Reno Arcana 2022 review

Years ago, we all thought the BMW X6 was the answer to a question no one asked.

But it's clear that European car buyers are asking for more impractical, style-oriented SUVs with a sloping roofline, because here's another take on the subject - the all-new Renault Arkana.

Arkana is a brand new nameplate from the French brand, and it builds on the same elements as the Captur small SUV and Nissan Juke. But it's a little longer, has more presence, but is surprisingly quite accessible. You look good too, don't you?

Let's dive into the 2022 Renault Arkana model and see if it has any other attractive qualities besides the price and attractive design.

Renault Arkana 2022: Intense
Safety Rating
engine's type	1.3 L turbo
fuel type	Regular unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	6l / 100km
Landing	5 Places
Price from	$37,490

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 8/10

Any European SUV under $35 is an interesting proposition, and this one is no exception.

The Arkana range is offered in three trim levels (all prices listed are MSRP, not drive-away): the entry grade Zen is $33,990, the mid-spec Intens tested in this review costs $37,490, and the soon-to-arrive range-topping RS-Line grade will be a $40,990 proposition.

This is not cheap by the standards of small SUVs. I mean, you could consider the Mazda CX-30 (from $29,190), the Skoda Kamiq (from $32,390), or even the sister Renault Captur (from $28,190) or the Nissan Juke (from $27,990).

Intens wears 18-inch alloy wheels. (Image credit: Matt Campbell)

But it's cheaper than the 2008 Peugeot (from $34,990) and starts at the same point as the base VW T-Roc (from $33,990). While the Audi Q3 Sportback – perhaps the closest competitor to a small SUV in terms of ethics – starts at $51,800.

Let's see what you get across the entire lineup.

The Zen features standard LED headlights and daytime running lights, 17-inch alloy wheels with a two-tone finish, a 7.0-inch multimedia touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, smartphone mirroring, a 4.2-inch driver's multi-function display, and heating. steering wheel (unusual at this price point), climate control and faux leather upholstery.

All variants have LED headlights and daytime running lights. (Image credit: Matt Campbell)

Zen buyers also appreciate adaptive cruise control and a range of safety technologies that are standard on all trims - we salute you Renault: customers on a budget should not compromise on their safety or that of other road users! We have detailed all of this in the security section below.

Adding $3500 to your new car bill to upgrade to the Intens category will bring you tons of perks such as three driving modes, 18" alloy wheels, a large 9.3" sat-nav touch screen, a 7.0" multifunction display as part instrument clusters, as well as adjustable heated and cooled front seats, leather and suede upholstery, ambient lighting and - what was I talking about standard protective equipment? - You also get a rear cross traffic alert at this level.

The Intens has a 7.0-inch multifunction display as part of the instrument cluster. (Image credit: Matt Campbell)

And the most popular RS Line model looks more sporty. Note - sportier look, but no change in driving style.

But it does have a body kit with metal front and rear skid plates, a rear privacy glass, glossy black exterior accents, a sunroof, wireless smartphone charging, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, and glossy carbon-look interior trim.

Options and add-ons for this line include a sunroof, which can be ordered in the Intens class for $1500 (similar to our test car), and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster is available on the Intens and RS Line models for $800. Seems a little rich considering the Kamiq has a standard 12.0-inch digital screen.

The sunroof is an optional extra for the Intens class. (Image credit: Matt Campbell)

There is only one free color option, Solid White, while metallic paint options include Universal White, Zanzibar Blue, Metallic Black, Metallic Gray, and Flame Red, each costing an additional $750. And if you like the black roof, you can get it with black mirror caps for $600.

Accessories include the usual suspects - rubber floor mats, roof rails, side steps, bike mount options, and even an attachable rear spoiler or - what you might call a sports package - a Flame Red body kit. 

Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10

I don't usually have much of an interest in coupe-SUVs. It's usually not my cup of tea. And using that weird language on a smaller SUV tends to make even less sense, if you ask me. Apart from maybe the Audi Q3 and RS Q3, which look pretty darn cool in Sportback coupe form.

However, for some reason - despite the fact that the Arkana can hardly be called a "small" SUV at 4568mm long and with rather long overhangs due to the relatively short wheelbase of 2720mm - I think it's really attractive and interesting. design.

It's eye-catching with its slicked-back roofline and angular, jeweled LED headlights/daytime running lights that give it that special appeal. It carries this stunning light work at the rear, with a neat signature running the width of the tailgate, a prominent (though not up-to-date) Renault diamond badge, and trendy model lettering.

