New Mitsubishi Grandis: A Well-Made-Up Renault Symbioz
This page is translated from the original post "Nouveau Mitsubishi Grandis : un Renault Symbioz bien maquillé" in French.
- 02/07/2025 17:12
Officially, Mitsubishi unveils its brand new compact SUV called Grandis, a name revived from the early 2000s.
Unofficially, it is a rebadged Renault Symbioz, an almost identical copy of the French model, with the exception of a few styling elements and a cleverly crafted communication to make it seem like a home-grown creation.
This Grandis “Mitsubishi style,” assembled in Renault’s Valladolid factory, is entirely based on the CMF-B platform of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. It takes over the technical specifications, dimensions (4.41 m in length), electrified powertrains — micro-hybrid 1.3 TCe and hybrid 1.8 HEV —, onboard technology, and even the architecture of the cabin. Even the large opaque panoramic roof, sliding seats, and integrated Google multimedia system are identical to those of the Symbioz.
A Pinch of Mitsu on the Symbioz
The attempt at aesthetic differentiation is limited to a redesigned “Dynamic Shield” grille, a proprietary “Sculptural Hexagon” rear signature, and a few black or chrome inserts. The rest, including the 17 to 19-inch wheels, is carried over without modification. Beneath this exterior, everything breathes Renault, and Mitsubishi is not really hiding it: the goal is clear, to occupy a crucial segment with limited resources by leveraging its French partner’s assets.
In its messaging, Mitsubishi emphasizes a “specific design for Europe” and a product perfectly tuned for young families. But Renault has already said all of this word for word during the launch of the Symbioz a few months earlier. Even the promise of modularity, connectivity, and efficiency is duplicated, right down to the promise of 80% electric driving in the city with the HEV.
Thus, one must be particularly attentive to distinguish a Symbioz from a Grandis on the road, as the two vehicles are so similar. Mitsubishi has yet to communicate final pricing, but it should be very close to Renault’s starting at €33,000.
Ultimately, this rebadged Grandis illustrates Mitsubishi’s current strategy in Europe: to limit heavy investments in development while benefiting from its partners’ expertise. A pragmatic approach… that may charm nostalgic fans of the brand, but does not fool anyone.
We also suggestthese articles:
Also read
