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Available with a petrol or hybrid engine, the Renault Arkana is one of the latest additions to the urban SUV market.
The Renault Arkana’s silhouette in its Valencia Orange livery immediately contrasts with the solid look of other SUVs thanks to its decidedly coupé-like appearance.
Inside, it features very realistic carbon imitation elements, complete with aesthetically-pleasing red and white stitching on the doors, while multimedia features include a 9.3-inch screen with Apple Car Play and Android Auto compatibility.
The boot, which can be opened manually, offers a load volume of between 492 and 1,311 litres with the rear seat folded down, with a rare extra bonus - a spare wheel - housed in the underfloor compartment in the boot! It’s only a temporary wheel, admittedly, but it’s a nice bonus, all the same!
What about the engine?
The hybrid system on our model comprised a 1.6L petrol engine delivering 95hp and a second, this time electric engine delivering 49hp with a torque of 142Nm. The fuel tank, meanwhile, came in at 50L, with CO2 emissions varying from 108 to 114g/km for a consumption level of 5.8L/100km during our test drive.
In terms of handling, there wasn’t much to fault, and the engine certainly doesn't encourage you to do anything crazy on the road; quite the contrary, in fact.
The electric drive it offers is very pleasant in urban environments, and we particularly liked the sound so typical of a Renault hybrid. A few additional storage areas and more space under the central armrest would have made this decidedly urban SUV more user-friendly.
The pros:
- Coupé-like silhouette
- Effective adaptive cruise control
- Good fuel economy
The cons:
- Electronic gearbox management
- Front surrounds too thick
Available from €31,232.23.
You can find more tests and advice on the dedicated pages of this site.