Renault Symbioz

Renault Symbioz at a glance

The Symbioz is a C-segment crossover with five doors and five seats. It uses the Renault-Nissan CMF-B HS platform, the same basis as the Clio, Captur and Nissan Juke, which keeps its kerb weight close to 1.5 tonnes even with the hybrid drivetrain. Gilles Vidal's design team gave it a Captur-like nose and a longer rear overhang. Renault announced the car on 8 February 2024 and revealed it on 2 May 2024. The name comes from the Greek for "living together" and has no link to the 2017 Symbioz concept car shown at Frankfurt, which remained a prototype.

Dimensions and weights from ADAC; boot volumes from Renault UK.

Compared with the Captur, which ADAC lists at 4,239 mm, the Symbioz is about 17 cm longer. Against Renault's electric Scenic E-Tech it is 57 mm shorter on a wheelbase that is 147 mm shorter, but it has a bigger boot: 624 litres against 545, according to CompleteCar.ie.

Generations and versions

The first German price lists from July 2024 had only the E-Tech full hybrid 145 in four trims. In May 2025 ADAC shows a reshuffle: the E-Tech 160 replaced the 145, and a cheaper Mild Hybrid 140 arrived with a manual gearbox, later also with the EDC dual-clutch automatic. Mitsubishi Motors unveiled its rebadged version, the Grandis, on 2 July 2025.

Engines and performance

The E-Tech 145 combines a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 69 kW (94 PS) and 148 Nm, a 36 kW (49 PS) electric motor with 205 Nm, and an 18 kW high-voltage starter-generator. The battery is tiny at 1.3 kWh gross and 0.6 kWh usable (ADAC), so the car drives electrically only in short bursts. The clutchless multi-mode gearbox has four ratios for the engine and two for the electric motor; there is no clutch pedal and no torque converter.

The E-Tech 160 is the newer version of the same idea with a 1.8-litre engine and 116 kW (158 PS), which ADAC lists from May 2025. The Mild Hybrid 140 is a different philosophy: a 1,332 cc turbo four with a 12-volt starter-generator, 103 kW (140 PS) and 250 Nm, a conventional six-speed manual or the EDC automatic, and a higher braked towing limit of 1,200 kg.

Space and practicality

The sliding rear bench is the Symbioz's main argument. It moves by up to 16 cm, so the boot ranges from 492 litres with the bench pushed back to 624 litres with it pushed forward. With the bench in its rearmost position CompleteCar.ie measured 221 mm of knee room. Fold the 60:40 backrests and the full hybrid offers up to 1,582 litres in Renault's own table. The mild hybrid has no traction battery under the floor; ADAC lists 576 litres as its standard boot, up to 1,682 litres.

Inside, the Symbioz shares its dashboard with the Captur: a 10.3-inch driver display, a 10.4-inch portrait touchscreen with the openR Link system and built-in Google services, and up to 24.7 litres of cabin storage. Top versions offer the Solarbay panoramic roof, which turns opaque at the touch of a button. Use the garage fit checker if you are replacing a smaller car.

Fuel economy and running costs

ADAC lists the E-Tech 145 at 4.8 l/100 km and 109 g/km of CO2 on the WLTP cycle, which is where a full hybrid earns its keep, particularly in town. The Mild Hybrid 140 with the manual gearbox is rated at 5.9 l/100 km and 134 g/km. Both use a 48-litre tank, so the full hybrid can cover about 1,000 km between fill-ups on paper. Run your own numbers in the fuel cost calculator.

Trims, equipment and prices

German trims run Evolution, Techno, Esprit Alpine and Iconic. Every Symbioz has six airbags and Renault quotes up to 24 driver-assistance systems, with a "My Safety Switch" button that switches up to six of them on or off in one press. Top models get 19-inch wheels and a nine-speaker Harman Kardon system.

All prices are ADAC list prices. A short-lived E-Tech 160 KISS edition was listed at EUR 29,490 between July and October 2025.

Safety

Euro NCAP tested the Symbioz in September 2024 and awarded four stars, with 73 percent for adult occupants, 80 percent for child occupants, 76 percent for vulnerable road users and 69 percent for safety assist (ADAC data). French press reports on the test singled out weak chest protection for the driver in the frontal impact, while whiplash protection was rated good. The Mitsubishi Grandis carries its own four-star Euro NCAP 2024 listing. More results are on our safety ratings page.

Reliability and known issues

The Symbioz has only been on sale since 2024, and none of the sources used here document a recurring fault or a recall pattern. Its drivetrains are not new, though: the E-Tech hybrid system and the 1.3 turbo are also used in the Captur, so parts and workshop knowledge are widespread.

Rivals

German list prices and boot volumes from ADAC (Captur figure for the E-Tech 160, Qashqai for the mild hybrid). Power is in PS. Put them head to head with compare.

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