Renault's Arkana ticks all the boxes for what car-buying Britons want 権利 now - but is that enough for a winning 決まり文句／製法? We put it to the 実験（する）

• e-mail

When it comes to a box ticking 演習, Renault has certainly 実行するd the 簡潔な／要約する with the Arkana.

It’s an SUV with sporty, クーデター looks. It’s jam-packed with tech and flashy 審査するs. And it’s driven by a green hybrid powertrain. These are all the things new car 買い手s seem to be looking for 権利 now.

But even with all the 望ましい 成分s, does this 保証（人） there is proof in this French pudding?

We borrowed one from Renault for a week and covered 1,000 miles in it to find out.

The Renault that ticks all the boxes: The Arkana, on paper, is everything UK car 買い手s are looking for in 2023 - an SUV with stylish looks and a green powertrain. Does that make this the perfect モーター for Britons?

Renault Arkana - what is it and where does it sit in the model line-up?

How popular are SUVs 権利 now?

More than one in four (27 per cent) of all new car 登録s in the UK are this type of car and six of the ten best-selling new models in 2022 were SUVs or 4X4-immitating crossovers.?

And this segment of 乗り物 is no longer the 保存する of 伝統的な box-形態／調整d Land Rovers.

A 傾向 for hulking SUVs with 流行の／上流の sloping roof lines started 支援する in the late noughties when BMW introduced the sleek ? but enormous ? X6.

More car 製造者s have jumped onboard, bringing to market a host of machines with 妥協d 後部 長，率いる room in the somewhat 半端物 追求（する），探索（する） for big cars with curvier lines.

And Britons and other car-buying nations love them, which is why Renault 手配中の，お尋ね者 in on the 行為／法令／行動する and 開始する，打ち上げるd the Arkana in the UK in late 2021.

One of the 最近の popular 傾向s with new cars is the 抱擁する 需要・要求する for stylish SUVs. While they might have クーデター-like designs, there is a 妥協 on 後部 長，率いる room

We took our Arkana hybrid 実験（する） car on a 1,000-mile trip to Ireland, trying it on all manner of roads for a 徹底的な 査定／評価 of 慰安 and 運動ing 業績／成果

The Arkana sits between the smaller Captur crossover and larger Koleos SUV, the latter of which is 予定 to go on sale in Britain this year as the 交替／補充 for the Kadjar.

Arkana is 利用できる with two different powertrains.?

The first ? and most 従来の ? is a 1.3-litre turbo 石油 producing 138bhp with 12V 穏やかな-hybrid 科学（工学）技術 linked to a seven-速度(を上げる） 二重の-clutch (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 gearbox.

Our 実験（する） car is the second 選択.

A self-非難する hybrid 連合させるing a 1.6-litre 燃料-注入するd 石油 engine, two electric モーターs and a small 1.2kWh 殴打／砲列. A 連合させるd 力／強力にする 生産（高） of 142bhp is 配達するd to the wheels 経由で a ‘dog box’ (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 伝達／伝染 ? we’ll get の上に this later.

In the ‘R.S Line’ 削減する we have here, it’s 定価つきの from £33,055.

What do you get for your money?

Prices for the more 伝統的な 石油 start from around £25,000 but they easily より勝る £30,000 if you choose the 十分な hybrid we have here.?

They all come 公正に／かなり 井戸／弁護士席 kitted out, though.?Every 削減する 含むs keyless 入ること／参加（者） and start, (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 空気／公表する-反対／詐欺, a seven-インチ touchscreen with smartphone 統合，差別撤廃, LED headlights and 巡航する 支配（する）／統制する as 基準.?

Our higher spec car had the 昇格d 9.3-インチ infotainment 陳列する，発揮する, which is intuitive to use and with decent 審査する 決意／決議.

Will it fit in my garage? Renault Arkana?

Price: from £26,795?

Model 実験（する）d:?R.S. Line E-TECH Hybrid 145 自動車

Price of model 実験（する）d: £33,055?

Hybrid powertrain: 1.6-litre 燃料-注射 石油 linked to two electric モーターs

力／強力にする: 142bhp?

殴打／砲列: 1.2kWh?

