Renault has introduced a host of new vehicles over the last year, all signalling huge leaps forward in terms of design, interior style, comfort and drivability. These include the multi-award winning New Scenic, flagship Rafale, updated Captur, and Symbioz hybrid compact SUV. The latest is the new all-electric Renault 5 voted European Car of the Year 2025, and a new Renault 4 due here soon. Designed to fit in the line-up between the B-segment Captur and larger Austral, Symbioz is the French carmaker’s new entry level model in the all-important C-segment. Renault say it is designed for both city traffic and family life.
Symbioz is an attractive looking motor that isn’t over-the-top in exterior styling, and this will be appreciated by those buyers not looking for a get-in-your-face type SUV as their family car. In the front, the radiator grille is styled as micro-diamonds and is adorned with a graphic effect and, at the rear, the Symbioz signature emphasises the car’s sharp lines.
My review car was the top Esprit Alpine grade in a lovely exterior of Ceramic Grey Metallic. Distinctive features include a matte grey F1 strip, special 19-inch Esprit Alpine wheels and Alpine badging on the front wings. The cabin is flooded with light from the panoramic solarbay sunroof which has four different opacity configurations; the technology involved does away with the need for a blind. Really comfy seats were covered in black fabric and synthetic leather with nice designs on the bolsters. The upholstery is stitched in Alpine blue and the distinctive badge features a blue/white/red flag on the seat backs and dash. My seat had power adjustments.
The dash and instruments layout are the same as the 2024 updated Captur, and work just fine as you get to see all the information clearly. The vertically aligned 10.4-inch central touchscreen display and customisable 10.25-inch digital driver screen come with colourful graphics and connect you to the openR link multimedia system technology with Google built-in. You can plan a trip, adjust the temperature or the opacity of the panoramic sunroof by saying ‘Hey Google’ and giving your instructions via the Voice Assistant. There are permanently-on virtual buttons and piano-style switches for climate, heat controls for the steering wheel and for the front seats.
There’s a wireless phone charger on the dash and two small C-type USBs front and back. Cubbies include a narrow but deep area below the front armrest, a glovebox that reaches far inwards, a storage area nearer the floor out of sight of the driver, and generous door bins.
Rear space could be tight enough with tall people seated in front even with the big knee indents on the front seat backs; the middle seat is slightly smaller than the outer two and there’s a tunnel here to manoeuvre feet around. With the rear bench seat folded down, luggage capacity expands from 492 litres to a very good 625 litres.
Trims are Techno, Techno Esprit Alpine, and Iconic Esprit Alpine.
With full hybrid technology, the car switches automatically between different traction modes to reduce the use of the petrol engine and fuel consumption. Full hybrid E-Tech vehicles don’t need to be plugged in as they recharge themselves when you brake or decelerate.
The four-cylinder 1.6 hybrid unit outputs 145hp and produces 250Nm torque. It's mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission system that we are familiar with from other Renault cars. The system always starts in electric mode allowing you remain in full-electric mode up to 80pc of the time in the city with fuel savings of up to 40pc compared with a conventional combustion engine. From 0-100km/h takes 10.6 secs and road tax €180. An E-Save function optimises fuel consumption by maintaining the battery charge to ensure there is always sufficient power to negotiate slopes without losing speed, or to overtake with only the electric motor as boost.
Symbioz has a WLTP cycle of 4.6 L/100kms; a total of 1,000kms is available on a full tank of petrol. There are 29 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) onboard including active emergency braking system - urban and pedestrian/cyclist - rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with speed limiter and hands-free Park Assist; my car's spec included full LED front and rear lights, a rear fog light, three driving modes, a 360deg around view 3D reversing camera, good blind spot monitors, all-round parking sensors and a Harman Kardon premium audio system.
On the road, I found the petrol engine can rev high at times especially driving in urban areas or after accelerating and there was a good bit of road noise coming through into the cabin which often necessitated turning up the radio volume, but on the whole, I enjoyed driving the car on all types of routes.
Symbioz was awarded four out of a possible five stars for safety by Euro NCAP and is built at Renault’s Valladolid plant in Spain.
Prices are from €36,995-€41,395 (€40,370 without metallic paint).
