The Qashqai-rivalling Renault Symbioz is here: yours from £29,295

Renault’s Qashqai-rivalling Symbioz will cost from just £29,295, and in good news for fans of cool roof technology, the range-topping version has pretty cool 'Solarbay' roof technology.

Just £525 cheaper than Nissan’s popular compact motor, this SUV – because the world really really needs another SUV – is a hybrid. The Symbioz combines a 1.6-litre four-pot engine, a six-speed gearbox, a 39kW electric motor and an 18kW starter generator to make 142bhp, plus a teeny 1.2kWh battery to help it achieve 60.1mpg. Its top speed sits at 106mph.

It's marginally shorter than the Qashqai and though it's not quite as wide, it weighs about the same. Renault tells us it's designed to sit between the Captur and the Austral... we're guessing it's aimed at all those sit-on-the-fencers.

Inside the cabin, there’s 624 litres of boot space and a 10.4in portrait-oriented central screen with the OpenR Link multimedia suite dominates the dashboard and integrates Google, as well as Carplay and Auto phone mirroring.

There are three trim levels to choose from, starting with ‘techno E-Tech’ and topping out with ‘iconic esprit Alpine E-Tech’ priced at £33,295. That entry-level grade includes 18in rims, privacy glass, keyless entry, a six-speaker Arkamys audio suite, wireless charger and bags of driver assist and safety features, including a rear-view reversing camera.

The middle 'techno espirit' trim – available for £31,295 – gets bigger wheels, fancier external styling, sport pedals, heated front seats, a handsfree tailgate and more driver assistance stuff.

The range-topping 'iconic espirit' trim features a fancy tinted glass roof, which can be darkened or lightened on command, park assist, a 360-degree camera and an audio upgrade to the nine-speaker Harman Kardon suite. Nice.

Orders are now open and deliveries start in September.