伝達／伝染:?半分-自動車 'dog box'

運動: 前線 wheel 運動?

Acceleration 0-62mph: 10.8 seconds

最高の，を越す 速度(を上げる）: 107mph

公式の／役人 燃料 economy: 58.9 mpg (WLTP 連合させるd)

公式の／役人 CO2 放出／発行s: 109 g/km (WLTP 連合させるd)

Doors: 5?

Dimensions:

Length: 4568mm

Width: 1820mm

高さ:?1576mm

Kerbweight: 1435kg?

Luggage capacity (seats up):?480 litres

Luggage capacity (seats 負かす／撃墜する): 1,263 litres?

How does the Arkana 運動?

The Arkana certainly 扱うs as sportily as it looks.

力／強力にする is 配達するd only to the 前線 wheels in both the 石油 and 石油-hybrid variants.?

選ぶ up the pace and throw it into a corner and the 前線 end hunkers into the tarmac like a greyhound frantically taking the first bend at the 跡をつける. You really need to 押し進める its 限界s before understeer takes over.

This agility does come at a 妥協, though ? and that’s ride 慰安.

始める，決める up on the stiffer 味方する of things, the 中断 isn’t as compliant or cushioned as you might 推定する／予想する ? or want ? from a family SUV.

There is a real sensation of it 存在 特に 重大な over the 後部 axle, with a more noticeable thud over rougher surfaces.

You’ll be scanning the road like a Terminator looking for potholes to 避ける, and it is at your own 危険，危なくする if you don’t kill your 速度(を上げる） to a suitable はう for 特に 法外な 速度(を上げる） bumps.

Unfortunately, the sporty 特徴 of the 扱うing and ride 質 don’t 延長する to how it 加速するs.

床に打ち倒す the throttle and it takes 10.8 seconds to reach 62mph. And it will do so with the gearbox 持つ／拘留するing the revs alarmingly high.

In fact, we 設立する the 伝達／伝染 frustratingly dopey at most times.

This is 原因（となる）d by the ‘dog box’, which seems an 半端物 choice for an SUV.

This variation of gearbox takes its 指名する 予定 to the 'dog ears' that protrude from the gears (rather than the spiral 削減（する）s you get in more 従来の 伝達／伝染s).

They are 一般に reserved only for use in 手動式の racing cars, because they elimi nate the need for a clutch and therefore 除去する 摩擦 and energy loss.?

It 許すs the driver to forcefully jam the car from gear to gear at higher revs without wasting time with a third pedal.?This tends to mean rougher 転換s and 増加するd wear, however.

These 問題／発行する aren't such a problem with the Arkana and its adapted (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 体制／機構.

The 半分-自動車 system in the Renault 会社にする／組み込むs one of the electric モーターs to smooth the sequence between 転換s to 延長する the longevity of the gearbox 構成要素s.?

The 概念 was sold to bosses by an engineer at the French brand - he even showcased how the electrified gearbox 操作／手術 would work with a fully-機能（する）／行事ing Lego 規模 model.

The (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 gearbox system in the 十分な hybrid Arkana can be infuriatingly intrusive and is our biggest 支配する with how the family SUV 運動s

While the system is passable in town, 加速するing up to 速度(を上げる）s outside 30mph 限界s becomes a delicate balanc ing 行為／法令／行動する of trying to gather pace 速く without 誘発する／引き起こすing the gearbox to kick 負かす／撃墜する and thrash the engine within an インチ of its life.

This became an infuriating tightrope 事件／事情／状勢 during our 実験（する） period.

Even the most honed 権利 foot would struggle to modulate the thin line between 漸進的な acceleration and the 伝達／伝染s' 切望 to 申し込む／申し出 you thousands of engine 革命s.?

Dog box? Renault really should 言及する to it as a ‘Jack Russell box’, such is its yappy enthusiasm.

Is the Arkana economical?

にもかかわらず 存在 a high-riding SUV, the 中断 始める，決める-up is definitely tailored on the stiffer 味方する of things. It isn’t as compliant or cushioned as you might 推定する／予想する ? or want ? from a family car

Our 1,000-加える mile 実験（する） ? which 会社にする／組み込むd all different road types ? saw an 普通の／平均（する） 燃料 efficiency of 49.8mpg

On paper, the Arkana looks to be a family car that will be 肉親，親類d to your wallet.

