2022 Renault Arkana R.S. Line assessment

Renault calls the Arkana its “no-compromise, new technology SUV coupé”, and whereas my intuition is to flee from such grandiose claims, the corporate is not less than half proper.

We dwell within the age of the higher-riding crossover SUV, and even individuals eager on one thing with extra stylistic panache are taking this path – on the apparent expense of cabin area.

Renault itself suggests the Arkana is perhaps cross-shopped in opposition to issues just like the Audi Q3 Sportback, which strikes us as a bit of formidable however does reveal the corporate’s intent.

It actually turns heads with its nice stance, characterful entrance and rear gentle signatures, properly sculpted and creased bonnet, and in-vogue fastback-style aspect profile

Past the standout design, one of many Arkana’s extra fascinating features is its level of origin.

The badge could also be French, but it surely’s in-built Busan, South Korea, similar to the larger and extra sensible Koleos. That helps the corporate’s backside line, and likewise assists with sourcing.

Whereas the majority of the Arkana vary launched in August 2021, the flagship R.S. Line emerged right here in March 2022. This model faucets into the corporate’s Renault Sport DNA, however principally from a stylistic quite than performance-enhancing standpoint.

How a lot does the Renault Arkana R.S. Line price?

2022 Renault Arkana pricing:

Arkana Zen: $35,800
Arkana Intens: $39,800
Arkana R.S. Line: $43,300

Costs exclude on-road prices

In accordance with the Renault Australia web site, an Arkana R.S. Line prices $48,000 drive-away.

To place this into a bit of context, there are smaller choices such because the high-grade Honda HR-V e:HEV L ($47,000 drive-away), Toyota C-HR GR Sport (round $42,200 drive-away), and Mazda CX-30 G25 Astina (round $47,400 drive-away).

One other crossover that’s kind of the identical size because the 4568mm-long Arkana is the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, obtainable in top-of-the-range Exceed guise at $42,690 drive-away. A closing, left-field alternative is the recently-launched GWM Haval H6 GT at $46,490 drive-away.

What’s the Renault Arkana R.S. Line like on the within?

As long as you have got the brand-signature keycard in your pocket, the Arkana each unlocks as you strategy and locks as you stroll away, and folds/unfolds the aspect mirrors – it’s the little issues typically…

The inside appears to be like nice, providing up a perforated leather-based wheel with tasteful stitch-work, alloy pedals, fake carbon-fibre trim inlays on door and sprint, soft-touch leathery materials and suede used throughout the door automobiles and well-bolstered seats, and racy crimson piping and stitching.

Behind the wheel sits a digital cluster with analogue-look speedo and tacho, and numerous menus in between them to cycle by protecting driver-assist options, audio capabilities, and navigation directions. It additionally modifications its look relying on the driving mode chosen.

Renault being Renault, the audio controls are mounted on a hard and fast stalk with buttons on the right-hand aspect of the steering column. When you familiarise your self it’s fairly an intuitive system, however you must flip the wheel to see what you’re doing at first.

The 9.3-inch centre touchscreen has a portrait orientation and sits properly at eye degree. The software program might do with sooner processing on startup, however the person expertise is kind of easy to work out, counting on homescreen tiles.

Whereas I tended to depend on (the virtually full-screen integration) Apple CarPlay, there’s embedded navigation as nicely, which sends directional prompts to the devices.

I assumed the rear-view digital camera might be sharper although, particularly contemplating how arduous the Arkana is to see out of.

Renault is to be recommended for retaining bodily controls for the air-conditioning system – together with some tasteful knurled metallic rotary controllers – and for different capabilities akin to seat heating, park help, and the lane-assist on/off perform.

Forward of the great leather-wrapped shifter is an open storage cubby with a charger pad and USB-A ports, whereas behind it sits a slot for the important thing card, the park brake and Auto Maintain switches and two cupholders with coffee-cup-friendly enamel.

The centre console is smallish however coated by a sliding lid, and the door bins can deal with a 1.5-litre bottle. Don’t count on to stuff a lot in that glovebox.

Facet notice: we’d like to see the Renault Captur’s floating-style centre console fitted right here within the longer however associated Arkana, however oh nicely.

Whereas SUVs are famend for his or her inside area, the Arkana is a sufferer of its sporty roofline.

Granted I’m tall, at 194cm, however the headroom and outward visibility by the aspect home windows isn’t flash – particularly with the R.S. Line’s sunroof.

On the upside, there are rear vents and USBs, and knee room is considerably extra acceptable. But this isn’t the SUV to purchase if back-seat use-ability is paramount.

The guide roof-hinged hatch reveals a boot with 485 litres of space for storing, increasing to 1268L with the again seats folded down. The loading ground has two ranges, that means there’s underfloor storage in its larger place. Under this can be a space-saver spare wheel.

Renault Arkana dimensions:

Size: 4568mm
Width: 2034mm (incl. mirrors)
Top: 1571mm
Wheelbase: 2720mm
Boot area: 485L-1268L

What’s beneath the bonnet?

A Euro 6-compliant 1.3-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol with 115kW of energy and 262Nm of torque, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automated and front-wheel drive.

The engine is ok to make use of 91 RON gasoline, with Renault claiming a combined-cycle financial system determine of 6.0 litres per 100km.

