Renault has scored a big success with the fastback-shaped Arkana in the past couple of years, selling more than 163,000 across Europe, and now the SUV-coupe has just been given a big update and upgrade for 2024.
New styling
There are styling changes to the exterior, with a new black band linking the headlights and the new Renault logo at the centre. Depending on the trim, the details of the logo's diamonds are Black, Satin Chrome or Dark Chrome.
There's also a new 'aero blade' design for the front bumper, finished in body colour on the Techno version and Satin Grey on the Esprit Alpine - and there are lightly smoked lenses for the updated headlights.
Around the back, the tailgate now gets a Dark Chrome Renault logo, which matches the badges and the exhaust pipe tips. The grille and window surrounds also now get Black, Satin Black or Deep Glossy Black finishes depending on the version.
Bio-sourced cabin materials
There are new 19-inch alloy wheels for the Esprit Alpine model, which also gets Shale Grey and Deep Glossy Black badging on the wheelarch, and a rear spoiler too. Inside, the seats have been updated with a leather-like material made from ten per cent bio-sourced materials, along with an imitation suede finish. Esprit Alpine models also get seats with blue horizontal overstitching and the Alpine logo on the back, while the seat belts feature two blue stripes.
If you want a Techno version, that gets the same alloy wheels as the previous RS-Line model, along with Satin Chrome logos and badging.
Just for a bit of French pride, there is red, white and blue stitching on the doors and steering wheel, while the dashboard trim is an elegant slate grey. For the exterior, there's a new Midnight Blue colour option.
The Arkana also gets a new infotainment system, which includes a seven-inch touchscreen featuring Renault's EasyLink software, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connections.
Full hybrid
Across all trim levels - Evolution, Techno and Esprit Alpine - you can have the 145hp full hybrid, which uses two electric motors (a 36kW main motor and an 18kW High-Voltage Starter Generator) with a four-cylinder 1.6-litre petrol engine, a 'smart multi-mode clutch-less' gearbox and a 1.2kWh battery. According to Renault, the Arkana hybrid starts off in full-electric mode, and can spend as much as 80 per cent of its driving in that guise if you're in urban traffic. CO2 emissions are as low as 105g/km for the Evolution trim, and there's an 'e-save' feature that can keep the battery's charge at a minimum of 40 per cent, providing the extra backup to keep on driving in electric mode if required, or to assist the engine on steep uphill slopes.
There's also the option of the 140hp 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol mild-hybrid engine, which comes with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Buyers can upgrade that to a 160hp version of the same engine, too.
Irish prices for the updated Renault Arkana start from €32,590 for the 140 TCe Evolution model, while the most affordable Hybrid starts from €35,490.