Review: The Renault Symbioz E-Tech Full Hybrid is basically an extended version of the Captur – and an unassuming compact SUV with a well-tuned hybrid drive.
Renault Symbioz E-Tech Full Hybrid Esprit Alpine
Patrick Schäfer | Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH
SUVs are the most popular type of vehicle. So Renault thought there was room for another in its model range. The Renault Symbioz is positioned between the Captur and the Austral. It measures 4,413 mm in length, is 1,797 mm wide and 1,575 mm high. The front of the compact SUV is identical to that of the Captur, which is about 20 cm shorter. It features rhombus-design daytime running lights, a mock radiator grille at the top and a wide air intake at the bottom. The angular LED headlights do not offer a matrix function, and the automatic dimming, it must be said, does not work particularly well and was deactivated during the test. The rising sideline has many beading, at the rear narrow, independent rear lights emphasize the width.
With a wheelbase of 2,638 mm, the crossover offers space for up to five people, although it can get cramped at the back with three people. The test car had the optional tinted Solarbay panoramic glass roof. At the push of a button, the glass can be made transparent or opaque in four stages. The rear seat can be slid 16 cm, and the boot volume ranges from 492 to 624 liters, or 1582 liters with the seats folded down. The second-highest trim level, "Esprit Alpine", features a number of attractive interior touches such as a French flag, fabric on the dashboard, decorative stitching, comfortable electrically adjustable and heated partial leather seats, and a steering wheel heater. It's easy to spend even longer journeys in this car. The all-round view is good except for the last third, and the small side window is not particularly helpful.
Electronics + Connectivity
Drivers will be familiar with the digital cockpit with the OpenR Link multimedia system and the 10.4-inch touchscreen from the Captur. The layout of the driver display can be changed using a button on the steering wheel. Except for the navigation map, the small amount of information, some of which is very small, looks a bit lost on the large screen. Likewise, the control surfaces on the central touchscreen are too small. Input is made more difficult by the large distance to the display, which is mounted upright on the center console. Even with long arms, it is difficult to reach comfortably while driving. In addition, you should avoid leaning on the wobbly transmission adjustment lever. This then easily switches to neutral. The infotainment system itself is based on Google Android and runs relatively smoothly, but the voice assistant is rudimentary. For example, if you say "I'm cold", you'll hear sentences like, "It's cold outside, but when I think of our friendship, I feel warm." To activate the seat heating, you have to say the correct command. The temperature settings for the air conditioning can be adjusted using buttons below the screen.
Engine + Powertrain
The E-Tech Hybrid 145 powertrain is the same as in the Captur Hybrid and combines two electric motors and a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. The engine is a bit grumpy, but basically well insulated and, except when accelerating, it is hardly audible while driving. The system output is 105 kW (143 hp), the maximum torque is 250 Nm. Power is transmitted to the front axle via a clutchless multimode automatic transmission. The switch between electric and combustion engine power is automatic, but can also be forced by pressing the EV button. In principle, the transition between the two types of drive is well managed and hardly noticeable. The battery is always kept at around 50 %. With the "Save" button, the electrical energy can be saved for driving into an environmental zone. The SUV, which weighs less than 1.5 tons, has a maximum speed of 170 km/h and accelerates from 0 - 100 km/h in 10.6 s. This is more than enough to keep pace with traffic in both urban and interurban areas.
Driver Assistance Systems
In terms of active safety, the Renault is well equipped: 29 driver assistance systems are available in the Symbioz. The parking aids can be nerve-wracking in the parking garage with their different tones. However, systems such as adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition or blind spot warning worked well while driving.
Conclusion: Renault Symbioz E-Tech Full Hybrid
With the Symbioz, you get an unassuming compact SUV with a well-tuned hybrid powertrain. It is a bit longer than the Captur and offers a larger trunk and better equipment. In the city, it can be a bit confusing, especially when looking backwards. But the many assistants help with the blind spot, the distance or the camera when parking. The hybrid SUV is available in four trim levels: Evolution, Techno, Esprit Alpine and Iconic. The Symbioz E-Tech full hybrid starts at €32,550 in the Techno version. The Esprit Alpine version tested starts at €33,950, while the top-of-the-range Iconic version starts at €35,450.
This is a partly automated translation of this German article.
