are analogue in style and bright, with some nice colour in the variable information screen between the dials. Trim was up to car standard throughout and while there were just two seats (cheaper versions have three), they were upgraded ones which included heating for both driver and co-driver. 

The driving position in Vito has always been good, with a high view down over the front. A reversing camera was part of the review car's spec, which I have always said should be mandatory for all vans. All the latest driver assist systems are present.

Apart from a small number of electrics, all the Vitos sold here are powered by a 2-litre 190hp diesel that has been in the van since the 2020 generation change. But it has been around longer than that in the passenger cars, so is well understood. With the 9-speed automatic that debuted in the E-Class not too many years ago, it makes for a really smooth powertrain in the Vito.

I gave it a few good drives while in my charge, including taking advantage of its capacity to shift long overdue stuff from home to my local environmental facility (what we used to call the 'dump', now gentrified to amenity centre). On my more normal trips on both motorway and town driving, I decided the Vito in this format is a space where I'd be very comfortable in all-day working.

PRICE: From €35,106 ex VAT; review vehicle Select grade €49,949 ex VAT. WHAT I LIKED: It was nice to be back in a van again. 

Volkswagen to celebrate 75 years in Ireland with many new arrivals

VW Group Ireland MD Pierre Boutin — celebrating 75 years in Ireland in 2025.

Volkswagen Group Ireland is forecasting increased sales of electrified vehicles by 35pc in 2025, building on a one-in-four share of sales of EVs from the group's brands during 2024, writes Brian Byrne. This was against a total new cars market share in Ireland of 11.6pc by the group, which comprises Audi, Skoda, SEAT and Cupra, and Volkswagen.

A number of new and regeneration models are launching this year, including the VW Tayron SUV, new T-Roc, and the electric ID.2all. Audi will launch the new A6 e-tron, the new A7 Avant and saloon, the A5 PHEV, the Q3 SUV and Sportback, Q5 PHEV, RS5 PHEV as well as a refreshed Q4 e-tron.

Skoda will introduce the new Skoda Superb Combi iV and the Kodiaq iV with electric ranges of 130km and 100km respectively, the brand-new Skoda Elroq in spring and the new model Enyaq and Enyaq Coupe in the summer.

SEAT will have the new Leon PHEV 2.0 as well as the updated Arona and Ibiza coming later this year. Meanwhile, the Cupra range will expand to five models thanks to the addition of the new Terramar and the all-electric Tavascan.

Volkswagen is celebrating 75 years in business in Ireland this year, and Group MD Pierre Boutin says the company is looking forward to celebrating some historic milestones in that story in 2025. 

Skoda Octavia review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

Probably not many readers of this piece will remember when Skoda Octavias were assembled in Cork, writes Brian Byrne. That was back in the 1960s, when O'Shea of Cork was also an assembler of Opel cars here, competing in that franchise with the Dublin-based Reg Armstrong Motors. For the Octavia, O'Shea was one of only four assemblers globally, the others being in the Skoda brand's home country of Czechoslovakia, and in New Zealand and Chile. That particular Octavia finished production in 1971, and motor assembly in Ireland ended in 1984 exactly 50 years after that industry had been kick-started by then Minister for Industry and Commerce Sean Lemass. 

All of which has little to do with the Octavia subject for this review, but some historical reminiscence can be helpful for modern context. The current Octavia is in its fourth generation since the nameplate was resurrected in 1996 when Skoda had come into partial ownership of Volkswagen, a process completed  four years later. The model quickly became a favourite in Ireland, and last year was Ireland's second-best selling car, largely responsible for lifting the Skoda brand to overall third place here. That's some achievement for a family hatchback in this era of SUV super-trending.

Part of the success is maybe due to a fairly conservative styling, which would appeal to the beyond-Dublin buyer cohort responsible for more than half of the model's sales in Ireland. The same buyers also making a statement with two-thirds of them opting for diesel engines, substantially bucking the overall trend. 

My review car was the facelift for the Mk 4 model, and arrived in Ireland during 2024. A bit of sharpening at the front end, including a new grille bringing the car up to date with the 'family' style. Changes to the lights front and rear, and to the bumpers, have all done their bit to refresh. The profile and character lines are as before, but a new take on the alloy wheels offer a change there. The Sportline pack provided a lowered sport suspension and also some black trim detailing including on the grille. In size, as has been a characteristic, Octavia is at the top end of the compact family car segment, with interior roominess that is probably responsible for maintaining the liftback saloon's popularity against the SUV onslaught.

From my perspective inside, there are improved graphics for driving information. Not showy, but offering that info in a straightforward and clear way. The centre screen is quite large, and includes the temperature and seat heat controls on a permanent strip at the bottom — thankfully staying there when hooked up to CarPlay. There's an annoying physical 'stroker' control for radio volume, and below it a set of piano-style keys for quick operation of defrost, hazard, door-lock and a couple of other functions. It's a decently laid out place for the driver to be and I felt at ease from the word go.

