Updated January 7, 2022
Why is this information important?
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The Renault Arkana is a compact crossover SUV (C-segment) with a sloping rear roofline produced by the French manufacturer Renault.[1] The car debuted in May 2019 in Russia as a car based on the older Dacia/Renault DusterB0 platform. Another version of the vehicle was introduced in South Korea in February 2020 as the Renault Samsung XM3, based on a more advanced CMF-B platform. The latter version of the Arkana was later introduced in Europe (excluding Russia) in September 2020.
— Source Wikipedia
- Official Page – Renault Arkana
- Price: Starts at $25,690 USD
- Comparable to: Volvo XC40, BMW X3
REVIEWS AND IMPRESSIONS
At SUV Power Rankings we don’t just review a car ourselves and put our own spin and opinion on it; instead we take every review, preview, first look, etc. pull the important data points from those informative “views” and place them into our own algorithm to come up with the most unbiased scoring system available anywhere.
OUR SCORE
You can view the overall Compact SUV Rankings here and the Luxury Compact SUV Rankings here.
SCORES BY PUBLICATION:
CarGurus: No Score
Top Gear: 6 / 10
WhatCar: 3 / 5
AUTOCAR: 3.5 / 5
Car Zone: No Score
Carsguide: 7.4 / 10
Parkers: 3.8 / 5
Drive.com.au: 7.6 / 10
Select Car Leasing: 3.3 / 5
TheCarExpert: 57 / 100
Motoring Research : 3 / 5
What the critics have to say…
Perhaps the best thing about the new Renault Arkana is the sheer amount of style it delivers for so little money. This SUV may be based on the same underpinnings as its more compact Captur cousin, but a stretched wheelbase gives it the space and versatility that will appeal to starter families and style-conscious empty-nesters alike.
Car Gurus
HOW DOES IT DRIVE?
The Arkana handles with reasonable alacrity – the front end bites into corners and the car remains flat, but this is at the expense of ride comfort, which is a touch too firm for a nice family SUV, thunking over speed bumps and the like.
Top Gear
IS IT RELIABLE AND HIGH QUALITY?
There’s plenty to like about the Renault Arkana. The eye-catching coupe-SUV body style – until now only really a premium brand offering – still offers space, while true to recent Renault form the Arkana boasts a well-finished cabin, a smart infotainment system and strong equipment levels, all for a competitive price. — Auto Express
HOW COMFORTABLE IS IT?
Like most Renaults these days, the Arkana provides a pretty tidy balance between comfort and control. Under most circumstances, the ride is smooth, although some heftier lumps and bumps will send a fair few shudders into the cabin. That said, noises from wind, road and suspension are well isolated and both the steering and the brakes are nicely weighted with a reassuring, connected feel.
CarGurus
WHAT IS THE INTERIOR LIKE?
Like more recent Renaults, such as the Clio and Captur, there’s little to complain about the quality and overall fit and finish of the Arkana. Trim materials feel good to touch and there’s a solidity that you wouldn’t normally associate with French cars from the recent past. We also really like the continued fitment of a decent selection of physical controls for functions such as the climate control and stereo, which flies in the face of the industry’s move to touchcreens for everything.
Parkers
WHAT IS THE TECHNOLOGY LIKE?
The in-cabin design in the mid- and top-spec models is dominated by the 9.3-inch portrait-style media screen, while the base grade has a 7.0-inch landscape-layout unit – which is odd, given Renault’s website says “Connectivity is Everything”… It’s everything, if you can afford it?
CarsGuide
WHAT IS THE CARGO SPACE LIKE?
As the Arkana is slightly longer than the Renault Kadjar boot space is surprisingly good too at 513 litres in size, with an additional 29-litres of space under the floor. The floor is flat which is useful for sliding big items in and out and if you drop the rear seats down space increases to 1263 litres, which should be enough for carrying flat pack furniture, bicycles and everything else in between.
CarZone
IS THIS VEHICLE A GOOD VALUE?
In terms of price and equipment then, the Arkana Intens is a match for some similarly equipped rivals. Although, it can’t match those models, on price at least, for an entry point, with the most affordable Arkana Zen priced well in excess of the three top-sellers in the segment.
Drive.com
IS THE Renault Arkana A GOOD SUV?
As much as we love the styling of the SUV coupe (there’s something we’d never thought we’d say), it’s hard not to come away from the Arkana feeling a little disappointed.
Drive.com
SHOULD I BUY THE Renault Arkana?
So should you buy the Renault Arkana? If you are looking for a compact SUV with sleek styling, efficient petrol hybrid engines and lots of standard equipment, it could be one to consider. It is significantly more expensive than the Renault Captur however, while it isn’t hugely exciting to drive. All in however, the Renault Arkana is a well-priced Coupe SUV crossover that’s pleasant to drive and it should prove popular with buyers who are looking for something different to the SUV norm.
CarZone
THE FINAL WORD
Without excelling in any particular area, the Arkana ultimately feels like a bit of a clinical focus group-led exercise. There’s no doubt that it will hit the spot for a certain customer who’s not really interested in cars and wants something a little distinctive, but coming from a company that’s been as stylish and challenging in the past as Renault it’s a bit of a disappointment. — Top Gear