Renault Arkana review

Driving position

First of all, the cabin is spacious there's plenty of adjustment in the front seats and steering wheel, so drivers should find it easy to get comfortable.

As you might expect from an SUV, you'll sit slightly higher for a more commanding lookout.

The seats offer good back support, too, making this a comfy car for covering a lot of miles.

The rest of the Arkana's interior is good quality and has plenty of soft-touch materials, with smart stitching and a nice carbon-themed grey panel across the dash.

Tech and features

Renault struck the perfect balance with the Arkana's interior – there's an easy-to-use infotainment touchscreen sitting alongside physical dials for climate control.

The entry-level comes with a seven-inch touchscreen, while the S Edition and top-spec R.S. Line trims come with a larger 9.3-inch screen.

Both versions have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus DAB and Bluetooth.

Renault hasn’t forgotten about the passengers either, adding two USB ports in the back to match the two in the front.

Engines and power

Under the bonnet of all Arkana models is a hybrid setup, with two engine options to choose from.

The 1.3-litre petrol engine with mild-hybrid assistance has 140hp and uses a small electric motor to improve fuel efficiency.

A 1.6-litre engine is what you'll get in the full hybrid, which you can also drive around on electric power at low speeds.

This more expensive model will provide you with 142hp and even more efficiency. It's the car we drove for our test.

Both models come with six-speed automatics, meaning the car can comfortably cruise at high and slow speeds.

In our urban test around London, the 0-62mph in 10.8 seconds acceleration was more than enough at traffic lights and nipping through traffic.

Handling and ride comfort

The Arkana is an easy, relaxing drive thanks to its smooth hybrid technology and light steering.

It also has an impressively small turning circle, making life easier when parking or navigating around a city.

You get lane-keep assist and cruise control as standard to make driving the Arkana a breeze. Higher-spec models, like the S Edition we drove, add a blind-sport warning system and hands-free parking tech.

Rear visibility is eaten into a bit by the coupé-style roofline, but the rear-view camera solves that issue and makes parking easier.

Being a mid-sized SUV, this car provides plenty of legroom and headroom for the driver and passengers.

Rear seats

If you’re more than six feet tall, you may be a bit snug in terms of headspace in the backseats, but kids will be fine.

The positive for taller passengers is that there’s plenty of legroom in the back.

Boot space

The boot space varies on which Arkana model you select. The mild hybrid has a smaller boot size of 480 litres, compared to the 513 litres you get with the hybrid.

Both come with a two-level boot floor, which is a handy addition.

Bear in mind, however, that if you opt for a spare wheel, that will occupy the bottom tier.

The boot gives you a wide and flat opening, making it easy to load up.

Storage solutions

This is a family-friendly car, with two cupholders in the front and huge door bins for water bottles and other storage.

If you fold the middle seat down in the back, you also get two cup holders and a comfy armrest, keeping everyone happy.

Fuel economy

With the Arkana only available as a hybrid, Renault has clearly been mindful of creating a fuel-efficient car.

The hybrid offers a claimed 57.6mpg combined, compared to the mild hybrid’s 48.7mpg.

We found that on our urban drives in the hybrid, a large portion of the power was delivered through the electric motor, and the battery regenerated when we stopped in traffic or at lights.

The 1.2kWh battery can't be plugged in and charges using energy from the engine or – if you're using them enough – the brakes.

You'll get roughly 1.8 miles of range from the battery, which should hopefully be enough for the shortest trips, without using any petrol.