A new small SUV will be the first true hybrid from French brand Renault in Australia, joining its growing electric-car range.
Renault appears set to skip plans to launch the updated Captur in Australia in favour of the Symbioz, a longer and more practical version closer in size to a Toyota Corolla Cross.
It will be the first hybrid Renault sold in Australia capable of driving on electric power alone – akin to Toyota, Hyundai and Kia hybrids – alongside an entry-level mild-hybrid, which can only use its electric motor to assist the petrol engine.
Plans announced by Renault Australia in early 2025 were intended to see a facelifted version of the 4.2-metre-long Captur small SUV arrive by the end of last year, with new styling and updated technology.
Renault has today announced it will launch the Symbioz, a longer version of the Captur, in local showrooms in the second half of this year.
There is no word on the future of the Captur in Australia, though given Australian government approval documents for the related SUVs only list the Symbioz – with mentions of the Captur absent – it appears the smaller model will remain on hiatus.
Prices are yet to be confirmed for the Symbioz, but it is likely to be in the region of $40,000 before on-road costs, given the Captur line-up topped out at $39,500 when it was last sold locally in 2024, without hybrid power.
The latest Mitsubishi ASX, a rebadged version of the updated Renault Captur, is priced from $37,740 to $46,490 plus on-road costs with a 1.3-litre non-hybrid turbo engine.
Measuring 4412mm long and 1797mm wide, the Symbioz is no wider than a Captur, and quotes the same distance between the front and rear axles, but it is 185mm longer overall for a larger boot.
It shares the Captur's dashboard, with a 10.25-inch instrument cluster and 10.4-inch touchscreen running Google built-in apps, plus Harman Kardon premium audio and a panoramic glass roof with an electronically-dimmable coating.
The rear-seat bench slides to trade passenger legroom for boot space.
Mild-hybrid versions of the Symbioz will use a 104kW/245Nm 1.3-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol engine and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, aided by a small electric motor to assist the engine.
It will be available as a 'full hybrid', combining a 80kW/107Nm 1.8-litre non-turbo petrol engine with a 36kW/205Nm electric motor and 1.4kWh battery pack.
Renault claims the Symbioz hybrid can drive on electric power at up to 60km/h, and cuts fuel consumption by up to 40 per cent in city driving, for up to 1000km of WLTP-quoted total driving range.
"We have worked very hard with the factory to ensure the new Renault Symbioz is well equipped, delivers excellent real-world fuel economy, and will be available at an attainable price point," Renault Australia general manager Glen Sealey said in a media statement.
"What you are witnessing is a major model revitalisation of Renault in Australia. We promised six new models over an 18 month period and the new Renault Symbioz is part of that rollout. Plus there is more to come."
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