Arkana looks great from every angle. (Image credit: Matt Campbell)

It's a more compelling rendition of the SUV-coupe look, in my opinion, than many premium alternatives like the BMW X4 and X6, not to mention the Mercedes GLC Coupe and GLE Coupe. To me, none of them look like they were specifically designed to be what they are, rather, they were SUVs turned into coupe-style models. 

This looks deliberate. And I think it looks great - at least from most angles.

Not only that, it looks expensive. And this alone may well be enough to lure some customers away from major competitors.

Arkana can hardly be called a "small" small SUV. (Image credit: Matt Campbell)

Many of its smaller SUV brethren, and even its Captur stablemate, are surprisingly practical for such a small footprint. And while this car's design makes it something of a counterpoint to its main competitors, it comes with a certain level of compromise that needs to be taken into account.

Any coupe-inspired design inherently has less headroom and less trunk space than a station wagon-style SUV. That's how geometry works.

But rather than gobble up a full-size spare tire in the boot, the Arkana has a compact unit that helps keep the boot floor low while providing 485 liters (VDA) capacity. This increases to 1268 VDA if you fold down the rear seatbacks. I will discuss the practical implications of this roofline in the next section.

Interior design is dominated by a 9.3-inch portrait-style multimedia screen in mid-range and upper-end models, while the base trim has a 7.0-inch landscape-style unit, which is strange considering Renault's website says: "Communication - that's all… Is that all if you can afford it?

Intens has a 9.3-inch touch screen. (Image credit: Matt Campbell)

Dashboard with surprisingly protruding air vents due to trim color. This nice looking space is definitely more upscale and with more plush materials than some of its European rivals - we're looking at you VW.

Read more about the interior in the next section.

How practical is the interior space? 7/10

While looking expensive from the outside, you might be surprised by the movement of the doorknob as you enter the salon. The feeling is not premium, that's for sure - very plastic.

Once inside, you are greeted by a space that also looks expensive, but feels a little less luxurious in some aspects.

Mixed materials are used throughout, with padded trim on the dash and doors, and nice leather and micro-suede trim on the seats, but there's a lot of hard plastic on the bottom of the dash and doors.

All four doors and the instrument panel feature interesting mesh-printed plastic trim. Again, if you weren't touching it, you wouldn't realize it's an inexpensive finish, and it's certainly made more special by the customizable ambient lighting built into these sections.

The inside looks expensive but looks a little less luxurious. (Image credit: Matt Campbell)

There are large door pockets, a good-sized pair of cup holders between the front seats (big enough to hold a decent takeaway or storage cup, which is new for a French car), and there's a storage box in front of the shifter, but no wireless charging - instead There are two USB ports on the top.

Between the front seats is a very small covered bin on the center console with a padded armrest, while rear seat passengers get a fold-down armrest with cup holders, decent door pockets (though not intended for a bottle) and mesh card pockets.

The Intens-spec media screen is a lovely 9.3-inch high-definition screen in portrait orientation, which is a little out of the ordinary compared to most of its landscaping competitors. 

However, I like the usability of this screen, as the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration with phone mirroring is a square piece in the middle of the screen, and some home and quick return buttons are at the top and bottom. CarPlay was fast when plugged in and re-plugged in, although I had a moment where the entire media screen went completely black and a phone call I was making returned to my phone - not ideal when you're not allowed to touch your phone while driving! After 10-15 seconds it worked again.

The rear view camera is really pixelated. (Image credit: Image credit: Matt Campbell)

Also, the quality of the lens used for the rear view camera does not justify the screen. Vision is truly pixelated.

There are physical buttons and controls for the air conditioner (it doesn't go through the screen, thank God!), but I wish there was a knob for volume control, not touch buttons and weird, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh -oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh -o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o- French buttons for volume control rod sticking out of the steering column.

The steering wheel itself has cruise control buttons and driver information screen control switches, and to the right of the steering wheel there are more buttons for things like a heated steering wheel and a lane control system. 

There is enough room in the front for my adult height (182 cm or 6'0") to get in and out and get comfortable without worrying about space.

There is enough room in the front for adults to sit comfortably. (Image credit: Matt Campbell)

But the space in the back seat is more suitable for children than adults, as there is little room for knees - behind my position at the wheel, I could not easily or comfortably position my knees without being in a spaced position.

