Renault Symbioz E-Tech review

Renault Symbioz review

We savour the Symbioz E-Tech – the latest addition to Renault’s growing SUV line-up…

Slotting between the Captur and Austral crossovers in the Renault range, the full hybrid Symbioz effectively replaces the Kadjar.

Competitively-priced from £29,295, it has its work cut out because it’s up against some of the UK’s most popular family cars, including the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage. Hyundai Tucson and Skoda Karoq.

The attractive Symbioz is about the same size as a Qashqai and shares styling cues with the latest Captur.

Renault Symbioz review

Inside, it certainly has a Renault look and feel with a portrait-orientated 10.4-inch infotainment display in the middle of the dashboard, a 10.3-inch driver’s digital display and a large steering wheel. Under the touchscreen, there’s a row of climate control buttons and space to store your phone.

The infotainment system uses Google software, so Google Maps, Google Assistant and Google Play are all available. If you prefer Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, both connect wirelessly.

Overall, the dash is well laid out and intuitive, but maybe lacks the wow factor of some rivals.

The cabin as a whole is nicely put together and the quality of the materials used is good, with plenty of soft-touch surfaces higher up.

Renault Symbioz review

There’s an impressive amount of space too, so adults can sit comfortably in the rear seats. It also has a sliding rear bench to help maximise boot space, so it’s possible to free up 624 litres (492 litres normally), rising to a useful 1,582 litres with the 60:40 rear seats folded down.

Renault also says it has 24.7 litres of storage space inside the cabin, including seven litres in the glovebox alone.

Under the bonnet, the Symbioz uses the same ‘145’ hybrid set-up as its SUV siblings – the Captur and Arkana.

Renault Symbioz review

In other words, there’s a 94bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine working in conjunction with two electric motors, a small 1.2kWh battery and a six-speed automatic transmission (actually a four-speed gearbox and additional ratios courtesy of the dual electric motors).

In total, the full hybrid system (no plugging in) produces a decent 143bhp and power is sent to the front wheels (there’s no all-wheel drive option).

Renault claims a 0-62mph time of 10.6 seconds, economy of up to 60.1mpg, low CO2 emissions of 107g/km and a potential range of 630 miles on a full tank.

Renault Symbioz review

Interestingly, it uses a predictive hybrid driving function, which maximises use of electric boost over combustion power for lower fuel consumption

As you’d expect, the seating position is on the commanding side and there’s plenty of adjustment. Front and side visibility is good, but it’s a bit more restricted to the year. That said, a rear-view camera is standard, upgraded to 360-degree view camera on the top trim level – Iconic Esprit Alpine (the two others are Techno and Techno Esprit Alpine).

The Symbioz always starts in electric mode and it will toddle along like this for a short while before the petrol engine kicks in fairly seamlessly. It will also briefly drop into EV mode at lower speeds.

Push on, especially in Sport mode, and the engine will make itself known. What’s more, the gearing is long and it has a tendency to hold a gear for longer than necessary, and sometimes there’s a hesitancy on kickdown.

Renault Symbioz review

On the whole, it works well and it is an improvement on CVT hybrids where uncomfortably high revs are triggered if you do anything other than potter about.

The Symbioz feels a little faster than the official figures suggest, especially off the line, while the steering is light and precise, and the brakes are unusually progressive for a hybrid.

It also scores well when it comes to handling. The suspension is on the hard side, yet it deals with the lumps and ruts well, the tyres offer plenty of grip and it delivers tidy body control.

So, there is some fun to be had, but it is at its best cruising along on faster roads, and nipping around town.

Ultimately, the well-equipped Symbioz has a lot going for it – even if the lines are blurred between it and the its similar-sized SUV hybrid siblings.

Verdict: If you’re looking for a cool, frugal full hybrid that’s easy to drive, practical and can deliver a real-world 60mpg on long runs, plus value for money, the Renault Symbioz should definitely be on your shortlist.

Renault UK

Renault Symbioz review

Renault opens pop-up store at London’s Westfield Shopping Centre

Gareth Herincx

32 mins ago
Auto News

Renault pop-up store Westfield Shopping Centre

Visitors to the Renault store at Europe’s largest indoor shopping mall will be able to test drive a trio of electrified E-Tech models.

