Having driven fully electric cars on two consecutive weeks, it was a pleasure to get into a good old-fashioned petrol car last Monday, albeit a full hybrid version of the new Renault Symbioz.
It’s such a relief to pick up a press car and not having to worry about where and when the next charge is going to happen. With a full tank of petrol on board, the range said 730km and I knew that if I drove carefully on the M50 and other motorways that the range in this comfortable five-seater would rise, which it did.
The Symbioz is the latest compact crossover SUV from Renault. It’s an extended version of their Captur and shares the same platform as the Renault Clio and the Nissan Juke.
The car takes its name from Symbiosis, the Greek word which translates as ‘living together.’ Yes, this would be a nice car to spend a lot of time together with your partner and/or family.
Measuring 4.41m long, this new model rounds out the full-hybrid E-Tech family of Arkana (4.57m) and Austral (4.51m), alongside the E-Tech electric models, with Mégane and Scénic electric in the Renault stable.
The new Symbioz features the OpenR Link multimedia system with all the services of Google built-in, and the Solarbay tinted glass roof.
There is certainly a retro touch to the Symbioz as it commemorates an old favourite from the sixties, the Renault 16 saloon and also takes inspiration from the Espace People Carrier from the eighties. So, a nice touch of nostalgia here, but it also has 24 new-generation driving aids.
The dash is dominated by a massive 10.4-inch vertical screen which is user-friendly. I also loved the finger-tip controls to change radio stations and adjust the volume, which is located on a stalk to the right of the steering wheel.
Plenty of room for three well-built adults it the back seat. And in the cabin there are 24.7litres of storage space, including seven litres in the glovebox.
You also get decent boot space with 624 litres and the back seat slides by 16cm, creating a flat floor when it is fully folded down. No room for a spare wheel, but there are two levels in the boot and I think you could squeeze in a mini spare wheel in the bottom section.
Symbioz is a relatively light vehicle, weighing in at under 1,500kg. It sure has a very frugal engine and the E-Tech hybrid 145 powertrain, consumes just 4.7 litres for each 100km.
My test car came in ceramic grey metallic and it was complimented by 18-inch ‘gravity’ alloys and together they looked very classy. I love the key fob that Renault provide; just keep the fob in your pocket or handbag and the car locks automatically as you walk away and unlocks as you approach.
Prices start at €36,995, while the Iconic Esprit E-Tech Alpine full hybrid version that I drove will cost you €41,195. Road tax is €180. I really enjoyed my week in the Symbioz.
Renault has an impressive range of new cars on sale right now; some critics say too many, but Renault point out that they something to suit every buyer’s taste and pocket. They have, in alphabetical order: Austral, Arkana, Captur, Clio, Megane, Rafale and Scenic.
Also on the way is the electric Renault 5, which was named European Car of the Year recently and we will also see an electric version of the famous Renault 4 later this year.