Rear seat width is also limited, and three adults will be a real challenge, unless every passenger imitates a slender person. Tall passengers may also find their backs a bit cramped due to headroom - my head hit the ceiling when I sat upright, and the middle seat is again cramped for headroom. 

In terms of amenities, there are two USB ports and directional vents, as well as two ISOFIX child seat attachment points and three top-tether restraints. In addition, there are several reading lights at the back, as well as handrails.

The space in the back seat is best suited for children. (Image credit: Matt Campbell)

In a typical cheaper-in-the-back-seat move the door tops are made of hard plastic – but that means they should be easier to wipe if you have grubby kids mitts in contact with them. At least you get soft padding on the elbow rests on all the doors, which isn’t always the case.

As mentioned above, the trunk is oddly shaped, and you'll find that if you have a stroller and anything to do with a small baby or child, it will fit snugly even though the trunk's advertised capacity is quite large. .

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 7/10

There is only one engine option in the entire Renault Arkana lineup - yes, even the sportier RS ​​Line gets the same engine as the base car.

This is a 1.3-liter four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with a power of 115 kW (at 5500 rpm) and 262 Nm of torque (at 2250 rpm). This so-called TCe 155 EDC powertrain offers higher torque than the VW T-Roc and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, both of which have larger engines.

Indeed, the 1.3-liter unit hits hard for its size and uses a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and all versions have paddle shifters. It is front wheel drive/2WD and there are no all wheel drive (AWD) or all wheel drive (4WD) options available.

The 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers 115 kW/262 Nm. (Image credit: Matt Campbell)

The Intens and RS Line models have three different driving modes - MySense, Sport and Eco - that adjust the drivetrain's responsiveness.

It's really strange to see a brand launching a brand new car in Australia without any electrification - no hybrid, mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric version of the Arkana is sold in Australia. The brand is not alone in this approach, but now we are starting to see more high-tech alternative powertrains being offered in competitor vehicles.

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How much fuel does it consume? 7/10

The official combined cycle fuel consumption figure is 6.0 liters per 100 kilometers (ADR 81/02) and CO137 emissions are 2 g/km. Not bad, really.

However, in reality, you might expect to see a little more than that. In our test, we saw 7.5/100 km measured at the pump, while driving on highways, motorways, open roads, winding roads, traffic jams and city testing.

The fuel tank capacity is 50 liters and luckily it can run on regular 91 octane unleaded petrol so you don't have to use premium unleaded petrol which helps keep running costs down.

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10

Renault Arkana received a five-star ANCAP crash test safety rating based on 2019 criteria.

As mentioned above, the majority of safety technologies and equipment are offered across all trim levels, including Front Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), which operates at speeds from 7 to 170 km/h. It includes forward collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection that operates at speeds between 10 and 80 km/h. 

There's also adaptive cruise control and a speed limiter, as well as lane departure warning and lane keeping assist, but they don't intervene to really get you out of a potential problem. Operates from 70km/h to 180km/h.

All grades have blind-spot monitoring, but the base Zen model lacks rear cross-traffic alert (a real shame!), and all models have speed sign recognition, a reversing camera, front, rear, and side parking sensors, and there are six airbags (double front, front side, side curtains for both rows). 

What's missing is full-range rear cross-traffic alert, there's no 360-degree surround camera system available, and you can't get the Arkana with a rear AEB either. This can be a problem, as the problem of blind spots in this car is very relevant. Many competitors also offer this technology. Some newer competitors also offer optional airbags.

Where is the Renault Arcana made? You may be surprised to learn that this is not France. It's not even in Europe. Answer: "Made in South Korea" - the company is building the Arkana at its Busan plant, along with localized Renault Samsung Motors models. The larger Koleos was also built there. 

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 8/10

Buy a Renault these days and you're set for the "easy life"... for at least five years.

Easy Life's five-year ownership plan includes a five-year/unlimited mileage warranty, five limited-price services, and up to five years of roadside assistance if you have your vehicle serviced at the brand's dedicated workshop network.

The interesting thing here is that maintenance and repairs are required every 12 months or 30,000 km - a very long interval between visits - two to three times more than competitors in the distance. Service prices are decent too, with first, second, third, and fifth years at $399, and fourth years at $789, for an average five-year/150,000km annual fee of $477.

