New Renault Symbioz SUV to join the brand’s full-hybrid lineup

• Full-hybrid engine with 143bhp
• Panoramic glass roof
• To be fully revealed in spring

Renault has revealed the name for its latest SUV and it’s an unusual one – the Renault Symbioz. The name first appeared on an electric concept car back in 2017, however, the new car will forgo pure battery power, instead arriving with Renault’s tried-and-tested E-Tech hybrid powertrain. While we’ll have to wait until spring for the full reveal of the Symbioz, our exclusive image provides a sneak preview of how the new SUV is likely to look.

The Symbioz will join the upcoming facelifted Captur in Renault’s lineup of SUVs, along with the new electric Scenic and the hybrid Austral.

What can we expect from the Renault Symbioz?

Other than a quirky name, which Renault claims is an expression of “the close bond between a family and their car”, the Symbioz will provide buyers with a new SUV to choose from in the French marque’s lineup. At 4,410mm long, it sits between the Captur and Austral in terms of size, offering family-car buyers an alternative to the Nissan Qashqai and Kia Niro.

So far, Renault has only confirmed one engine for the Symbioz – the E-Tech full-hybrid with 143bhp. While we do not know the specific engine size, it’s safe to assume that this is the same 1.6-litre unit found in the Renault Captur. As with all full-hybrid cars, the Symbioz is expected to arrive with an automatic gearbox only, although it’s unclear whether a cheaper non-hybrid model with a manual gearbox will join the lineup at a later date. There’s also the possibility of a plug-in hybrid model, which could provide improved efficiency and performance.

What will the Renault Symbioz look like?

So far, the only official image from Renault reveals the badge that will find its home on the rear of the Symbioz, but our exclusive image provides a glimpse of what the new SUV could look like. You’ll spot a geometric grille pattern that first appeared on the new Renault Scenic, along with slim LED headlights and a pair of angular daytime-running lights. A contrasting black-painted roof, as found on the Captur, is likely to make an appearance, too.

Inside the Symbioz also remains a mystery at this point, but Renault has confirmed that the ‘Solarbay’ panoramic roof will be fitted, allowing passengers to switch between transparent and opaque glass with a single button press. 

There are plenty of mid-size SUVs to choose from in 2024 – make sure to read our top 10 list of the best…