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Renault Arkana 2024 review

SUV Hybrid

Renault Arkana 2024 — front three-quarter view

Photo: Alexander Migl, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

The Renault Arkana is the French brand's distinctive coupé-SUV, and the 2024 model year brought a facelift with sharper styling and a new range-topping Esprit Alpine trim replacing the old R.S. Line. The headline powertrain is the 1.6-litre E-Tech full hybrid with 145PS, pitched at British buyers who want SUV style with diesel-beating running costs. UK prices for the hybrid started from £26,995 for Evolution, rising to £28,995 for Techno and £31,295 for Esprit Alpine — strong value against premium-badged rivals.

The E-Tech 145 pairs a 1.6-litre petrol engine with a 36kW main electric motor, an 18kW high-voltage starter-generator and a small 1.2kWh battery, driving the front wheels through a clever clutchless multi-mode automatic. It starts every journey silently on electricity, shuffles between electric and hybrid modes in town, and returns an official 60.1mpg on the WLTP cycle with CO2 of just 105–110g/km depending on trim. That low CO2 keeps benefit-in-kind tax contained for company-car drivers. The trade-off is pace: 0–62mph takes 10.8 seconds and the top speed is 107mph, so it is a cruiser rather than a sports car.

Practicality is decent for a coupé-SUV. The boot holds 480 litres with the seats up, expanding to 1,263 litres with the 60:40 rear seats folded, and rear legroom is generous thanks to a 2,720mm wheelbase — although headroom suffers from the sloping roofline. Standard kit includes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, lane-keep assist and a 9.3-inch touchscreen on upper trims, and the Arkana carries a five-star Euro NCAP rating from 2019 testing.

The Arkana will not convert keen drivers — the gearbox hesitates under hard acceleration and the engine sounds strained when pushed — but judged as stylish, comfortable, economical family transport it is hard to fault at this price. Its blend of coupé looks, 60mpg-plus real-world potential and low running costs makes it one of the most distinctive value picks in the hybrid crossover class, and used examples are already proving popular with private buyers.

UK price from: £26,995

Related buying guides:
Best hybrid cars UK
Best small SUVs UK

Specifications

Engine	1.6L E-Tech full hybrid (1,598cc petrol + electric motors)
Power	145 PS (142 bhp) combined
Torque	148 Nm (109 lb-ft) petrol engine
0-62 mph	10.8 seconds
Top speed	107 mph
Transmission	Clutchless multi-mode automatic
Drive	Front-wheel drive
Fuel economy	60.1 mpg combined (WLTP)
CO2 emissions	105 - 110 g/km (WLTP, by trim)
Boot space	480 litres seats up; 1,263 litres seats down
Dimensions	4,568 x 1,820 x 1,576 mm (L/W/H); wheelbase 2,720 mm
Insurance group	15E - 17E (by trim)
Warranty	3 years / 60,000 miles

Features

1.6-litre E-Tech full hybrid (1,598cc petrol + 36kW motor + 1.2kWh battery), 145PS combined
Clutchless multi-mode automatic gearbox with front-wheel drive; starts silently on electric power
60.1mpg WLTP combined economy with 105–110g/km CO2 and a 50-litre fuel tank
10.8-second 0–62mph sprint with a 107mph top speed
480-litre boot (1,263 litres seats folded) with 60:40 split-folding rear seats
Evolution, Techno and Esprit Alpine trims with prices from £26,995 to £31,295
Adaptive cruise, blind-spot warning, lane-keep assist and parking sensors as standard
9.3-inch Easy Link touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on upper trims
5-star Euro NCAP safety rating (tested 2019)

Common parts & prices

Part	Price (GBP)	Notes
Front brake pads (set)	£39.99	Pattern part; OEM specification
Oil filter	£9.99
Cabin pollen filter	£14.99	Activated-carbon type
Front wiper blades (pair)	£19.99	24in/16in flat blades
12V battery	£89.99
Engine air filter	£13.99

Prices are typical UK aftermarket/OEM guide prices and may vary by supplier.

Pros

Genuine real-world economy — 60mpg-plus is achievable on gentle runs
Distinctive coupé-SUV styling that stands out in a sea of boxy crossovers
Low CO2 (105–110g/km) keeps company-car BIK tax low
Strong value: undercuts premium rivals while feeling well equipped
Comfortable, well-controlled ride with a reassuring 5-star safety rating

Cons

Slow off the line — 10.8s to 62mph, and the engine sounds strained when pushed
Poor rear visibility from the sloping screen, and there is no rear wiper
Rear headroom is limited by the coupé roofline
Interior plastics feel hard in places versus the class best

Frequently asked questions

How much did the Renault Arkana cost new in the UK in 2024?

The facelifted Arkana E-Tech hybrid 145 started from £26,995 OTR for the Evolution trim, rising to £28,995 for Techno and £31,295 for the range-topping Esprit Alpine at launch. A cheaper 1.3 mild-hybrid 140 was also sold.

Is the Renault Arkana E-Tech a plug-in hybrid?

No. The Arkana E-Tech 145 is a self-charging full hybrid: a 1.6-litre petrol engine plus electric motors and a small 1.2kWh battery. You never plug it in — it recovers energy through braking and can drive short distances on electric power alone.

What is the real-world fuel economy of the Arkana E-Tech 145?

The official WLTP figure is 60.1mpg combined. UK reviewers and owners regularly report 55–65mpg in everyday driving, with careful motorway cruising capable of beating the official figure and town driving settling in the mid-50s.

Which trims were sold on the 2024 Renault Arkana in the UK?

Three: Evolution (entry), Techno (mid) and Esprit Alpine (top, replacing the old R.S. Line). All can be paired with the 1.6 E-Tech 145 full hybrid, and Esprit Alpine brings sporty styling cues and larger wheels.

Is the Renault Arkana big inside for a coupé-SUV?

Reasonably. The boot holds 480 litres (1,263 litres seats folded) and rear legroom is generous thanks to the 2,720mm wheelbase. The main compromise is rear headroom, which the sloping coupé roofline restricts compared with boxier rivals.