The Renault Symbioz is the French brand's compact family SUV, positioned between the Captur and the Austral, and for model year 2026 its full hybrid has been reworked. The E-Tech full hybrid 160 (HEV, a self-charging hybrid that cannot be plugged in) pairs a 1.8-litre petrol engine with two electric motors and a 1.4 kWh battery, for a system output of 116 kW (badged 160 PS, about 156 hp). Renault quotes fuel consumption from 4.3 L/100 km on the WLTP cycle and up to 1,000 km of range on one 48-litre tank. Renault France lists the car from €34,400 in Evolution trim (€36,400 Techno, €37,900 Esprit Alpine, €39,400 Iconic), and it is on sale in the UK, Ireland, Spain, Australia and, since June 2026, Israel at NIS 159,990.
Performance & Specs
The E-Tech full hybrid 160 combines a 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine running on the Atkinson cycle with 350 bar direct injection, rated at 80 kW and 170 Nm, with a main electric motor of 36 kW and 205 Nm and a smaller high-voltage starter-generator. Renault Australia gives the combined system output as 116 kW and 265 Nm, and the front-wheel-drive car covers 0-100 km/h in 9.1 seconds. The "160" in the name is the badge figure in PS, the metric horsepower: 116 kW works out to about 158 PS or 156 hp, so the imperial figure is slightly lower than the number on the boot lid. Israeli listings give a top speed of 180 km/h.
The power goes through a multi-mode hybrid transmission without a clutch, which Renault describes as having two ratios for the electric motor and four for the petrol engine, and which the company developed with Alpine's Formula One engineers, according to CarExpert's report on the Australian launch. Renault says the system can run the car on electric power for up to 80 percent of city driving, while the 1.4 kWh lithium-ion battery is recharged by braking and by the engine and never needs a plug. Renault does not state whether the 1.4 kWh figure is gross or usable. Because this is a hybrid, the useful number is fuel economy rather than kilometres driven on electricity alone.
Consumption is where the car makes its case. Renault's own pages quote from 4.3 L/100 km (WLTP) for the full hybrid 160, and the Spanish and trade press quote 98 g/km of CO2 on the same basis, with the UK announcement quoting 97 g/km. Renault Australia lists 4.7 L/100 km and 107 g/km for the car it sells, so figures differ by market and specification. An Israeli test article gives 4.4 L/100 km without naming the test cycle. Renault claims up to 1,000 km on a full tank, which is a WLTP-based claim.
| Powertrain | E-Tech full hybrid 160 (HEV, not plug-in) |
|---|---|
| Power | 116 kW (160 PS / 156 hp) |
| Torque | 265 Nm system (engine 170 Nm, motor 205 Nm) |
| 0–100 km/h | 9.1 s |
| Battery | 1.4 kWh Li-ion (gross/net not stated) |
| Fuel use | From 4.3 L/100 km WLTP |
| POWERTRAIN TYPE | Full hybrid (HEV), 1.8 L petrol plus two electric motors, cannot be plugged in |
|---|---|
| HORSEPOWER | 116 kW (160 PS / 156 hp) system output |
| TORQUE | 265 Nm system |
| ACCELERATION | 0-100 km/h in 9.1 s (Renault Australia) |
| TOP SPEED | 180 km/h (Israeli listings) |
| DRIVETRAIN | FWD |
| BATTERY | 1.4 kWh lithium-ion, gross/net not stated |
| WLTP FUEL USE | From 4.3 L/100 km (Renault Europe); 4.7 L/100 km (Australia) |
| COMBINED RANGE | Up to 1,000 km (WLTP-based claim) |
Dimensions & Practicality
| Length | 4,412 mm |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,797 mm |
| Height | 1,567 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,639 mm |
| Ground clearance | 169 mm |
The Symbioz measures 4,412 mm long, 1,797 mm wide and 1,567 mm high on a 2,639 mm wheelbase, according to Renault Australia, which iCar says is 17 cm longer than the Captur. Israeli test reports add a ground clearance of 169 mm. The rear bench slides 16 cm, and Renault France lists the full hybrid boot at 492 litres with the bench fully back, 624 litres with it slid forward and 1,582 litres with the rear seats folded. Renault Australia and Israeli reports quote lower figures (460 and 592 litres, and 1,546 litres folded in Australia), which come from a different measurement basis. The Eco-G 120 petrol and LPG version is slightly smaller at 478, 610 and 1,574 litres on renault.fr.
