Renault Symbioz vs GWM Ora 5

What's the difference?

There’s certainly a lot to like about the Renault Symbioz. It may cost more than its direct competition, but it looks, feels and drives with an edge on many of its rivals. And the integration of the Google system will no doubt appeal to some, especially a younger audience which craves the latest tech.

But the extra cost coupled with the image problem French cars have had in Australia - justified or not - will make it a hard sell. The small SUV market is dominated by the big name brands and cut-price models - and the Symbioz is neither. 

Renault Australia has no ambition for this to out-sell the Tiggo 4 Pro and Kona, but even attracting modest sales in such a highly competitive segment will be a hard slog.

If you’re willing to make an unconventional choice, though, you will likely enjoy your time with this little French alternative.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with accommodation and meals provided.

While the Ora 5 still has a relatively divisive design that will turn off a chunk of those looking for a small electric SUV, the improvements made when compared to the hatch launched years ago make it worth a second look.

The interior is much more user-friendly, there are more features and a more sensible variant line-up, and the ride and handling localisation means you might actually want to drive it out of the city on occasion.

Regardless, the Ora 5 needs to be a lot more competitive than the Ora hatch was, because the market is so much busier with affordable rivals now. Fortunately, the value proposition is indeed much better than before, especially given the Ultra is only $3000 more than the Lux.

The Symbioz effectively replaces the Captur in the local range and brings with it the French firm’s latest design language; which debuted on the recently launched Scenic.

Certainly, compared to some of the more conservative and simple models in the small SUV contest the Renault stands out. It has the look and feel you expect from a European car, on the outside and in the cabin.

One of the reasons for this is Renault Australia is offering seven colours, but only Flame Red is standard rather than the typical white and the other more muted hues cost an additional $900.

In terms of its size and where it fits into Renault’s slightly crowded SUV line-up, the Symbioz is 4412mm long, while the all-electric Scenic E-Tech is 4470mm, the more rugged Duster is 4345mm and the Megane E-Tech is 4200mm. So they’re all quite close, but thanks to unique designs and powertrains (and the fact the Duster isn’t designed to be a Renault), they fit together to form a cohesive line-up for you to choose from.

GWM is being pretty bold in calling the Ora 5’s design ‘timeless’ in its press materials.

The brand’s head designer says the Ora 5 isn’t shouting for attention, but I’m going to disagree. While I don’t think being attention-grabbing is a bad thing, the retro-leaning vibe the Ora hatch gave off a few years ago remains strong here on the 5 SUV.

We’re told much of it was inspired by nature - the wheels inspired by clovers, the lights by water drops, the body by smooth pebbles and the tail-lights by a sunrise - but it still looks a little alien from a couple of angles, mostly the rear.

The proportions are however better than the hatch, and from the side it gets away with looking a little like an attempt at a Porsche Cayenne.

The big thing you have to give GWM props for is including three properly vibrant colours (Cute Cyan, Flamingo Pink and Emerald Green) in the range, even though anything but Pepper White is a $595 option. Mystic Grey and matt Crystal Black complete the six options.

Inside, the Ora 5’s unique design feels distant, as the interior looks much like the vast majority of small Chinese SUVs. A focus on the large main touchscreen, a layout of phone holder, cupholders and the armrest in a minimalist central console, and the almost-lack of buttons are all hallmarks of the genre.

Only small touches like apparently Mini-inspired climate controls or the cat-shaped magnet (the Ora was called Funky Cat in China) holding the vanity mirror cover up really give it away as an Ora, aside from the exclamation mark logo on the steering wheel.

There are two elements that really stand out inside the Symbioz when it comes to practicality and technology, and how they are integrated.

The first element is that Renault has partnered with Google and this new model features the latest Google Automotive Services (GAS) which includes integrated Google Maps as well as access to the Google Play Store for downloading apps, but does so much more. Google Assistant is offered by default but you can also upgrade (via an over-the-air update) to Gemini, the tech giant’s artificial intelligence (AI).

This means with a simple ‘Hey Google’ voice command you can search for not only an address but anything you might need when you’re behind the wheel. So, if you are driving and want to stop for a coffee, you can ask Google Assistant or Gemini to find you a suitable spot to stop.

We were able to sample both systems and there is a clear difference between the two, with Gemini able to provide more detailed answers. But you have the freedom to choose if you want AI in your car or not, and can simply decline to update and stick with Assistant.