The review car's interior colour theme was grey and black, probably the most practical for a true family car, and that extra leg-room which Octavias have makes the rear seats a good place to be for even well-grown teenagers. The lift-back boot is a cargo-swallower.

The powertrain this time was a 150hp 1.5 turbo petrol, managed through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. With mild-hybrid tech to help economy it's also peppy enough at an 8.5s sprint capability, achieving that smoothly with the now well-established autobox. The suspension is tagged sport, but isn't in any way hard as the designation used to mean in previous decades, so there's a good balance of handling and ride. There's an RS version for the mid-lifer petrolhead, but this one is absolutely aimed at next-door Sean and Siodhna trying to accommodate their growing family's practical needs for both commuter and leisure transport. There's a combi estate version, though only 15pc of buyers in Ireland opt for it

There's all the expected driver assist tech. My car had the matrix LED headlight system which still entertains in night driving as you watch it adapt in almost infinite ways to the ambient lighting conditions and oncoming headlights.

Summing up, there's nothing spectacularly standout about the Octavia. It is, and does, just what it is supposed to be and do. And therein lies the recipe for the success that it is.

PRICE: From €43,500; review car €44,724. WHAT I LIKED: It made me feel, well, just like myself. 

New cars for 2025

The new cars cycle, regardless of how individual markets are doing, is an always-turning wheel because of the length of time it takes to develop or redevelop any given model, writes Brian Byrne. For 2025 it is no different, and we have here a sampling of what to expect in Ireland during the year. Some are already in dealerships, others imminent, and a few coming towards the end of the year. The market share by engine type for 2024 in Ireland was Petrol 30pc, Diesel 23pc, Petrol Electric Hybrid 21pc, Electric 14pc, and Plug-In Electric Hybrid 10pc. Even though growth in sales of pure battery electric vehicles took a dip, the high proportion of BEVs among the incoming nameplates show that commitment to electric cars in the industry remains very high.

ALFA ROMEO

The new Junior from Alfa is a small SUV with powertrains that will include all-electric power with 156hp and 240hp and petrol hybrid of 136hp. There is also an electric version of the executive Giulia on the way.

 

AUDI

The new Q6 e-tron electric SUV is the first Audi on a new dedicated electric platform. The new A5 liftback saloon and sportback replace the A4, in a very performance-look styling. A new A6 e-tron liftback sedan and avant wagon ups Audi’s executive electric car game.

BMW

The new generation BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe is expected from March 2025, in 170hp with 48-volt mild hybrid technology and an AWD with 300hp. A 7-speed dual-clutch automatic is standard in the new car, as is adaptive suspension. Replacement for the X3 and a new generation 3 Series are also coming.

BYD

The Seal U Super Hybrid is a plug-in SUV with AWD and a high level of standard specification and finish quality. The Sealion 7 (below) high-performance, all-electric mid-size SUV is coming in Q1, to be followed in Q3 by a 5-door hatchback Dolphin Mini and crossover SUV Atto 2. Later in the year a mid-sized plug-in hybrid Seal 06 DM-i is coming in both saloon and estate versions.

CITROEN

The Citroen Ami is an urban electric quadricycle 2-seater with a range of just 75km on a charge. The cabin is weatherproof and heated. The new Citroen C3 (below) with both petrol and electric versions has a chunky SUV-style look — power for the petrol version is a 1.2 turbo with 100hp, and the EV will have a rated range of up to 320km. There's also a hybrid option. 

CUPRA

New generation plug-in hybrid powertrains feature on the latest versions of the Formentor and Leon (below) which have a strong new design. They can also be ordered with a turbo petrol engine as well as one with mild hybrid technology, and a diesel. An urban SUV, the Raval, based on the 2023 UrbanRebel (below) concept is also on the way.

DACIA

Dacia's new generation Duster SUV is available with AWD Terrain control and power options include new hybrid, petrol and LPG. The new Spring electric car (below) is described as perfectly suited for urban use, with a 225km range. Keep an eye for the Bigster mid-size SUV.

DS

DS N°8 is the new DS Automobiles electric SUV Coupe flagship and will launch in Europe in mid-2025 with a rated range of up to 750km and power output as much as 350hp. There will be 2WD and AWD variants.

FIAT

The new Giga Panda and the Grande Panda are small urban SUVs, the Giga with a 7-seat configuration. Both will come with electric, and petrol versions, one a mild hybrid. The Fiat 500 is also planned to get a hybrid powertrain.

FORD

The Ford Explorer electric SUV represents the latest stage of the brand's EV transition in Europe. Underpinnings are related to the VW ID.4 under a tech agreement between the two motor brands. An electric version of the Puma is next.

HONDA

Honda's new HR-V SUV is styled to look more substantial than its predecessor, and the powertrain is a petrol hybrid with a total output of 131hp. Interior design deliberately emphasises traditional climate and audio switchgear and a relatively small touchscreen, to minimise distraction.