Renault Australia gives the full hybrid a kerb weight of 1,397 kg and a braked towing limit of 1,000 kg, with 735 kg unbraked. The fuel tank holds 48 litres of 95-octane petrol. The car is built at Renault's Valladolid plant in Spain.
| LENGTH | 4,412 mm |
|---|---|
| WIDTH | 1,797 mm |
| HEIGHT | 1,567 mm |
| WHEELBASE | 2,639 mm |
| CARGO VOLUME | 492 L (624 L bench forward, 1,582 L seats folded; renault.fr) |
| KERB WEIGHT | 1,397 kg (Renault Australia) |
| TOWING (braked / unbraked) | 1,000 kg / 735 kg |
Charging & Battery
There is nothing to plug in on this car. The 1.4 kWh lithium-ion battery works at 230 V (per Renault Australia) and is topped up by regenerative braking and by the petrol engine, so the Symbioz full hybrid has no AC or DC charging port and no charging time to quote. Renault says the car can drive in electric mode for up to 80 percent of urban travel, and an E-Save mode that keeps the battery at about 40 percent is described by iCar in Israel. Because the pack is so small, the electric-only distances are short, and the benefit shows mainly in stop-start traffic rather than on the motorway.
| BATTERY | 1.4 kWh lithium-ion (230 V per Renault Australia), self-charging |
|---|---|
| AC CHARGING | None (not a plug-in) |
| DC FAST CHARGING | None (not a plug-in) |
| BATTERY WARRANTY | 8 years / 160,000 km (Renault Australia) |
Design & Interior
The Symbioz carries Renault's new diamond badge in a large grille, with slim headlights and a vertical light signature at each corner of the bumper, as seen in the official press images. The side view shows a sloping roofline and turbine-style alloy wheels, and at the rear the red light clusters have an angular graphic. Inside, the dashboard is built around a 10.25-inch digital driver display and a vertical 10.4-inch touchscreen running Google built-in, with a wireless phone charger, multiple USB-C ports and an optional Solarbay panoramic roof. The Solarbay roof costs NIS 7,000 in Israel and A$2,000 in Australia.
Trim choice mostly changes comfort and styling. Evolution, Techno, Esprit Alpine and Iconic are the four French full hybrid trims. In Australia Renault lists the Esprit Alpine with 19-inch wheels, heated and power-adjustable front seats, a 9-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a power tailgate and a surround-view camera on top of the Techno equipment. The Iconic is the top grade in France and the UK. Specification differs between markets, so buyers should check each local list for exactly what is fitted.
Technology & Features
The OpenR Link system is the centre of the cabin and gets over-the-air updates, with the Google navigation pack and Google Automotive Services. Both wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported. According to iCar's Israeli launch article, the navigation system also uses topography and traffic data to help manage the hybrid system. Audio comes from a 6-speaker Arkamys system on lower trims and a 9-speaker Harman Kardon system on the top versions, and the keyless entry and start system and the electric parking brake with auto hold are standard in Israel.
Safety & ADAS
Renault Australia lists forward automatic emergency braking with intersection detection, reverse AEB, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control with speed limiter, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver attention monitor, traffic sign recognition, a door-exit warning, six airbags and tyre pressure monitoring on the Techno, with a 360-degree camera and hands-free parking added on the Esprit Alpine. In Israel the 360-degree camera is on the base Techno. Euro NCAP rated the Symbioz at four stars in 2024, with 73 percent for adult occupants, 80 percent for children, 76 percent for vulnerable road users and 69 percent for safety assist, according to CarExpert's report of the sub-scores.
