Symbioz and Captur first to get Renault's new full-hybrid system

The Symbioz and Captur crossovers have become the first Renault models to gain the French firm's new full-hybrid powertrain.

The E-Tech Full Hybrid 160 system, announced in May and already used by the Dacia Bigster, gets a combined 158bhp from a 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and two electric motors (a 48bhp motor and a 20bhp ISG).

Those motors draw energy from a 1.4kWh battery, which is recharged via regenerative breaking and allows for unspecified short periods of electric-only driving.

The new powertrain costs from £25,195 in the Captur and from £29,795 in the Symbioz.

Renault has also added a new mild-hybrid petrol model to the bottom of the Symbioz line-up, priced from £27,395.

This pairs a 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine with a gearbox-mounted electric motor for a combined 138bhp. Power is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox.

All three new models are available to order now, with deliveries due to start in July.