There’s a new Renault Arkana in town – but you might not realise when you first see it.
Renault’s SUV coupe remains a unique option in Australia, as one of just two ‘coupe’ crossovers at this price – the other being the GWM Haval H6 GT.
The facelifted model receives subtle changes and some extra equipment, and the flagship 2025 Renault Arkana Esprit Alpine brings new branding to the outgoing R.S. Line halo in line with a global change.
Drawing upon the Alpine performance brand, the Esprit Alpine nameplate brings sportier trims and finishes in line with the now-defunct R.S. Line, but instead of flashes of yellow there’s more pops of blue.
There’s still no hybrid option, despite Renault Australia indicating last year a more efficient E-Tech Full Hybrid version would “likely” join the local range. Read more on the updated statement here.
Still, Renault has managed to keep prices the same relative to the outgoing model, while adding kit like a surround-view camera, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a lane centring function across the range. The Esprit Alpine on test gains a new Bose-branded premium audio system.
Does the Korean-built French crossover coupe have what it takes to make a bigger splash in Australia? Or, are the changes too minimal to make enough of an impact in such a competitive segment?
How much does the Renault Arkana cost?
Pricing is unchanged over the Intens and R.S. Line grades being replaced. While the mid-spec Techno is the current entry point, a more affordable entry version to replace the Zen is “coming soon”.
To see how the Arkana lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
What is the Renault Arkana like on the inside?
The Esprit Alpine brings revised trim and equipment, but the basic Arkana experience is very much the same.
If you buy the flagship model you’ll notice details like revised seat trims combining vegan leather with suede inserts, complete with quilted stitching details and blue Alpine logos embroidered in the backrests.
You get nice stitching details on the steering wheel too, as well as the door inserts, both of which score a fetching tricolore stitch pattern in the colours of the French flag.
There’s a new ‘slate’ dashboard insert that appears to mimic marbled carbon-fibre, but get too close and you realise it’s just a rough plastic panel which actually feels a bit cheap. This pattern is applied to the doors, too.
Apart from that everything feels reasonably well built like the pre-update version, with soft-touch surfaces atop the dash and doors as well as that swish ‘floating’ centre console design incorporating a conventional gearshift.
Up front you get electrically adjustable chairs with powered lumbar for the driver. It’s not necessarily common for the passenger seat to be powered in the compact class… but oddly there’s no base cushion angle adjustment for the driver.
Both front seats are heated for both the Techno and Esprit Alpine, and the perforated leather steering wheel is heated on the Esprit Alpine.
All models at launch score a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 9.3-inch portrait-oriented infotainment touchscreen shared with the outgoing model. The older R-Link software offers nice graphics but slower refresh rates than many rivals, though the hard button shortcuts and display options are good.
For the facelift, the infotainment system scores wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, bolstered by a wireless smartphone charger to keep your device juiced. There’s also native navigation if you prefer embedded systems, and DAB radio features.
The Bose-branded eight-speaker premium audio system in the Esprit Alpine doesn’t set the benchmark but offers good sound quality, and thanks to the relatively well insulated cabin (more on that in the driving section) you’ll be able to enjoy your favourite beats without having to compete with road noise on trips out of town.
Despite the coupe-style roofline the Arkana offers surprisingly good space in the rear, with head- and legroom pretty decent for an adult measuring around six feet tall.
If you have longer legs you might have tight knee room behind a taller driver, but there are scalloped out sections in the seatbacks to give you more space and, as I noted earlier, you have heaps of headroom even with the sunroof.
Two adults should be fine back there but this won’t be giving a Kia Seltos any sleepless nights. There are nice inclusions like directional rear air vents, map pockets behind both front seats, and a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders.
Carrying kids? ISOFIX on the outboard seats and top tether points across all three rear seats have you covered, and door bins with bottle holders round out the rear amenities. It’s not ‘palatial’, but in the small segment it’s far from the worst in class.
The boot hasn’t been too compromised by the sloping (manually operated) hatchback tailgate either, with Renault quoting 485 litres with the rear seats upright, expanding to 1268 litres with the second row folded.
A split-level boot floor allows you to create an underfloor compartment to hide things away, and there’s a space saver spare wheel lower down.
To see how the Arkana lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
What’s under the bonnet?
The updated Arkana lineup in Australia features a carryover drivetrain.
To see how the Arkana lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
How does the Renault Arkana drive?
Given the drivetrain is carryover, the Arkana’s on-road experience is more of the same.
Our launch drive took us from the Orange Airport in regional New South Wales through the surrounding area, which meant a lot of high-speed and winding B-roads.
While I imagine most Arkanas will spend their time in the suburbs, the more touring-focused program meant we got a good grasp on how this crossover coupe will manage the long drives so many Australians do regularly.
As I’ve noted in previous reviews of the Captur, the Arkana offers decent performance and drivability once you’re moving. But, the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission remains a sticking point when getting off the line.
There’s a lazy, slightly nervous response on takeoff which takes some getting used to, and on occasion planning. It’s as if the control unit is a novice driver still getting a hang of engaging a clutch in a manual – it’s a bit off-putting, really.
After the quirks of that takeoff, the Arkana’s 262Nm of torque from 2250rpm proves quite handy at getting this relatively light 1349kg crossover moving at decent clip.