| ADAS LEVEL | Not stated by Renault; adaptive cruise control with lane centering is listed in Israel |
|---|---|
| ADAS FEATURES | AEB, ACC, lane keeping, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, driver attention monitor, 360° camera (varies by trim and market) |
Available Versions
| VERSION | POWER | TORQUE | 0-100 | TOP SPEED | DRIVETRAIN | BATTERY | EV RANGE | COMBINED RANGE | PRICE | KEY DIFFERENCES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symbioz E-Tech full hybrid 160 Evolution | 156 hp | 265 Nm | 9.1s | 180 km/h | FWD | 1.4 kWh | — | 1,000 km | €34,400 (~$38,765) | 116 kW (160 PS); entry full hybrid in France |
| Symbioz E-Tech full hybrid 160 Techno | 156 hp | 265 Nm | 9.1s | 180 km/h | FWD | 1.4 kWh | — | 1,000 km | €36,400 (~$41,019) | 116 kW (160 PS); France price |
| Symbioz E-Tech full hybrid 160 Esprit Alpine | 156 hp | 265 Nm | 9.1s | 180 km/h | FWD | 1.4 kWh | — | 1,000 km | €37,900 (~$42,710) | 116 kW (160 PS); Alpine styling; France price |
| Symbioz E-Tech full hybrid 160 Iconic | 156 hp | 265 Nm | 9.1s | 180 km/h | FWD | 1.4 kWh | — | 1,000 km | €39,400 (~$44,400) | Top grade in France; France price |
Pricing & Availability
For model year 2026 the Symbioz full hybrid is the 1.8-litre E-Tech 160 (116 kW, 1.4 kWh battery, 1,000 kg braked towing). On renault.fr the full hybrid E-Tech 160 costs €34,400 for the Evolution, €36,400 for the Techno, €37,900 for the Esprit Alpine and €39,400 for the Iconic, including VAT; the Evolution (€29,900) and Techno (€31,900) are also sold with the 120 PS Eco-G petrol and LPG engine. Renault UK's website lists the full hybrid on the Iconic esprit Alpine from £33,995, with the 140 hp mild hybrid starting at £27,595, and Renault Australia lists the full hybrid at A$42,990 for the Techno and A$45,990 for the Esprit Alpine before on-road costs (17 June 2026). Spanish and Italian press report entry prices of €31,250 and €32,550 for the Evolution trim, but these are press figures rather than a price list.
In Israel, importer Karso Motors (Carasso Motors, trading as Freesbe; Karso Motors is named on the renault.co.il legal page), launch 16 June 2026, began selling the Symbioz at NIS 159,990 for the Techno and NIS 166,990 for the Techno SR, which adds the panoramic Solarbay roof; iCar gives the entry price as about NIS 160,000. The Israeli car has the same 1.8-litre full hybrid, with a 4.4 L/100 km combined figure (cycle not stated). The Symbioz is not a renamed Arkana: Renault's newsroom lists the two as separate models, and Renault Australia sells the Symbioz alongside a mild-hybrid Arkana. Availability in other markets is not confirmed as of October 2026.
How It Compares
All four cars are full hybrids sold in Israel, so the prices share one market and one importer-list basis; the comparison is therefore about value rather than about Europe. The Symbioz at NIS 159,990 undercuts the Hyundai Kona Hybrid by NIS 20,000 and the Nissan Qashqai e-POWER by NIS 35,000, while offering 20 hp more than the Kona and about 46 hp less than the Qashqai. Its WLTP fuel figure of 4.3 L/100 km (4.4 L/100 km on the Israeli listing) is slightly better than the Qashqai's 4.5 L/100 km and the Kona's 4.6 to 4.8 L/100 km, although the cycles of the Israeli figures are not all stated. Prices are Israeli importer list prices (Freesbe, Union Motors, Kalmobil; launch to Oct 2026). The Toyota Yaris Cross is priced level with the Symbioz at NIS 159,990, but its 2026 model-year system makes 116 hp. The Symbioz therefore sits at the cheaper end of the compact hybrid SUV group while carrying more power than the Toyota and the Hyundai.
- From 4.3 L/100 km WLTP and up to 1,000 km on one 48 L tank, with no plug required
- 116 kW (about 156 hp) and 9.1 s to 100 km/h, more than the Kona Hybrid and Yaris Cross in the same Israeli price bracket
- Sliding rear bench, 10.4-inch Google built-in screen and a full driver-assistance suite on the base Israeli Techno
- The 1.4 kWh battery gives little electric-only running, and the boot is 492 L with the bench fully back (624 L slid forward)
- 156 hp is well below the 202 hp of the Nissan Qashqai e-POWER, and in France the full hybrid costs €4,500 more than the petrol and LPG Evolution
The Symbioz full hybrid 160 is a sensible, efficient family SUV rather than an exciting one: 4.3 L/100 km on the WLTP cycle, a 1,000 km claimed range, no plug to worry about and a well-equipped cabin. At NIS 159,990 in Israel it undercuts the Qashqai e-POWER and the Kona Hybrid. The trade-offs are modest power and a small hybrid pack that allows little electric-only running. For buyers who want low fuel bills without charging, it is a strong candidate.
