2026 Renault Symbioz review: Quick drive

Say hello to the new Renault Capt... er, sorry, the new Renault Symbioz .

That's right, the Captur is no more in Australia, despite being one of Renault's most recognisable nameplates. It was due for an update recently, but the French brand quietly shelved those plans locally in favour of a new model entirely.

Enter the Symbioz, a new small SUV with plenty in common with the Captur but arguably a much more important model for the brand. For one, it's larger than the Captur, providing a more spacious option in Australia's crowded small SUV segment.

Second, it's competitively priced. This European SUV isn't really affected by that pesky Euro car tax, and so its mid-$30,000 starting point is sharp alongside some of its more established rivals.

Finally, and most importantly, it brings a full-hybrid Renault powertrain to Australia for the first time. That makes it a far more relevant rival to models from Toyota and Honda than the Captur ever was, and also means Renault Australia's powertrain lineup is now more diverse than ever.

Of course, the Captur technically does still exist in Australia; it just isn't badged as a Renault. It's the Mitsubishi ASX , which was launched in Australia in 2025 but without the hybrid powertrains available overseas.

In any case, Renault says the Symbioz is a better fit for Australia than the Captur at the moment, and it's so confident in the new model that it believes it could become the brand's best-selling passenger car locally (excluding commercial vans like the Trafic and Master). That distinction currently belongs to the long-running Koleos mid-size with 525 deliveries so far this year.

CarExpert was among the media invited to sample the Symbioz at Renault's launch event in regional New South Wales, where the entire new small SUV range was available to drive.

The Renault Symbioz range starts at $36,990 before on-road costs when fitted with the 'Mild Hybrid' powertrain, while the cheapest 'Full Hybrid' variant is priced at $42,990 plus on-roads.

Fascinatingly, despite being larger and sold only with electrified powertrains, the base Symbioz is cheaper than the entry-level version of the Captur-based Mitsubishi ASX.

The range-opening ASX LS is priced at $37,740 plus ORCs, while the flagship Exceed is listed at $46,490 plus ORCs. And it's likely the Captur would be priced below the Symbioz if it was still sold by Renault Australia.

But an important caveat is that the ASX is currently being discounted until the end of August 2026, to between $34,990 and $46,490 drive-away.

As for its other rivals, the Symbioz competes in the crowded small SUV segment, where hybridised alternatives include the Honda HR-V from $39,900 drive-away, the Toyota Corolla Cross from $37,440 plus ORCs, and the top-selling Hyundai Kona from $36,950 plus ORCs.

It's also worth mentioning that all Symbioz paint options, except Flame Red, will cost you an extra $900, and that adding a fancy dimmable glass roof costs an additional $2000. You can also add a power tailgate to the Techno for $600.