‘公式の／役人’ 連合させるd 燃料 economy is 引用するd as 58.9mpg. However, even the most-演習d hypermiler will struggle to 達成する this in the real world.

Our 1,000-加える mile 実験（する） ? which 会社にする／組み込むd all different road types ? saw an 普通の／平均（する） 燃料 efficiency of 49.8mpg.?

That’s impressive MPG for a 石油 car but a little way short of the （人命などを）奪う，主張する, and is also testament to a week of 権利-footed finesse to keep the over-eager gearbox in check.

There’s some 利益 of the car 運動ing short distances in electric-only 方式 around town.?

生成する enough 殴打／砲列 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 and 安定した, slow-速度(を上げる） use will see you covering between a mile or two without the 石油 engine, which will earn you a little in 燃料 economy wasted by the gearbox on faster-moving roads.

公式の／役人 CO2 放出／発行s are just 109g/km CO2, which means first-year VED of £160 and £155-a-year at the 基準 率 from year two of 所有権. It also translates to affordable 利益 in 肉親，親類d 課税.?

Is an Arkana spacious?

The 沈下するing roofline に向かって the 後部 of the car means there isn’t much ーに関して／ーの点でs of 長，率いる space, even for those に向かって the taller end of five feet. The dark 内部の only makes it feel more cramped

十分な hybrid Arkanas have just 480 litres of boot space with the 後部 backrests in the upright position. As you can see from this photo, one large スーツケース, a medium-size 事例／患者 and a rucksack - 加える coats and an umbrella - filled the compartment

Up 前線, driver and 乗客 won’t be asking for more 長，率いる, shoulder and 肘 room, and the Arkana is 一般に an enjoyable place to be with the surroundings of a classy cabin, a larger 内部の 審査する and plenty of plush 構成要素s across the main touch points.

But it’s a わずかに いっそう少なく enjoyable experience in the 支援する, 特に if you’ve been blessed in the 高さ department.

The 沈下するing roofline に向かって the 後部 of the car means there isn’t much ーに関して／ーの点でs of 長，率いる space, even for those に向かって the taller end of five feet 測定s.?

And while the 後部 味方する windows are adequately sized, tiny ４半期/4分の1 windows, a letter-box-like 後部 審査する and dark 天井 and 内部の パネル盤s (in our 実験（する） car) makes it feel even more cramped.

Choosing the hybrid 見解／翻訳／版 also 制限するs boot capacity.?

While the 穏やかな-hybrid 石油 has 513 litres of 利用できる 負担ing space, the 合併／会社設立 of the 殴打／砲列 and electric モーター means our 実験（する） car has a わずかに 限られた／立憲的な 480 litres with the 後部 backrests in the upright position.

For a party of three on a week-long trip away, there was ? just ? enough space for one large スーツケース, a medium-size 事例／患者, rucksack, winter coats and an umbrella. There's no 疑問 that 追加するing one more 乗客 to the equation would have 証明するd problematic.

Cars & モーターing 判決

While the Arkana appears to have all th e 権利 成分s on paper, it's a little underwhelming in reality, 特に against more colourful 競争相手s...

The Arkana might have all the 権利 boxes ticked on paper but it’s a little underwhelming in reality.

While it doesn’t do anything 特に 貧しく, it also doesn’t standout in any area.

Against more 独特の 競争相手s like the Toyota CH-R, you get the feeling Renault has played it a little too 安全な.

If anything, it gives the impression of 存在 a car born of 焦点（を合わせる）-group feedback, and for that 推論する／理由 it fails to 誘発する／引き起こす any sort of emotion in a driver.

Yet it’s the intrusive (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 gearbox that was our biggest 支配する with the Arkana.?It makes for an unnecessarily noisy and uncomfortable experience ? often at times when it really doesn’t need to be.

If you're looking for more style than 実体, you might be able to overlook its unspectacular 業績／成果. And with real-world 燃料 economy of almost 50mpg, the 十分な hybrid will at least be 比較して affordable to run.