Renault Ireland launched its new Arkana Crossover/SUV to the motoring press on Monday last in the plush Palmerstown Manor House outside Naas in Co Kildare,
writes Trish Whelan.
Arkana is Renault’s first purpose-built hybrid and the first SUV model with sleek coupe styling.
It sits above its sibling Captur in the range and is part of the brand’s C-segment offering which accounts for almost 30pc of all new cars sold in Ireland.
At the presentation, Jeremy Warnock, Renault Ireland Group Product Manager, outlined the importance of having a strong contender in this segment in order to push sales volume. He said Arkana is billed as being ‘Sporty, Special and Hybrid’ and had achieved 20,000 orders in its first four months on sale in Europe.
This mid-sized family car is part of the brand’s E-Tech range and is 25pc more efficient than a traditional ICE SUV.
Three trims are offered — Iconic, S Edition and R.S. Line. Customers have a choice of advanced E-Tech 145 hybrid or TCe electrified powertrains.
The Mild Hybrid 1.3, 140hp turbocharged TCe petrol engine, with a 7-speed automatic gearbox, is combined with 12V Mild Hybrid technology to give an extra 20 Nm torque which helps with acceleration. It has a claimed fuel economy of 5.7L/100kms (50mpg) and C02 emissions of 130g/km.
The E-Tech Hybrid version uses a 1.6 petrol engine with a 1.2 kWh lithium-ion battery and two electric motors, offering a combined output of 145bhp, plus 148 Nm of torque from the petrol engine and 250 Nm from the electric motors. C02 emissions are 111g/km and fuel economy a claimed 4.8 L/100km (59 mpg).
At first sight of the car in the metal, Arkana is a very attractive looking vehicle with a character of its own. We liked the whole Crossover/SUV styling and the coupe-like slope to the roof. The top specced R.S. Line has a more muscular design with sporty details inside and out.
The sporty look doesn’t compromise on either interior space or boot capacity which is a generous 513 litres (480 on the E-Tech Hybrid version). Both versions are available with a split boot floor. Rear seats can fold leaving a level, flat load area for bulkier items.
The spacious interior offers the same big headroom for those in the rear as is enjoyed by front seat passengers, despite the slope of the roof. Based on the CMF-B modular platform, Arkana is longer than the brand’s Koleus SUV and this translates into more rear legroom. The car also offers a high driving position which provides easy access.
Iconic models feature the latest 7.0-inch Easy Link touchscreen infotainment system; a 9.3-inch portrait-oriented system is standard on S Edition and R.S. Line trim levels.
Paddy Magee, Renault Group Ireland Country Operations Director (above left, with Jeremy Warnock), said Arkana ‘gives us a fighter in the C-segment that we can build on — it’s a stepping stone to the future for the brand as it offers the best of both worlds and is something different in the SUV market’. However, he added, supply could be an issue due to the first allocations having sold out in just 18 days.
He expects a 50-50 engine mix but believes most buyers will go for either the mid-level S Edition or the top RS Line spec.
“The Mild Hybrid version will suit those who like the feel of an engine revving up through the gears while the E-Tech will make a lot of sense for those who do mostly urban driving and it gives better running costs.”
On a short test drive at launch in the mild hybrid version, we found it proved an easy and comfortable drive on local roads. I have booked the car for a week’s test drive in the coming weeks.
With its ‘huge’ suite of standard Active Safety equipment said to ‘cover almost everything that helps prevent traffic accidents’, Arkana has been awarded a maximum five stars in safety crash tests by Euro NCAP.
Arkana is priced from €28,990-€33,690 and is available to pre-order at Renault dealerships.
