In terms of appearance, Renault’s new Arkana is somewhere in between a crossover SUV and a sporty sedan in GT style. The ground clearance is high at the same time as we like the car’s sloping rear. We test the RS Line version of the Arkana in hybrid design with sporty rims, double exhaust pipes and a lot of extra lavish details inside.
Rating 3 out of 5
Opinion
One of the nicest cars we have tested in a long time but which unfortunately does not impress at all when it comes to driving. The car generally feels lavish and well-built, but the MMI is too tough.
Positively
- Stylish and spacious for the class
- Good safety features
- Cheap to buy and to own
Negative
- Small engine
- Loud engines
- MMI: t
Stylish and spacious Renault
When we sit in the driver’s seat, we sit comfortably and the cabin feels spacious even if we sit very close to the fellow passenger. The chairs in the back are also comfortable with surprisingly good legroom and okay ceiling height. Our first thought when we saw the car was that an adult would not be able to sit in the back, but if you are not over 1.80 tall, your head will hardly touch the roof.
You choose between three different driving modes in this car: Mysense, Eco or Sport. But the car’s exterior deceives you. This is definitely not a sporty car to drive in any way. Regardless of driving mode, not much happens when we press the accelerator pedal, even if the engine revs loudly as soon as the petrol engine is activated. Imagine a tired old Toyota Prius and you get a picture of the driving pleasure in a Renault Arkana.
There is an EV button in the center console, but it is extremely rare that we can drive on pure electricity without this being a classic hybrid driveline. But we notice a disturbing whistling whistling sound that revs up and down in connection with the car switching to electric power.
The car is otherwise pretty well insulated and the comfort is good. The car runs safely and securely with good driver aids such as adaptive cruise control and active lane assist. We already recognize the MMI. Here is a standing screen that is quite nice to look at, but as soon as we swipe the screen, we are reminded of the same delay as in previously tested Renault models. Not good at all.
The digital meter part is nice, but here we quickly notice problems with the sign reading. Arkana often reads speed signs incorrectly, much more often than other cars we have tested.
The average consumption during the test period was around 0.55 l per mile, which is perfectly okay. But buying a hybrid car today that can not be charged feels a bit out of date, even though this is a car that is quite cheap both to buy and to own. What above all lowers the overall experience when it comes to the Renault Arkana is the one in our taste for the slim driveline and the tough MMI.
Disturbing details
Another detail that bothers us is that the sound system is always switched on automatically when we start the car, regardless of the source. The only way is to reduce the volume manually to a minimum if you do not want to turn on the radio or something from your phone every time you start the car. It may seem awkward to comment on this detail, but we promise that it will be difficult in the long run. The sound system from Bose also does not sound as good as we expect from a premium brand and the hands-free microphone is really bad.
Facts Renault Arkana RS Line
Manufacturer: Renault
Tested: March 2022
Award: From SEK 333,900
Engine: E-Tech 145, 1.6-liter petrol engine of 92 hp + electricity
Performance: 0-100 km / h in 10.8 sec
Top speed: 174 km / h
Specified fuel consumption (WLTP: 0.49 l / mil mixed driving
CO2 emissions (WLTP): 108 g / km
Environmental class: Euro 6
Vehicle tax: SEK 1,754 for the first 3 years, thereafter SEK 382 / year
.
[related_posts_by_tax taxonomies=”post_tag”]
The post Renault Arkana: Stylish and smart, but there is no driving pleasure appeared first on Gamingsym.