FRENCH RESISTANCE (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

The stylish Arkana mid-sized coupe-SUV plays to Renault's strengths. Jonathan Crouch takes a look at the improved version.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 88

The Renault Arkana strays into a market segment for compact-sized coupe-SUVs previously only occupied by the premium brands. To compensate for the lack of a posh badge on the bonnet, you get plenty of pavement presence and a dose of Renault efficient full-hybrid technology. As for the inside, well here's where the efforts made to imbue recent smaller models with extra cabin quality have paid off, enabling Renault to push up-market using the same interior technology. The result is a surprisingly polished proposition, especially in this improved form.

Backgroundword count: 165

Renault over the years has pioneered various completely new market niches - think Avantime, Twizy, Clio V6 and so on. It's nearly always been a disaster. Where the company has usually done much better is in properly developing an existing idea - think Clio, Scenic and Captur. So back at its launch in late 2020, the auspices are good for this car, the Arkana. It championed an existing but relatively undeveloped market niche, that for the compact-sized coupe-SUV - which is the sort of thing that Renault's design department thrives on. Back in 2020, only premium European brands had launched models in this segment - think BMW X2 and Audi Q3 Sportback. The Arkana is sized similarly to those cars, with a fraction more rear seat and boot space. However you pitch it, it's the only volume brand model (and therefore the only truly affordable) entry in this segment. Here, we're looking at the updated Arkana, which gets a smarter look with different trim options.

Driving Experienceword count: 490

While it's built on the same platform as the Clio, Renault says the Arkana offers a different kind of driving experience. It is different - but you'll have to accept compromises. The crossover vibe means a slightly higher ride height and a little more cornering body movement than a regular hatch. And, at least on the 18-inch wheels of our test car, the ride is firm - the Arkana certainly can't smooth out the bumps like softer-riding SUVs or more typical Renault models. Combined with steering that's precise but a little detached, this means that this isn't a car to hustle along. It's at its best being driven smoothly, when it becomes a comfortable cruiser. From launch, Renault offered an entry-level mild hybrid TCe 140 petrol engine with this car, but now the only choice is the 145hp E-TECH hybrid petrol powertrain, an engine so compact that Renault's been able to package two electric motors alongside it beneath the bonnet. One of these sits on top of the gearbox, puts out 20hp, acts as a 'High Voltage Generator' and is tasked with starting the car and smoothing its gear changes. Most of the work in assisting the engine though, is done by a second, bigger motor that's attached to the rear of the transmission casing, puts out 48hp and is there to help the combustion powerplant propel the car once it's underway. Both motors are powered by a tiny 1.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack located beneath the boot floor and the whole powertrain is mated to an auto gearbox - of the race-style clutchless 'dog' variety. There's nothing really very racy about the way the Arkana drives. Partly that's due to weight and the gearbox doesn't help, its response a bit like you'd get from a belt-driven CVT auto in that there's something of a weird disconnect between the engine and what your right foot is doing. When you accelerate hard, there's a rush of revs, the needle on the Power Meter ahead of you waves about like a windmill but there's often not much extra initial forward motion until all the complicated technology sorts itself out. It certainly seems to be getting in the way of what ought to be quite reasonable reserves of pulling power - the petrol engine musters 144Nm of it, whilst the electric motor generates 205Nm and the smaller High-Voltage Starter Generator motor delivers an additional 50Nm. Playing with the various provided drive modes doesn't really help make the whole experience feel any more rapid. To replicate this E-TECH Hybrid model's rather modest claimed performance figures (10.8 seconds to 62mph en route to 107mph), you'll of course need to have selected the most dynamic of the three settings on offer - 'Sport' - but you're not going to want to use that too often for fear of decimating the frugal fuel returns which might have prompted you to choose this car in the first place.

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