Renault Arkana refresh now on sale

15 August 2023

The Renault Arkana coupé-SUV has received more trim changes, as part of a mild update that also introduces some cosmetic alterations.

A year on from the Arkana’s last set of trim revisions, Renault has decided to change the coupé-SUV’s trim line-up once again. The most notable change is that, like the Clio hatchback, the Arkana is now hybrid only – the petrol mild-hybrid powertrain on offer since the car launched in 2021 is no longer available.

The entry-level ‘Evolution’ and mid-range ‘Techno’ trim grades remain unchanged, while the ‘R.S Line’ grade is now called the ‘Esprit Alpine’. The ‘E-Tech engineered’ trim, which formerly topped the range, has been dropped after a year on sale.

Besides the updated Renault badges, exterior styling changes include a new diamond pattern for the front grille as standard, an ‘F1 blade’ front splitter for the ‘Techno’ and up, and double exhaust tailpipes in gloss black and ‘Alpine’ branding for the top-spec ‘Esprit Alpine’.

Key trim level features

Entry-level ‘Evolution’ (from £26,995)

LED headlights
17-inch alloy wheels
Electrically-adjustable folding heated door mirrors
Tinted rear windows
Automatic climate control
Seven-inch digital instrument cluster
Seven-inch infotainment console
Traffic sign recognition
Cruise control
Rear parking sensors
Rear view parking camera
Automatic rain-sensing wipers

Mid-range ‘Techno’ (from £28,995)

All ‘Evolution’ features not replaced
18-inch alloy wheels
Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
Foldable rear armrest with cupholders
Artificial leather upholstery
‘F1 blade’ front splitter
Ten-inch digital instrument cluster
Nine-inch infotainment console with voice recognition
Ambient interior lighting
Front parking sensors
Blind spot monitoring

Top-spec ‘Esprit Alpine’ (from £31,295)

All prior features that are not replaced
19-inch alloy wheels
Black door mirrors
Black double exhaust tailpipes
Heated front seats
Alpine-branded artificial leather upholstery
Heated steering wheel
Adaptive cruise control

All models are now powered by the ‘E-Tech’ 145hp petrol hybrid engine, which was available before the update. Pricing remains the same – starting at just under £27k.

It is fair to say that the Arkana has received a rather mixed bag of reviews after being on sale for around two years now, praised for its looks and efficient hybrid engine, but criticised for its bumpy ride comfort at low speeds. It currently holds an Expert Rating of 57%, which puts it well down the order in our ranking of Best Small SUVs based on new car reviews from 30 of the UK’s top motoring sites.