The ‘Car of the Year 2024’ – the Scenic E-Tech 100% electric – the Megane E-Tech 100% electric and Austral E-Tech full hybrid will all be available until July 28.

New Renault 5

As well as the model display, there will be one of the first public outings of the much-anticipated pure electric Renault 5, a dedicated games and activity area, merchandise and a French patisserie.

Those interested in taking a test drive can book their slot in advance. Once they have completed their test drive, they will then receive up to six hours of free parking at the venue.

“Renault Scenic E-Tech 100% electric and our wider electrified E-Tech range are designed for modern living, combining optimum space and usability with style, high levels of connectivity and a fun driving experience,” said David Isherwood, Marketing Director, Renault UK.

“Making them conveniently available during people’s visits to Westfield Shopping Centre demonstrates just how easily they can fit into their lifestyle and allows all the family to enjoy the experience of electrified driving.”

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Gareth is a versatile journalist, copywriter and digital editor who’s worked across the media in newspapers, magazines, TV, teletext, radio and online. After long stints at the BBC, GMTV and ITV, he now specialises in motoring.

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Toyota Corolla reports for duty with UK police

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Toyota Corolla police patrol car

The Toyota Corolla is a proud new recruit to the UK’s police – tailor-made and ready for duty as a reliable and durable patrol car that also offers the fuel and emissions efficiency benefits of hybrid power.

A dedicated team at Toyota’s Special Vehicle Operations Division in Burnaston, Derbyshire carried out the conversion work on the Touring Sports hybrid model.

To ensure the finished vehicle is fit for the job, the Police Authority Specification Corolla was subjected to extensive testing, including the Metropolitan Police’s own rigorous test programme, which it passed with flying colours.

The British-built vehicle is now available to police forces across the UK and two versions are offered – the 1.8-litre Active and the 2.0-litre Icon.

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Key features of the police-specification vehicle include: –

  • Enhanced safety: built-in satellite navigation, parking sensors and a dog guard for the load compartment
  • Roof-mounted lightbar, exterior and interior illumination
  • Secondary battery equipment and control systems built to withstand impact forces
  • Additional features include siren, radio system support and livery options

Richard Kenworthy, TMUK Managing Director, said: “We have worked with all divisions of Toyota in the UK and various constabularies, which has enabled us to build on their feedback and requirements.

“Ensuring that we applied standard Toyota practices for the work means we have been able to deliver a vehicle that meets the police forces’ stringent requirements.

“The adoption of Corolla by the police is testament to the efforts our employees invest in every vehicle that comes off our production line. We are proud that our Corolla is now one of the vehicles of choice for the police.”

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The Tesla Model Y is on course to take the crown as the world’s best-selling vehicle of last year.

While a small number of countries are yet to release their sales figures for 2023, preliminary data collected by automotive analyst JATO Dynamics indicates that the Model Y is in an unassailable position with 1.23 million cars sold – a 64% increase year-on-year.

“The increase in global sales of the Model Y is unprecedented, particularly for a vehicle in the top ten best-sellers,” said Felipe Munoz, Global Analyst at JATO Dynamics. “What Tesla has been able to achieve with the Model Y in such a short space of time is simply remarkable.”

Crucially, it topped sales in both Europe and China, the world’s two largest EV markets. According to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), more than 456,000 were registered in China alone – an increase of 45% from 2022.

All this means that 2023 will mark the end of Toyota’s recent dominance with the RAV4 and Corolla leading the way. However, both models lack pure electric options, with only hybrid alternatives on offer.

Despite this, the second best-selling vehicle in 2023 is set to be the Toyota RAV4, with 1.07 million registrations, pipping the Corolla in third place (1.01 million).

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Nissan Qashqai e-Power review

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We get behind the wheel of the Nissan Qashqai e-Power – a full hybrid like no other…

The Nissan Qashqai has been a huge success. Originally launched in the UK back in 2007, it pioneered the crossover concept with its blend of hatchback compactness and SUV practicality, becoming the best-selling car in the UK by 2022.