HYUNDAI

The Hyundai Ioniq 9 is a 3-row large electric SUV, and will feature the very clean slab-sided design similar to the latest Santa Fe, with a rated driving range of up to 620km and there will be RWD and AWD versions. A new urban electric car, the Inster (below) claims a driving range of up to 360km.

JEEP

The all-electric Jeep Wagoneer S is coming during the year with a claimed range of more than 600km. Specifications and prices for Ireland to come.

KIA

The new Kia EV3 follows in the design theme of the EV9, in three trims and with choice from two batteries for the lowest specification offering rated ranges of up to 436km and 607km respectively. The long-range battery is standard in the two higher spec cars. Next up is the EV5 compact SUV (below), and an EV4 saloon. 

LAND ROVER

The Range Rover Electric is expected to arrive finally in 2025, built on the long wheelbase variant of the combustion powered car, with a revised suspension system. No details of range have been revealed, but there is speculation that the performance will be equivalent to the V8 petrol version.

MAZDA

Mazda's new CX-80 flagship car in Europe is a 3-row SUV which can be configured for six or seven seats. Available in five grades, the car is powered by a 2.5 plug-in hybrid petrol engine outputting 327hp, or a 3.3 diesel with 254hp. All versions are AWD with 8-speed automatic transmissions. An electric new Mazda6 has been revealed.

MERCEDES-BENZ

A new G-Class will arrive in early 2025 and will include an all-electric variant. In Q2 there will be a Mercedes-Maybach SL 680 two-seater cabriolet (below). In Q3 the first battery-electric version of the four-door CLA Coupe is due, to be followed, in Q4, with a petrol-hybrid versions. 

MG

MG in Ireland now have the all-electric Cyberster 2-seater, available with RWD and AWD powertrains. Power outputs range from 340hp to 503hp, with a claimed 3.2s sprint to 100km/h from the latter.

MINI

After an absence of nine years, the Mini Cooper Convertible will be rolling into showrooms again with first deliveries in early 2025. Two petrol engines, a 163hp version and a more powerful S model with 204hp.

NISSAN

A revised version of the Qashqai has distinctive changes to styling and updated connectivity. In addition to the e-Power hybrid powertrains, a new mild-hybrid 1.3 petrol engine has being introduced. Interiors have been revised to provide what the company calls a more premium feel.

OPEL

The new Opel Grandland is offered in both full electric and hybrid forms. The EV has rated ranges of 523km and 700km. The new Frontera B-segment SUV (below) will replace the Crossland, and will be available both in fully electric and hybrid powertrains.

PEUGEOT

The new 5008 is a 7-seat SUV available with both hybrid and fully electric powertrains, the electric version offering up to 502km of range. A larger battery version with 668km range is coming and a long-range version of the Peugeot E-3008 will be also be available in the first quarter. Peugeot has completed its EV line-up with the Peugeot E-408 (below), a fully electric version of its 408 with a range of up to 453km. 

POLESTAR

The new Polestar 3 has a rated range of up to 631km. With 489hp available, the claimed sprint performance to 100km/h is 5s. The new Polestar 4 (below) has  272hp and a rated range of 620km. The Polestar 2 has been changed from front wheel drive to RWD with a rated range now 554km and a significantly more powerful 274hp. 

RENAULT

The Renault 4 E-Tech Electric unveiled at the Paris Motor Show is a B-segment urban crossover with original design cues from the iconic 4L brought into the 21st century. Coming in Q2, with two battery ranges of 300km and 400km. The R5 E-Tech Electric (below) coming at the same time, is a very hip uptake on another small legendary Renault. The Symbioz compact SUV already on sale is powered by a 145hp full hybrid petrol. 

SKODA

The new Elroq EV is expected. here in April. Three battery options will be offered, with rated ranges of 370-560km. Initial cars are rear wheel drive, with an AWD coming later. The Enyaq electric SUV has been updated, badged Enyaq 85+ and available in two versions with rated range now up to 569km. A fully revised version (below) of both Enyaq and Enyaq Coupe will arrive in the autumn.

SMART

Due here before the end of 2025 is the third Smart arrival, the #5, described as a spacious and versatile premium mid-size SUV.

TOYOTA

The new Land Cruiser is a big difference in style but again powered by a 2.8 litre turbo diesel engine though now paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and capable of pulling up to three and a half tonnes. Noticeable changes include a boxy outside and more spacious interior.  

VOLKSWAGEN

The new Tayron is due by the middle of the year, slotting below the Touareg. A choice from seven powertrains including two next-generation plug-in hybrid drives offering electric ranges of more than 100km and the car will be available with five or seven seats. An ID.2 long suggested is looking like production, bringing the brand's EV efforts to 'affordable' cars.

VOLVO

The new EX 90 is the brand’s flagship, a large SUV that is fully electric. With 517hp offering a sub-5 seconds sprint to 100km/h the rated range is 604km. Up to seven seats can be specified.

XPENG 

The G6, an all-electric mid-sized SUV, is the first model on the Irish market from Chinese maker Xpeng, launching in January. An all-electric mid-size SUV coupe, range is rated up to 625km.