The official zero to 100km/h time 9.1 seconds, which isn’t precisely hot-hatch-quick. That is an R.S. Line quite than a full-on R.S. in any case.

How does the Renault Arkana R.S. Line drive?

The R.S. Line is essentially an look package deal, given the engine is unchanged.

The 1.3-litre presents all of its torque from 2250rpm, so it belies the small displacement by providing some low-down pulling energy.

When it comes to efficiency it received’t blow your head off – even in so-called Sports activities mode – but it surely pulls alongside nicely sufficient and you’ve got paddle shifters to take over if you wish to give the 6500rpm redline a nudge.

That mentioned, the Arkana additionally weighs about 130kg greater than a Renault Captur R.S. Line with the identical engine, and as such does the 0-100km/h sprint about half a second slower.

In opposition to the 9.1s manufacturing unit declare, we recorded a real-world time of 9.3 seconds. Extra usefully, our 80-120km/h overtaking check took 6.7 seconds.

The place the drivetrain falls down is the transmission. The twin-clutch unit saves on gasoline, but it surely additionally feels lurchy at low speeds in cease/begin driving, and lacks a Volkswagen DSG’s polish and rapid-shifting capability at sooner tempo.

Small, laggy turbo engines are tough to tune with a DCT, and Renault must make some tweaks come facelift time.

When it comes to gasoline consumption, I did almost 500km of combined driving and yielded 7.2L/100km, 1.2L/100km north of the manufacturing unit declare.

The Arkana is fairly easy beneath the pores and skin. It makes use of MacPherson strut suspension on the entrance and a torsion beam axle on the rear, has an electrical energy steering system with quoted 11.2m turning circle, and 280mm brake rotors up entrance with 260mm rotors on the rear.

But, the chassis allows fairly respectable dealing with and the steering whereas gentle in all fairness direct.

Granted there’s some physique roll in corners (the traction management lights up in very aggressive cornering consequently), and it feels the additional weight over the Captur, but it surely’s removed from the least partaking crossover on sale.

I didn’t personally thoughts the driving place, however my colleague Paul Maric discovered it powerful to get located.

One inarguable level is the outward visibility, which is restricted on account of the racy roofline and small rear and aspect home windows.

The wheels are 18 inches in diameter and experience on middling 215/55 Kumho tyres, which might be quieter on coarse-chip roads (71.6dB at 100km/h, in comparison with 61.3dB on clean tarmac).

The experience high quality on its passive dampers is inoffensive, hardly ever brittle or crashy over growth joints and potholes. I did just a few lengthy journeys to the nation and didn’t get out sore or irritable.

What do you get?

Arkana R.S. Line highlights:

18-inch two-tone alloy wheels
215/55 R18 Kumho tyres
House-saver spare wheel
LED headlights and daytime operating lights
Nightfall sensors, auto high-beam
LED tail-light bar
Proximity key with auto unlock
Stroll-away auto locking function
Rain-sensing wipers
Auto-folding aspect mirrors
Privateness glass
Sunroof

9.3-inch vertical touchscreen
AM/FM/DAB/Bluetooth
Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
4 x USB ports
Wi-fi cellphone charger
Satellite tv for pc-navigation
10.25-inch TFT instrument cluster
Button begin perform
Electrical parking brake
Frameless, auto-dimming rear-view mirror
LED inside lighting
Heated, ventilated and powered entrance seats
Black leather-based and suede seat trim
Heated leather-wrapped steering wheel
Local weather management with air air purifier
Paddle shifters
Alloy sports activities pedals

Is the Renault Arkana R.S. Line secure?

The Arkana has a five-star ANCAP crash score with 2019 date stamp, based mostly on checks of the associated Captur.

It scored 96 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 85 per cent for baby occupants, 75 per cent for susceptible highway customers, and 72 per cent for security help options.

Commonplace security tools contains:

Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Pedestrian and Bike owner detection
Lane-keep help
Lane departure alert
Visitors signal recognition
Adaptive cruise management with cease&go
Velocity limiter perform
Blind-spot monitoring
Rear cross-traffic alert
Park help
Rear digital camera, entrance and rear sensors
6 airbags
2 ISOFIX child-seat anchors, 3 high tethers

That’s checklist of driver-assist options.

How a lot does the Renault Arkana R.S. Line price to run?

Renault actually desires individuals to keep in mind that (supposedly) French automobiles don’t have to be a nightmare to take care of.

Its 5 yr ‘Straightforward Life’ possession plan packages a five-year, limitless kilometre guarantee, 24/7 roadside help (as long as you service at a supplier), and 5 capped-price providers.

Servicing intervals are an extended 12 months or 30,000km, with the primary 5 visits worth at $399, $399, $399, $789, and $399.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Renault Arkana R.S. Line

The principle purpose to purchase the Renault Arkana over its Captur stablemate comes all the way down to its design – so for those who aren’t bought on the appears to be like, consider carefully.

There are areas that would do with enchancment, however the Renault Arkana R.S. Line nonetheless presents a decent level of distinction from most of its rivals.

A tasteful and well-equipped inside, first rate (if not fast) efficiency, and the actual fact it shouldn’t break the financial institution to take care of are all highlights.

Should you’re to know extra about this left-field contender, make sure you watch our detailed video embedded above.