Designed to sit between the Captur and Austral SUVs, Renault’s new crossover arrives as an asset. Until now, we only had teaser images of the new Symbioz available. Pplware went to Paris to see the brand’s new electrified car live and in color.
Renault Symbioz… live tours
Renault is having a very prosperous year in terms of revelations. This time, the French brand has presented its latest C-segment offering. The Symbioz comes equipped with a hybrid engine, essentially positioning itself between the heavily updated Captur compact SUV and the mid-sized Austral.
We got to know it up close and were, once again, convinced about the brand's strategy: reviving the icons of the past that brought success. This time it was the Renault 16.
Renault has already accustomed us to the “depth” it puts into the names of its cars. If you wonder why this name is given, know that Symbioz is derived from the ancient Greek word "symbiosis", which means "living together".
As for the car, this is a renewed approach to Renault's philosophy of "voitures à vivre", or "cars to live in", which is an idea that links all of the company's family-oriented models, from the Renault 16 from 1965.
Design to not go unnoticed on the road
With a modern appearance, with sophisticated lines, the Symbioz design fits in with the new update of the Captur, but also fits in with the pleasant image of the recently presented Renault Scenic, fully electric. A good example is the sharp vertical LED strips and slim headlights of these cars, as well as the front design.
In terms of size, Renault has followed its own path to position itself, tentatively, in the C segment vehicle market. If we don't see: the Megane measures 4.20 m, the Symbioz 4.41 m, the Scenic measures 4.47 m, Austral 4.51 m and Arkana 4.56 m.
From Renault's perspective, with which we agree, this new Symbioz arrives with appropriate proportions, enhanced by the car's design.
Just as Renault had “shown”, the Symbioz comes equipped with a single-piece glass roof – similar to that found on the Scenic, which uses the same “Solarbay” adjustable opacity technology.
When it comes to the size of the luggage compartment, it can range from 492 to 1582 liters, depending on whether or not the rear seats need to be reclined. This model weighs around 1500 kg.
Technology that consumers already demand
Although it is an entry-level model in the C segment, the Symbioz is technologically well equipped.
Starting with connectivity, it comes with the already known OpenR Link and perfectly connected to Google software, personalized applications and an interior that can be customized for each driver.
Then, don't forget the driving aids: Active Driver Assist, which offers level 2 of autonomous driving, traffic sign recognition, automatic emergency braking, in case the driver fails to detect an obstacle, and Safety Coach for recommendations on real time.
For safety, Renault has equipped the Symbioz with:
- Active emergency braking system at intersections;
- Blind spot warning;
- Lane Keeping Assistant;
- Lane departure warning;
- Driver attention alert.
For the driving experience:
- Cruise control and speed limiter;
- Distance warning;
- Hill Start Assistance.
For parking maneuvers:
- 360° camera;
- Rear, front and side parking aids;
- Rear cross traffic alert;
- Occupant safe exit alert.
Renault Symbioz is a hybrid to offer the best of both worlds
Renault's Symbioz is equipped with a 145 E-Tech hybrid powertrain, highly efficient and therefore economical, offering the comfort and silence of electric driving in the city, without the need for charging.
Renault states that this engine is among the best in terms of fuel consumption and emissions, thanks to exclusive and ultra-efficient technology, continuously improved since its launch in 2020.
According to the brand, more than 150 patents were registered for the technology presented in this full-hybrid E-Tech. Renault has drawn on its experience in Formula 1, particularly in terms of energy recovery and regeneration, to ensure dynamic and effective performance.
The Symbioz's hybrid architecture combines two electric motors (a 36 kW e-motor and an 18 kW HSG - High-Voltage Starter Generator) with a 1.6 L, 4-cylinder gasoline engine of 69 kW (94 hp) associated, in turn, with an intelligent multi-mode clutchless gearbox, and a 1.2 kWh battery.
This gearbox has four gears for the gasoline engine and two gears for the main electric motor. The 145 E-Tech hybrid powertrain combines combustion engine and electric motor operation in up to 14 different modes for optimized fuel efficiency.
The Symbioz always starts in electric mode, allowing the driver to remain in full electric mode for up to 80% of the time in the city, with fuel savings of up to 40% compared to a conventional gasoline engine in an urban cycle.
On the highway, the powertrain was designed to allow the combustion engine to directly drive the wheels, as in conventional hybrid systems. With this technology, Symbioz optimizes fuel consumption on all terrains, with a WLTP cycle calculated at 4.6 liters/100 km.
In addition to all this, the Symbioz comes with predictive hybrid driving, maximizing the use of electrical energy at the expense of combustion energy, in order to reduce fuel consumption.
