So far, the Renault Arkana wanted to convince primarily with its sleek roof line. Now an economical drive should also score.
With the crossover coupé Arkana, Renault has recently added a new eye-catcher to the model range. The compact five-seater is now also available as a 105 kW / 143 PS “E-Tech Hybrid”. Prices start at 32.650 euros.
inexpensive
Contrary to what one might expect from a designer SUV, the Renault does without the possibility of external charging and instead relies on the classic full hybrid concept based on the division of labor. A plug-in hybrid would have made the Arkana too expensive - and robbed it of its special position on the market. Because otherwise coupé crossovers usually start well above the 30.000 euro league.
From an efficiency perspective, choosing the full hybrid is also not a mistake. The manufacturer specifies 4,2 liters as the standard consumption - a value that does not seem too optimistic after a one-and-a-half hour test drive. The on-board computer then showed around 5 liters for mixed operation. In pure city traffic in particular, the electric motor was surprisingly often responsible for propulsion alone. Renault itself advertises that the combustion engine is completely off around 80 percent of the time.
Fast giant
But in the typical stop-and-go traffic in city centers, the Arkana not only scores with efficiency. The 36 kW / 49 PS electric drive ensures that you get to the traffic lights quickly and that there are small splashes of power when changing lanes and overtaking. That gives the 4,57 meter long car unexpected liveliness. The 1,6-liter gasoline engine with 69 kW / 94 PS is more often used overland, either for direct drive or for battery charging in the background. This is usually done acoustically quite discreetly. But if you really demand acceleration power from the Arkana, you will hear the strenuous sounding four-cylinder, directed by a continuously variable transmission, all the more clearly.
The comparatively tightly tuned Renault can do brisk gliding on the country road - at least more than the bare driving performance data would suggest. Up to 100 km / h, 10,8 seconds pass from a standstill, a maximum of 172 km / h is possible. Despite its sleek appearance, the Arkana does not want to and cannot compete with the crossover coupés from premium manufacturers. The Frenchman develops its charm through the inexpensive combination of beautifully flowing body lines and a lot of space. The occupants in the rear shouldn't be too big due to the low roof. Long legs, however, do not bother in view of the lush wheelbase. The trunk of the hybrid model is around 33 liters smaller than that of the conventional variant, but with 513 to 1.263 liters it offers enough space for everyday use.
Equipment good for the price
The hybrid surcharge compared to the similarly equipped petrol engine (103 kW140 PS) is 2.500 euros. However, the "E-Tech" model is only available from the second equipment line, "Intens", so that the difference to the cheapest conventional Arkana variant ("Zen") is 4.500 euros. The equipment already includes 18-inch rims, a digital speedometer and a multimedia system. There are also lane keeping and emergency braking assistants, reversing cameras, traffic sign recognition and LED headlights.
With the full hybrid and a top petrol engine with 118 kW / 160 PS expected for autumn, the drive range of the SUV coupé is initially full. A plug-in hybrid would be possible in principle due to the modular nature of Renault's electrification approach, but not least because of the lack of demand outside the German market, it is not planned. There will also be no diesel or all-wheel drive model.
Technical data
Compact crossover coupé, length: 4,57 meters, width: 1,80 meters (2,03 meters with exterior mirrors), height: 1,57 meters, wheelbase: 2,72 meters, trunk volume: 480 to 1.263 liters
E-Tech Hybrid 145: 1,6-liter four-cylinder petrol engine, 69 kW / 94 PS, electric motor: 36 kW / 49 PS, system output: 105 kW / 143 PS, maximum torque: not specified, continuously variable transmission, front-wheel drive, 0- 100 km / h: 10,8 s, Vmax: 172 km / h, average consumption: 4,2 l, CO2 emissions: 96 g / km, efficiency class: A +, emissions standard: Euro 6d, Prices: from 32.650 euros.
Brief description:
Why: economical drive, decent space, good equipment
Why not: mediocre performance, limited headroom in the rear
What else: Cupra Formentor, Kia XCeed, Toyota C-HR
