Renault Adds Compact SUV to Gas Hybrid Offering

In line with automakers wanting to make hay while hybrid powertrains are topping consumer wish lists, Renault announces its latest range addition, the Symbioz.

Due to be unveiled in Europe this spring, the C-segment compact family SUV is part of the French automaker’s strategy to boost its offering in what it sees as its core segment.

The vehicle, whose name harks back to the ancient Greek word symbiosis meaning ‘living together’, measures 14.5 ft. (4,410 mm) long and claims generous amounts of passenger space and loading capacity.

On-board features include the brand’s Solarbay panoramic glass roof, which can turn opaque electronically, and its E-Tech full gas-hybrid 145-hp engine. Renault says the use of a weight-saving drivetrain keeps the overall vehicle weight to under 3,300 lbs. (1,500 kg), promotes driving dynamics and reduces fuel consumption.

It joins Renault’s existing hybrid C-segment offerings, which include the recently launched premium Austral E-Tech hybrid and the Arkana E-Tech hybrid. Sylvia Dos Santos, Renault’s head of naming strategy, says: “For this new compact family car, we wanted a name with human significance, expressing the close bond between a family and their car. The name Symbioz perfectly illustrates life with our vehicle, a place where passengers are as one with their vehicle and the environment.”