First Drive: Renault Arkana
Arkana brings coupé-SUVs to the mainstream, with hybrid running costs, thinks Natalie Middleton.
SECTOR Coupe SUV PRICE £25,300-£30,900 FUEL 48.7-58.9mpg CO2 108-127g/km
If you like the idea of a coupé-SUV until now your choices were limited to one of the few from the premium brands.
Well, not anymore. The Arkana, Renault’s first purpose-built hybrid car, now joins this small niche of models.
So, what is the Arkana? Well, it looks fairly similar to a model offered on the Russian market but it is just looks that these models share, as the Arkana we get in the UK is based on the CMF-B platform. This platform also underpins the current Clio and Captur ranges – yet the Arkana is slightly longer than the Kadjar SUV. Another benefit of this platform is the list of comprehensive safety kit, that all adds up to the impressive five-star NCAP safety rating you expect of a Renault these days.
Inside, like the Clio and Captur before it, Renault has focused on quality. Our early left-hand drive example certainly felt well screwed together, with all but the entry-level model getting the excellent 9.3-inch portrait infotainment system. Despite the curvy shape, the Arkana’s interior is quite practical offering similar space to the Kadjar – although that curvy rear roof line eats into the rear headroom. There’s also a flat 480-litre boot for hybrid versions, which increases to 513-litres in the mild- hybrid model.
Our range-topping R.S. Line model certainly looked sporty, but the performance of the E-Tech hybrid power- train, which combines a 1.6-litre petrol engine with a 1.2 kWh lithium-ion battery and two electric motors, is only average with 145hp. With 0-62mph acceleration taking a similarly pedes- trian 10.8 seconds and the top speed is just 107mph. The 108g/km emissions and 58.9mpg combined consumption figure are the headline grabbers here.
Also available on all Arkana models is a TCe 140 petrol engine that utilises clever mild-hybrid technology. Offer- ing 140hp and 260Nm of torque, this 1.3-litre engine propels the Arkana from 0-62mph in 9.8 seconds, while also offering up to 49.6mpg and CO2 emissions of 130g/km.
The Verdict
Arkana answers a coupé SUV question that so far not many have asked. Still, this Renault looks sharp and being a hybrid boasts decent efficiency.
The Lowdown
Key Fleet Model: Arkana RS Line
Strengths: Niche bodystyle, hybrid efficiency, infotainment
Weaknesses: Average performance, rear legroom
Fleet World Star Rating
4/5
Natalie Middleton
Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for over 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day.