The Arkana is covered by a five-year, unlimited-mileage Renault warranty. (Image credit: Matt Campbell)

All in all, it looks like a fairly promising ownership program, with decent costs and standard warranty coverage.

Worried about Renault reliability issues, engine issues, transmission failures, general complaints or recalls? Visit our Renault issues page.

What is it like to drive? 6/10

Renault Arkana looks better than it rides. 

Erase it. It looks lot better than driving. 

Frankly, this car is frankly bad in city driving at low speed or in the city, where the engine's start-stop system, turbo lag, and dual-clutch automatic transmission make driving fun to the point of frustration.

I really, really disliked driving the Arkana around town. I also didn't like driving it out of my driveway going downhill from the street, reversing out of my driveway and up the street, which actually scared some passers by.

Why? Because the transmission allowed the car to roll forward and go in reverse. There is an Auto Hold button that should have stopped this, but I may not have pressed the brake pedal hard enough to activate it.

The suspension is too stiff on rough terrain. (Image credit: Matt Campbell)

Instead, I overcompensated and applied too much throttle. This spun the tires on my pavers a bit, so I braked and then pulled over the curb onto the road, the back of the car was facing down the hill and it rolled back again while I switched to drive. Then, again, the tires scraped down the road below as the transmission disassembled and the turbo kicked in, whistling before the engine gave its fuzzy hum and the car went faster than expected.

It was bad. And it happened a couple of times too.

There were other cases where it was not very good. The transmission shifted constantly between gears when accelerating lightly at higher speeds or with the adaptive cruise control engaged, largely due to the change in grade. So, if you live in a hilly area like me (the Blue Mountains), you will notice how busy the transmission is with three top gears - even to maintain a speed of 80 km / h. And it doesn't maintain its speed very well using adaptive cruise control.

It was even worse when you deal with low speed driving. The DCT's hesitation turned into moments of hesitation before sudden explosions of progress - no fun in the wet. This means that sometimes it will fall behind and sometimes it will feel like it takes off too fast at times. You will have slippage even on dry surfaces, and I have experienced this many times during my time in the car.

The thing is, you need to be mindful of how you press the gas pedal in this car. In my opinion, you don't have to think so much when you drive an automatic car. Many of its competitors with DCT gearboxes are much better than this - the Hyundai Kona, for example, as well as the slightly larger VW Tiguan. 

Arkana looks better than it rides. (Image credit: Matt Campbell)

The steering is light in the standard MySense driving mode, which you can customize to your liking to a degree. Selecting the "Sport" driving mode (or just setting the "Sport" steering in MySense) adds extra weight, but adds absolutely no extra feel to the experience, so for the enthusiastic driver, there's little to be found in terms of enjoyment without a real "feel" from steering in general, and indeed it is a bit slow to respond, with a larger than expected turning radius (11.2m). It can do multiple turns in multiple moves, and I've found that the rearview camera often lags dangerously behind the real-time situation.

As is the case with many SUVs in this segment, the steering is designed for easy city driving, not open road fun. So if you expect to drive like the Megane RS, buy this car. 

The suspension was quite self-confident. It has a firm edge and felt reasonably manageable on the open road, but at lower speeds, when you hit deep ditches or potholes, the body gets very frustrated as the wheels seem to sink into the potholes. However, it is really good on speed bumps.

Although it is a front-wheel drive (2WD) off-road vehicle, I did some off-road driving on a gravel track in the Blue Mountains and found the suspension too stiff compared to the corrugated parts, causing the car to bounce on its large 18-inch wheels. The transmission once again got in the way, coupled with a spirited traction control system that at least got me where I needed to be. Ground clearance is 199 mm, which is good for an SUV of this kind. 

So for whom then?

I would say that this car can be a good companion for those who travel long distances. It's quite subtle on the highway and freeway, and that's where the suspension and transmission are the least annoying. And hey, it can also help you get the most out of those long service intervals. Drivers from Newcastle to Sydney or Geelong to Melbourne, this might be one to look out for.

Verdict

The Renault Arkana is certainly an interesting addition to the small SUV segment. It has a look and level of appeal that sets it apart from the rest of the compact crossover brigade, and a price tag that's high enough for a European-branded SUV. Given the inclusions, our choice would be the mid-range Intens. 

It is let down by a frustrating drive experience in some instances, and compromised packaging as a result of the swoopy roof. That said, for singles or couples who do more highway driving than anything else, it could be an enticing alternative.