RENAULT SYMBIOZ

"More rational, less emotional" new crossover plugs gap between Captur and Austral

-  MATT SAUNDERS

Renault boss Luca de Meo has a knack for populism R when it comes to new models.

He is clearly very happy for this once-alternative, innovative volume brand to simply keep on bringing the kind of cars that people are actually buying right now. I say this because Renault will have eight models on sale in the UK by the end of this year across the wellworn B (supermini), C (compact) and D (mid-size) segments, six of which could be described as SUVs.

The latest is the Symbioz, a hybrid-powered, smaller sibling of the Austral- and between the two, Renault hopes to overwhelm the likes of the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage and Volkswagen Tiguan.

This is a 4.4-metre-long crossover, then, based on the CMF-B platform (like the Renault Captur and Nissan Juke). It's only moderately high-rise in its profile, its roof height having been kept to around 1.6 metres so as to ensure a sensible frontal area and good aerodynamic efficiency.

While it will be sold elsewhere with cheaper mild-hybrid petrol powertrains as well, in the UK it will exclusively offer Renault's 1.6-litre E-Tech Full Hybrid powertrain. But, no doubt thanks to that cost-saving platform, it will cost a few grand less than key full-hybrid rivals from Kia, Nissan and Peugeot.

There is quite a sharply drawn, 'technical' flavour to the styling of the Symbioz. It could almost be a new Volkswagen Golf Plus from some angles. That rather seems to typify Renault's philosophical move towards the middle ground of the volume market in recent years; the emphasis it has put on quality, rationality, digital technology and neat but conventional design.

Quirky didn't sell nearly as well, so fair enough. And the Symbioz is certainly handsome, attractively detailed and well proportioned.