All-New Renault Symbioz (2024 - )

Renault’s increasingly SUV-heavy line-up has taken another step forward with the addition of the Symbioz.

The Captur, Scenic, Arkana, Austral, and Rafale are already in the range, while even the new Megane, although still technically a hatchback, looks like a small SUV - a smaller version of the Symbioz, as it happens.

As such, the Symbioz sits between the Megane and the Captur in the French marque’s range.

Its interesting name comes from a Greek word, ‘symbiosis’, meaning 'to live together'. According to Renault, the Symbioz should fit seamlessly into your life in perfect harmony.

We will see whether that’s true or not, but if the equipment list is to be believed, then Renault has made a good first impression.

On the entry-level Techno model, you get lots of kit as standard, including 18-inch alloy wheels, a 10.4-inch OpenR Google-designed infotainment touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and DAB radio, plus a 10.25-inch digital driver display. A 48-colour ambient lighting system is also included, along with automatic LED headlights and rain-sensing windscreen wipers, a keycard, electric front windows, automatic climate control, rear privacy glass, automatic folding door mirrors, a synthetic leather steering wheel, and a rear-view camera.

Techno Esprit Alpine features larger 19-inch rims, a powered tailgate, heated front seats, recycled fabric, and titanium black-grained upholstery.

Upgrading to the flagship Iconic Esprit Alpine gets you a Harman Kardon sound system with three additional speakers, a 360-degree surround view camera, hands-free parking, and a Solarbay electronically dimmable panoramic sunroof. The sunroof's tech allows you to change the level of tinting at the push of a button.

Only one powertrain is available, which we'll come on to shortly.
 

Several cars in Renault’s line-up effectively look like different-sized versions of the same vehicle, and the Symbioz is one of them.

The car’s profile is quite rounded but also features straight edges and some notable creases. It has thin headlights which wrap around the sides, while the lower grilles leave room for an arrow-shaped cutout housing day running lights and air intakes.

The headlights connect to one another via a thin grille which runs along the front. Meanwhile, creases and indentations on the side door add character, and the back features a modest roof spoiler, triangular taillights and some bumper cladding.

Inside, the Renault is nicely presented - tasteful but modest - with dark colours and silver décor on the steering wheel spokes, gear surround, air vents, and engine start button.

The real eye-catcher, though, is the large infotainment tablet bolted to the dashboard. It is angled portrait-style rather than landscape, which is a clue as to who designed it.

Google has teamed up with more than one manufacturer – and all its units are portrait – offering an Android-based infotainment system that’s lovely to use.

It is intuitive, full of features, offers a sharp display, and is responsive to finger touches. It also offers Google Maps SatNav, which is native to the car. That means you can enjoy the full-screen Google Maps interface displayed on the digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, which you wouldn't be able to get with normal smartphone mirroring via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

Even better, the climate controls are adjusted via physical buttons rather than via the infotainment touchscreen, making it easier to adjust the cabin’s temperature on the move.

The materials are slightly grander in our test car, given that we're testing the top-of-the-range model with synthetic leather upholstery. But the quality is good in all trims, and thinner plastics are relatively well hidden.
 

The Symbioz offers only one powertrain - a 145PS 1.6-litre four-cylinder mill connected to a small electric motor.

That might be disheartening for some, especially when you consider that the 0-62mph time is 10.6 seconds, which is adequate but hardly pacey.

Performance-seekers aren’t catered for, then, but 145PS should be an adequate amount of poke if you’re going to the shops, on the school run or commuting to and from work. Besides this, the Symbioz feels faster than it is thanks to responsive acceleration, barring the odd delay when changing down a gear.

The decent throttle response is especially apparent at low speeds, which helps with the stop-start nature of town centres and navigating tight urban side streets.

On faster roads, you can feel the powertrain’s limits, such as when accelerating to overtake on a dual carriageway, but once you’re up to speed, the Symbioz is calm and relaxing to drive. However, wind and tyre din is louder than in some rivals at speed.

You can even drive without the engine for short periods of time, and it will cut in and out as required seamlessly.

Ride comfort is good, the Renault absorbs potholes and crevices nicely, and the Symbioz is undoubtedly designed with contentment in mind rather than handling prowess.

That said, while Renault has seemingly sacrificed agility in the corners for suspension absorption, the Symbioz still grips well around faster bends, controls body lean reasonably nicely and offers precise steering, albeit with little weight and feedback.

As a result, taking it on a twisty, fast-paced B-road will produce little in the way of fun, but it still handles better than we had expected it to.

The hybrid system has a degree of regenerative braking built into it, which can make the brakes feel jammed when you put your foot on the brake pedal. But once we'd got used to taking it a little bit easier, the braking force was predictable and consistent.

Electric seat adjustment is not available in the Symbioz's entry-level trim, but it does make finding a decent driving position more convenient in our top-of-the-range test car.

Despite being classed as a compact crossover SUV, you sit pretty high up, and although the windscreen pillars aren't the thinnest, you still have a good view of the road ahead.

The pillars at the back are much thicker and obstruct the view over your shoulder, but thankfully, front, rear and even side parking sensors are included on all models. You also get a rear-view camera, although the Iconic Esprit Alpine model that we're driving has upgraded it to a 360-degree camera.

Regarding space, legroom and headroom are generous, and even the tallest drivers won't feel cramped. Things aren’t quite as good in the back, with the sloping roofline slightly eating into the headroom. We also lose a bit more headroom in our test car due to the panoramic sunroof, which, as we mentioned earlier, can be dimmed at the touch of a button.

Nevertheless, this should only be an issue if you're extremely tall. Meanwhile, legroom can be extended or reduced because the rear bench can slide forward and backwards. However, you’ll need it ratcheted back if you’re carrying adults in the rear.

If the seats are slid all the way back, you'll have 492 litres of boot space, which will increase to 624 litres if they're all the way forward. Folding them down altogether in a 60:40 split gives you 1,582 litres. There is also plenty of cabin storage, including nicely sized door bins, a large glovebox and a cubby beneath the armrest between the front seats.

The claimed fuel economy figure for the Symbioz is 60.1mpg, which is impressive, even allowing for the fact that it’s a full hybrid.

The Renault will emit 105 to 107g/km of CO2 depending on the trim level you choose, which is a decent figure that should help keep road tax down. However, given that the Benefit in Kind tax favours ultra-low-emission vehicles, namely plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and zero-emission all-electric cars, it still won't make the Symbioz an attractive company car.

Because the Symbioz is so new, it's impossible to know how it will cope longer term, reliability-wise. However, Renault, as a manufacturer, only has an average reputation. You get a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty, although this is extendable via a range of servicing plans. The car's battery also has a separate eight-year, 100,000-mile guarantee.
 

The Renault Symbioz is quite impressive.

It is pretty nice to drive, albeit unexciting. The interior is pleasant, the build quality feels good, and it's very economical, too.

The only powertrain offered can feel a little restrained at times, and some foes can beat it on practicality, but the Symbioz doesn’t do badly in either department.

We recommend sticking with entry-level Techno, which is generously equipped. However, the mid-range Techno Esprit Alpine trim offers some nice features, including a heated steering wheel and front seats with electric adjustment.

The Google infotainment system is feature-rich and very nice to use and could be the clincher for some.

Really, though, the true clincher is its asking price, which undercuts plenty of rivals.