The second stand out feature is the amount of physical switchgear used throughout. Despite the switch to Google, Renault has stuck with physical controls for all the key functions - climate control, stereo, etc - which adds to the cost but makes for a much easier and safer driving experience.

While it may be a small SUV in size, Renault’s designers have created a surprisingly spacious and well-considered interior.

Up the front there are plenty of small item storage spaces, with an emphasis on small. But what they lack in size they make up for in quantity. There is a small ledge ahead of the stubby gear selector, with the wireless charging pad hidden underneath it. There are two cupholders and a small lidded console box as well, plus small door pockets.

In terms of space for people, up front the seats are comfortable and roomy, while in the rear the back of the driver and passenger seats have been heavily sculpted out to create a good amount of kneeroom.

As for the boot, Renault claims it is one of the best in the segment thanks to the back seats being on a slider, which allows you to trade-off rear passenger space for more cargo capacity.  It means the mild hybrid has between 563-695L depending on the rear seat position, while the full hybrid is smaller, between 460-592L; with the difference attributed to the different position of the spare tyre.

The fact both models include a temporary spare tyre is notable in itself, as it’s something increasingly rare in this segment and very much a welcome addition in Australian conditions.

The Ora 5 takes a noticeable step up over the previous Ora hatchback in terms of interior ergonomics, bringing it up to a decent standard.

The seats are more easily adjustable to find a decent driving position, the tech is a lot easier to navigate, and there are a couple of inclusions that put the Ora 5 a nose ahead of rivals.

As mentioned, the layout is fairly unimaginative in terms of design, but it does work practically in that there aren’t many elements of the interior to get in the way.

More buttons would of course be welcome, as using the touchscreen while on the move can be particularly fiddly. The upside is the software itself is more sensible in terms of menus, it just has small buttons. There is, mercifully, an always-on shortcut bar even while phone mirroring.

Android users will also be pleased to know there’s wireless Android Auto from launch in the Ora 5, rather than needing to wait for an update as some did when the Ora hatch launched.

USB-C ports and small storage slots are present front and rear, though single-zone climate means everyone needs to agree on one temperature (or be subjected to the driver’s decision).

There’s also only one vent in the rear, though the space itself is decently roomy, with the sunroof in the Ultra providing a nice amount of light. A central fold-down armrest would, however, be welcome.

Behind the rear seat is a 362L boot and underneath it lies an extremely welcome inclusion: a space-saver spare tyre.

GWM said it added the spare locally due to the heavy influence of the Australian market and the regular disappointment when only a repair kit is included.

The good news is that the Ora 5 SUV kicks things off with a fairly competitive price, $33,990 drive-away.

That’s for the entry-grade Lux, though a slightly upgraded variant called the Ultra comes in at $36,990. Still pretty good value for a small electric SUV.

The list of standard features is decent, with a large 14.6-inch multimedia touchscreen and wireless phone mirroring, a 10.25-inch driver display and synthetic leather upholstery with electric seat adjustment for the driver.

There are also 18-inch wheels, auto LED headlights and LED tail-lights, rain-sensing wipers and tinted privacy glass for the rear windows.

The Ultra’s extra $3000 makes both front seats electrically adjustable, while adding seat ventilation and heating, wireless phone charging, ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, and three extra speakers for nine in total.

Weirdly, single-zone climate control is standard for both variants despite the touchscreen having a set of controls for each passenger.

It’s priced just above the relatively new BYD Atto 2 small SUV ($31,990 before on-roads) or the even-more-recently arrived MG4 Urban ($31,990 drive-away) hatch that have slightly smaller batteries and somewhat fewer features. It undercuts the Jaecoo J5 EV ($36,990 drive-away) and Leapmotor B10 ($37,888 before on-roads).

As mentioned earlier, Renault is offering two powertrains - a mild hybrid and a conventional hybrid. Remarkably, despite this being 2026, this is the first time Renault has ever offered a hybrid powertrain in Australia.

It’s a decent hybrid option too, making a respectable 116kW and 265Nm from its 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor.

Meanwhile, the mild hybrid features a 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and makes a more modest 104kW and 245Nm.

The Ora 5 uses a fairly tried and true propulsion method for budget-friendly EVs, that being a single motor mounted at the front axle.

This one has 150kW and 260Nm, the same for both variants, and feels just lively enough to avoid being branded sluggish.

Renault Australia management was keen to push the convenience of a traditional hybrid, which requires no outside charging and is therefore easier to use - even if that means it can’t match the efficiency of a plug-in hybrid.

