The visual news is on the back
Meet the brand new Mitsubishi Grandis. It’s not an MPV like before, but an always hybrid crossover. Whatever it is: a Renault Symbioz.
‘I believe that Renault Symbioz is a Mitsubishi Grandis’ – is an incredibly lame pun that probably nobody will ever make, but which does contain a kernel of truth. A big one even. Mitsubishi is pulling the Grandis model name out of the mothballs for its third model that is effectively little more than a Renault with Mitsubishi logos. The Mitsubishi Grandis relates to the Renault Symbioz like the Colt to the Clio and the ASX to the Captur.
Is that a shame? The enthusiast of ‘the old Mitsubishi’ might think so. However, this sharing strategy is the reason why you can still buy Mitsubishi’s in the Netherlands. The brand was about to leave the European market, but has built up a decent model range again by converting models from alliance partner Renault into Mitsubishi. The brand is still quite small in the Netherlands, but it did sell a third more cars in 2024 than in 2023 and even a good 66 percent more cars than in 2022. Mitsubishi is still here, precisely thanks to these cars. Later it will come with an electric crossover that shares its genes with the Renault Scenic E-Tech Electric.
Renault Symbioz: the original.
Design
Okay, back to the Grandis. This time, the Grandis model name is not on the back of a practical MPV as before, but on its own version of the Renault Symbioz. A crossover, then. Just as the Symbioz is the longer and, especially in the trunk, considerably more spacious brother of the Captur, the Mitsubishi Grandis is that of the ASX. Mitsubishi’s newest addition to the menu has the front as you know it from the ASX, and that means that both grille and bumper work differ from those of the French models that serve as a basis.
Mitsubishi Grandis: with unique tailgate and partly ditto taillights.
There is greater visual news at the rear. Mitsubishi has managed to free up budget to give the car its own tailgate. The sheet metal and the parts of the taillights that are located in the tailgate are actually different from the original from Renault. The Symbioz has strongly tapering taillights towards the center that are connected to each other by means of a decorative strip in a deeper part. The taillights in the tailgate of the Mitsubishi Grandis retain more thickness towards the center, have a completely unique light signature and the tailgate lacks the decorative strip and the deeper part of the Symbioz. Striking: on the tailgate of the ASX, Mitsubishi writes out its brand name in large letters. On the back of the Grandis we simply see the Mitsubishi diamond. The rear bumper, however, does seem to be interchangeable with that of the Symbioz. As is the interior, if you swap the logos.
Mitsubishi Grandis: also very recognizable inside, of course.
Always hybrid and spacious
What else does the Grandis have to offer? Plenty of space and a hybrid powertrain. The crossover has the Full-Hybrid E-Tech 160 from the Symbioz, although that powertrain in the Grandis is called 1.8 HEV Full Hybrid. It consists of a 109 hp 1.8 petrol engine, a 49 hp electric motor and a 20 hp electric motor. The system power: 160 hp.
The Mitsubishi Grandis is of course also spacious. Indeed: just like the original. Behind the tailgate you can basically store 434 liters, but you have to slide the rear seat fully forward. That is possible over a distance of 16 centimeters. If you fold down the rear seat, you can carry 1,455 liters.