Built in Britain at Nissan’s giant plant in Sunderland, it entered its third generation in 2021 and it’s better than ever.

Introduced initially with just a 1.3-litre mild hybrid engine, an intriguing e-Power version was added in 2022. And it’s this model that’s the subject of this week’s road test.

Nissan Qashqai e-Power

Unlike a conventional hybrid, the e-Power’s 1.5-litre petrol engine doesn’t directly drive the car. Instead, it acts as a generator, sending power to a small 1.97kWh lithium ion battery, then on to an electric motor (outputting 187bhp), which drives the front wheels.

As the marketing blurb says, it’s “powered by electric, refuelled with petrol”, so there’s no need to recharge the Nissan Qashqai e-Power. In fact, you can wave goodbye to the range anxiety so often associated with pure electric vehicles.

Priced from £34,020, the Nissan Qashqai e-Power feels more like an EV to drive (instant torque, single-speed, seamless performance), but it never has to be plugged in – nor will it run out of charge.

Nissan Qashqai e-Power

The system is happiest in low-speed urban driving environments or when cruising where there’s no stress on the engine and it can almost tick over as it charges the battery. Sometimes, the engine will cut out altogether and it will just run in pure electric mode.

It’s only under heavy acceleration or prolonged high-speed driving, on motorways for instance, that the engine has to work harder and it makes itself known.

But even then (unlike some full hybrids) the revs don’t shoot up creating a din in the cabin, even if it’s not a completely whisper-quiet experience. Disconcertingly, the engine’s revs sometimes seem to bear little relation to the demands made by your right foot, but broadly speaking, it works well.

Nissan Qashqai e-Power

For the record, it’s capable of a 0-62mph dash in a spritely 7.9 seconds, and on to a top speed of 105mph.

Nothing goes to waste either. Kinetic energy otherwise lost via braking and coasting is used to recharge the battery (brake regeneration) and you can engage e-Pedal mode to give you a one pedal driving like the 100% electric Nissan Leaf.

In practice, the Nissan Qashqai e-Power offers economy close to a diesel. Officially, it will return 53.3mpg, and in everyday driving that’s realistic and can be bettered – especially if you drive sensibly. During our week with the car, at best we managed close on 70mpg, at worst closer to 40mpg.

Nissan Qashqai e-Power

Of course, the downside is that it’s not 100% electric, so while it’s capable of good fuel economy, CO2 emissions are a low, but significant 120g/km – despite all that tech.

Three driving modes are available (Eco, Standard and Sport) with the car always defaulting to standard, which is just as well because it offers the best blend of performance and economy.

Elsewhere, the e-Power is much like a regular Qashqai, which is no bad thing. Distinctive and modern, it offers serious kerb appeal.

Nissan Qashqai e-Power

Inside, it looks fresh, it’s well put together, soft-touch surfaces give it a classy feel and it’s packed with technology.

The 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, featuring Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, is responsive and easy to use. There’s also a 12.3-inch digital driver’s instrument cluster, plus the latest version of Nissan’s ProPILOT semi-autonomous driving system.

All models are equipped with Nissan’s driver assistance and safety package, which includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and blind spot monitoring.

Nissan Qashqai e-Power

There’s plenty of space for all the family to be seated in comfort, and the rear doors open wide for easy access. Luggage capacity is a decent 504 litres, expanding to 1,447 with the rear seats folded down.

The driving position is ideal, and just as you’d expect from a high-rider, visibility is impressive.

The Nissan Qashqai e-Power handles well and is surprisingly agile. Push it and there’s a little body lean in corners, but otherwise it offers a comfortable ride with ample grip, while the light steering works a treat in town.

It would be an exaggeration to call it an engaging drive, but then the e-Power is more about practicality and economy.

The Qashqai e-Power has a long list of rivals, including the Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson and Suzuki S-Cross, though none use Nissan’s novel hybrid system.

Verdict: Nissan has dared to be different with the Qashqai e-Power – a cross between a full hybrid and an EV. Economical, comfortable, smooth, safe and practical, it’s a perfect stepping stone for drivers who aren’t ready – or can’t yet – make the switch to a pure electric vehicle.

Nissan UK