Renault Arkana renewed: partly in the old way

The Renault Arkana was shown to the European public in September 2020, but the car is actually a bit older. The Arkana has a special pedigree. The Renault Arkana already debuted in Russia in 2018. That Russian Renault Arkana shared its base – just like the ‘Kaptur’ that resembled our previous Captur – with the Dacia Duster. The Arkana, which was introduced to the European public a few years later, with its CMF-B platform borrowed from the Clio, was a model with more modern technology on board. The design of the Arkana has therefore been around for a while and so the French now consider the time ripe for a facelift.

The new style with which the Clio was poured over the Arkana.

Although the Renault Clio recently went quite thoroughly under the knife and was doused with elements of Renault’s latest design language during its facelift, the Arkana has to do remarkably enough with Renault’s previous corporate identity. You should therefore not expect any major changes. The Renault Arkana has a new variant of the Renault wybertje in its snout, on the tailgate and on the steering wheel. The plastic element in the grille on which the logo is stuck is different in shape and the grille itself also has a different interpretation. Depending on the version, the grille is finished with black, satin chrome or dark chrome elements. The rear lights, in turn, have received slightly ‘misty’ glazing. Renault also exchanges the chrome-colored finish around the side windows, among other things, for a black, satin chrome or glossy black finish, depending on the version.

Speaking of performances, there’s a new Esprit Alpine flavor. In addition, the Arkana is now available as Evolution and Techno. It is therefore over and out for names already RS Line, Zen and Intens. Renault supplies the renewed Arkana with two mild hybrid petrol engines and with the E-Tech Hybrid 145 powertrain. The least potent machine is the 140 hp and 260 Nm strong mild hybrid 1.3, which has a 158 hp and 270 Nm strong mild hybrid alternative. Above that is the 143 hp E-Tech Hybrid 145. It has a 94 hp 1.3, a 36 hp electric motor and a 15 hp starter-generator. In the Netherlands, Renault only supplies the latest version, the full hybrid So.

Since the European market introduction of the Arkana, Renault – together with its South Korean XM3 variant from Renault Korea Motors – has sold 240,000 units. Prices and specifications for the Dutch market will follow later.