Renault Arkana is a small SUV and an initial step in its revival

Renault Arkana – With the introduction of the Esprit, a higher specification level for their Arkana small SUV, Renault Australia is making a strategic move to revitalise its brand across both passenger vehicles and commercial vans. 

The small SUV segment is highly competitive, with 22 different models in the under-$45,000 subcategory.

The Arkana now has two variants—the Techno (from $41,000 plus on-road costs) and the Esprit ($45,000 plus on-road costs).

Renault Managing Director Glen Sealey agrees that this is part of maintaining its European chic appeal.

Renault Arkana

Exterior

The Arkana’s design aims to blend sportiness with a touch of style.

They have defined this vehicle as an “SUV coupe” because it is not just the typical square shape, but has a fastback slope to the roofline. A number of European upmarket brands have produced fastback SUVs, but they have not been particularly attractive and often look somewhat awkward, giving a contrived appearance rather than an integrated design.

The Arkana is not a large vehicle, but it has an overall balanced appearance that does not seem forced.

In addition to the overall shape, the front of the vehicle now features a glossy black chrome-finished grille with the new Renault emblem.

The rear of the car includes twin black exhaust tips, a blacked-out nameplate, and translucent smoky taillights.

An F1-inspired aerodynamic blade in gunmetal grey, glossy black detailing, and 19″ two-tone ‘elixir’ alloy wheels add some extra touches.

Interior

The interior is neat, with a crisp presentation, including Alpine blue highlights for the upholstery stitching and gearshift, which is also embroidered with the Alpine arrow “A”.

The red, white, and blue “Tricolore” stitching on the steering wheel and door trims reflect French design heritage.

There is a 10.25-inch screen in front of the driver and a 9.3-inch infotainment screen in a portrait configuration rather than landscape.

It is not as large as some other infotainment screens, but the information is presented clearly and without excessive clutter. Similarly, the layout in front of the driver is quite traditional but distinctive and easy to read.

There is good legroom and comfort for both the driver and front passenger, and decent legroom in the rear. However, the fastback style of the roofline compromises headroom in the second row.

Renault claims it has class-leading cargo space in the back of the vehicle at 485 litres.

Drivetrain

Under the bonnet, the Arkana is equipped with a 1.3-litre 4-cylinder engine that delivers 115 kW and 262 Nm of torque, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission—an impressive feature compared to the CVT gearboxes of some competitors.

The drivetrain configuration drives the front wheels.

To the credit of the engine design, it achieves EURO 6 emission standards and runs on 91 RON fuel.

Features

While not listing all the vehicle’s features, here are some that show the Arkana goes beyond a base model:

Active Safety

• Active Emergency Braking System (AEBS) with pedestrian & cyclist detection
• Safe distance warning
• Lane keep assist with lane centring
• Adaptive cruise control
• Traffic sign recognition
• 360-degree camera
• Rear cross-traffic alert

Multimedia

• Wireless smartphone charger

Convenience

• Automatic ‘walk-away’ door locking

Comfort

• Electrically adjustable front seats with electric lumbar adjustment for the driver

All these features are standard for the Techno model. The Esprit adds more bling, with the most distinctive feature being a sunroof, which is usually appreciated by most drivers but can compromise headroom.

Driving Experience

The driving experience is one of the Arkana’s strengths.

At the launch, we drove it around the regional area centred on the city of Orange in NSW. These are secondary roads in every sense of the word; at times, there wasn’t enough width for line marking, and we encountered several severe potholes.

Given that this was the high-spec model with 19-inch rims and lower-profile tyres, you might expect significant road noise and a distinct feeling of road imperfections. However, the car maintained a noticeably quiet ambience and comfort on these poor-quality roads.

The small engine isn’t going to provide the punch or peak performance that you’d get from an electric vehicle or even some internal combustion engines with higher power outputs, but I did not find the vehicle’s performance disappointing.

If you approach an overtaking situation—particularly if you must move to the other side of the road or are on a steep grade—you won’t experience a huge surge of power. That said, we were driving with four people in the car, which is not an insignificant load.

The engine worked particularly well with the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The vehicle is rated at 5.9 litres per 100 km combined fuel consumption, although ours typically showed 7.7 litres, considering the rural roads we drove on, including twisting, hilly routes that were far from smooth motorways.

Renault Arkana Conclusions

European vehicles in Australia, such as BMW, seem to be doing well, although Audi and Mercedes sales are down.

There is a secondary tier of European cars, such as Peugeot and Renault, which aim to offer an element of distinctiveness and prestige without becoming super luxury or excessively expensive.

I think the Renault Arkana can make a claim in this territory because it offers more than just the typical square SUV look, with a fastback design that is balanced and not awkward.

For buyers seeking a vehicle with European style, refinement, and an alternative to boxy SUVs, the Renault Arkana offers a distinct and balanced design. It may not appeal to those looking for raw power or the lowest price in the segment, but it will attract those who value style, comfort, and a touch of prestige without venturing into the premium luxury space.

Renault Arkana Pricing