There’s a nice, raspy engine note under acceleration, too. Renault’s 0-100km/h claim of 9.1 seconds seems modest, but obviously accounts for the doughy initial response off the line.
The DCT is also fairly snappy once you’re moving, and if you want better response you can either flick into Sport mode which sees it hold gears longer and keep you in the sweet spot; otherwise you can use the steering-mounted paddle shifters and change cogs yourself.
Despite riding on 19-inch alloy wheels and low-profile 225/45 tyres, the Esprit Alpine offers a surprisingly well-sorted ride that’s typically European taut but offers good isolation from bumps. While there is a firmness, there’s minimal jarring or crashing even over some gnarly potholes.
That translates to handling that’s accurate and responsive enough without being overtly ‘sporty’. It feels pretty nimble and feel through the steering wheel is decent, while the body is well controlled through corners and there’s good amounts of grip.
Road and wind noise is also surprisingly well suppressed in our experience, with coarse chip roads only bringing a muted hum into the cabin. I was able to maintain a normal conversation with my co-driver which is uncommon for mainstream compact-class SUVs.
Part of the Arkana facelift’s upgrades is the driver assistance suite, which now brings active lane centring in addition to lane departure warning and lane keep assist. The nature of the roads we drove didn’t allow us to test it properly, but our experience with the related Captur points to it being one of the better offerings in market.
While it still needs improvement in some areas, the Arkana does punch above its weight in others, and once you’re moving offers a pretty refined and capable drive that will be enjoyable even once you travel beyond city limits.
What do you get?
Two grades are available at launch – the Techno and Esprit Alpine.
Arkana Techno standard equipment:
- 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels
- Space-saver spare
- Grey front and rear skid plates
- Front bumper with body-coloured ‘F1-inspired’ blade
- Chrome window trims
- Automatic LED headlights
- Automatic high-beam
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Semi-autonomous parking assist
- Proximity entry with push-button start
- Electric park brake with auto hold
- 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
- 9.3-inch portrait-oriented infotainment touchscreen
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Satellite navigation
- 6-speaker Arkamys sound system
- Wireless phone charger
- Ambient lighting (eight colours)
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Leatherette-wrapped steering wheel
- Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment
- Paddle shifters
- Climate control
- 8-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar
- 6-way power passenger seat
- Heated front seats
- Leather upholstery with ‘suedette shoulders’, cream stitching
- 60:40 split/fold rear seats
- Textured chrome interior trim
Arkana Esprit Alpine adds:
- 19-inch two-tone alloy wheels
- Gloss black window trims
- Privacy glass
- Sunroof
- 8-speaker Bose sound system
- Black ‘suede-style’ and leatherette upholstery
- Blue stitching details
- ‘Slate-look’ interior trim
- Heated steering wheel
- Frameless auto-dimming rear-view mirror
A sunroof is a $1500 option on the Techno.
Is the Renault Arkana safe?
The Arkana has a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing conducted in 2019 on the related Captur.
Standard safety equipment includes:
- 6 airbags
- Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane centring
- Lane departure warning
- Lane keep assist
- Parking sensors – front, side, rear
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Surround camera system
- Traffic sign recognition
- Tyre pressure monitoring
How much does the Renault Arkana cost to run?
The Arkana is covered by Renault’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia.
CarExpert’s Take on the Renault Arkana
The updated Arkana is very much a case of ‘same same, but [not much] different’.
That comes with some good and some not-so good. The Arkana brings the sort of styling you’d pay two or three times more for from established luxury brands, and drives pretty well once you get it moving.
It offers a strong list of standard kit in both mid- and flagship grades without asking for more money than before, and you’re covered by a decent aftersales program should you be a little unsure about going French.
But, there are still a number of areas for improvement.
The seven-speed DCT is snappy once you’re moving, but has a hesitant, elastic fell off the line which some will find nervous or unresponsive in scenarios where you need to make a quick getaway, and the lack of a hybrid option is disappointing.
The Esprit Alpine’s new ‘slate’ dashboard and door decor looks a bit naff if we’re honest; and while the addition of a surround camera system is welcome, the quality and resolution of the vision is lacking compared to most other vehicles offering similar features.
Renault Australia seems confident the Arkana’s value proposition should be able to see the facelift retain its circa-1.0 per cent share of the small SUV segment, though something tells me if the E-Tech Full Hybrid was available it could aim a little higher.
It’s no secret hunger Down Under for electrified SUVs and crossovers is growing, so it seems like an oversight by Renault to bypass a hybrid Arkana in the current landscape – with emissions regulations coming into effect in 2025.
If you’re persuaded by the looks alone, the Arkana is a cool and left-field offering that in the right colour looks quite fetching. I’d just recommend if you’re looking to buy one, just take it for a test drive on roads with traffic lights or stop-start manoeuvres so you can get a feel for the transmission’s low-speed behaviour.
MORE: Buy a Renault ArkanaMORE: Everything Renault Arkana
Pros
- Still looks sharp
- No price rises with more spec
- Impressive open road refinement
Cons
- DCT still clumsy off the line
- No hybrid option for Australia
- Back seat is a little cosy
Top Line Specs
- Power: 115kW
- Fuel Type: Unleaded Petrol
- Economy: 5.9L/100km
- CO2 Emissions: 133g/km
- ANCAP Safety Rating: 5
#Renault #Arkana #review #West #Australian