According to the company, the so-called ‘multimodal hybrid gearbox’ is the key to its efficiency. On paper it’s a four-speed automatic, but it’s integrated with the engine, motor, starter and generator, which means the engine and electric motor can both drive the front-wheels, while also helping the Symbioz return a claimed 4.7L/100km.

The battery is quite small at just 1.4kWh battery, but there is an ‘E-Save’ button that allows you to prioritise the petrol engine if you want to hold on the silent power for later.

With a 48-litre fuel tank and the 4.7L return, the Symbioz has a theoretical driving range of more than 1000km on a single fill.

As for the mild hybrid, it gets a more conventional seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and has a claimed fuel economy rating of 6.4L/100km. 

It has the same fuel tank, so its theoretical range is 750km, which is still a good return but obviously not as attention grabbing as the full hybrid.

An hour and a half drive through Melbourne into the Yarra valley saw the Ora 5 use 16.1kWh/100km, according to the trip computer.

At that rate, the claimed 435km range from the Ora 5’s 58.3kWh battery feels a little optimistic, but we did plenty of driving out of the city’s EV-range-friendly confines.

DC fast-charging is maxed at 120kW, and should take about 30 minutes from 10 to 80 per cent.

If you’re going to pay a premium for your non-conformist small SUV, one of the perks should be an above-average driving experience and thankfully the Symbioz delivers in this regard.

It’s not that it channels the iconic Renault Sport hot hatches of the past, or even sets a new dynamic benchmark for the class, but amid the sea of more-affordable models the Symbioz feels more composed on the road.

It’s responsive to your inputs as the driver and inspires confidence that not all of its rivals do. A big part of that is likely down to the tyres, with Renault avoiding the trap of cheaper, less impressive rubber that detracts from some of its competitors and instead offer Continental tyres on the Techno and Michelin rubber on the Esprit Alpine.

The ride is firmer than average, which helps with the responsiveness but means you can feel bumps in the road a bit more sharply than some, although it’s never uncomfortable.

It’s worth noting that we did see a trip computer fuel economy figure below the claimed 4.7L/100km, but an extended stretch of our drive was on motorways, which obviously helps keep that number down.

First impressions on an unfortunately wet day from behind the Ora 5’s wheel are that it does feel much improved compared to the Ora hatch.

The biggest change under the skin appears to be the result of local tuning, undertaken by former Holden engineer Rob Trubiani.

The Ora 5 handles small bumps and rough roads better than the hatch did, while settling over bigger imperfections relatively quickly. 

Even with questionable tyres on wet roads, the Ora 5 remained steady under quick, sharp cornering and wouldn’t understeer as the hatch did.

While it’s not brimming with dynamic prowess, the Ora 5 now feels capable of taking on Australian roads without frustrating its driver.

The steering feel, response and feedback aren’t anything to write home about, but do at least result in accurate cornering, and there is the option of adjusting the steering weight.

The Ora 5’s power delivery feels about right for its class and, even though it won’t rocket past anyone during an overtake, it’s more than enough for the city driving it’ll regularly be doing.

The advanced driver assist safety systems (ADAS), too, are a lot better programmed than expected. In highway driving and along twisting semi-rural roads, the Ora 5’s ADAS systems were all left on without much unnecessary intervention.

ANCAP hasn’t completed an assessment of the Ora 5 SUV yet so, for now, the model remains unrated.

GWM says it has built the car to a standard it expects should be awarded five stars, though we won’t have the answer to that until late 2026.

Seven airbags and a pretty comprehensive list of features including door-open warning and rear cross-traffic alert should mean the Ora 5 fares well for at least the on-paper assessment. 

The Ora 5 SUV also has a space-saver spare, and one of its seven airbags is a centre airbag, both things that are sometimes neglected in more affordable models.

All safety features are also standard for both variants, including the surround-view camera, so points for GWM there.

The Symbioz is covered by Renault’s standard five-year/unlimited km warranty, which was fine a few years ago but when more affordable models are offering seven years and longer, it feels like a missed opportunity for the French firm.

The company offers ‘Assured Servicing Pricing’ which covers the first five years or 150,000km - whichever comes first. Intervals are every 12 months/30,000km and cost $2715 for the hybrid and $2695 for the mild hybrid.

Renault, which is looked after by an independent distributor in Australia, has 52 dealerships spread across the country.

GWM’s seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty is on the better side of average for mainstream brands, with the battery getting eight years, also unlimited.

But it’s the seven years of roadside and seven years capped-price servicing that make it a strong offering, especially when each service is just $195. That’s every 12 months or 15,000km.