Alternatives

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/taigo/hatchback/review/n23908">Volkswagen Taigo</a> is one of the smaller coupé SUVs, but it doesn’t feel it inside. It’s very spacious in the front and back, plus it has a smart-looking interior. To drive, it’s really comfortable, with a supple ride and tidy handling. It’s good value on the used market, too.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/formentor/4x4/review/n22100">Cupra Formantor</a> is a sleek coupé SUV that’s really quite practical. It’s sharp to drive, with neat handling and a comfortable ride. It’s let down by a mixed reliability record, though.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/c4/hatchback/review/n22373">Citroën C4</a> has that typically soft Citroën suspension, making it a great motorway cruiser. It’s also very well priced on the used market, with a choice of petrol, mild hybrid or fully electric options to choose from. It’s not the most practical option, though.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a>

If you're interested in buying a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/renault/arkana">used Renault Arkana</a> or any of the cars we've mentioned, head over to our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Cars For Sale</a> pages to find lots of cars listed at a great price.

SUV (2023 - )

Hatchbacks, SUVs, hybrids, electric cars: Renault makes them all, in a variety of shapes and sizes, meaning&nbsp;it has a line-up designed to tempt pretty much everyone.

From the roadside, the standout feature of all its cars is design, with them instantly recognisable as members of the Renault family, without being so similar that they fall&nbsp;into the Russian doll trap. However, in terms of ability they're a mixed bag,&nbsp;ranging&nbsp;from very good to no better than average.

Models that fall into the former camp include the Clio small hatchback and Megane E-Tech electric car, while the smaller Zoe electric car is also impressive in most respects; it's just a pity Renault omits key safety kit.

On the other hand, the Captur, Arkana and Austral SUVs are all outclassed by several rivals.

Renault has some exciting new models planned, including a new Scenic (this time it will be an electric SUV instead of a conventionally powered MPV) and two cars that reimagine classic Renaults: the 4 and 5.

Renault

Arkana

Ownership cost

Our recommendations

What is it like?

Reliability

At the time of writing, the Renault Arkana has no recalls listed.&nbsp;

The Arkana didn’t do very well in our 2024 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars/n27337">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>, finishing in 26th place out of 33 cars in the family SUV section, with a score of 89.7%. That’s below the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sportage/4x4/review/n17352">Kia Sportage</a> (2021-present), Nissan Qashqai (2021-present) and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/rav4/4x4/review/n130">Toyota RAV4</a>, but above the MG HS.

As a brand, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/renault">Renault</a> did better, finishing in ninth place out of 31 manufacturers. That’s above Cupra, Nissan and Volkswagen, but below Toyota, which claimed fifth place.

<h2 dir="ltr">Used Renault Arkana reliability: the owners’ view</h2>

In our latest Reliability Survey, Renault Arkana owners said they had a mixed experience with reliability and dealer support. A number of owners reported recurring electrical issues, including warning lights appearing without clear faults. In some cases, these were linked to faulty sensors, which took multiple trips to the dealership to resolve. One owner mentioned a persistent fault with the infotainment system, which was slow to be fixed.

Several owners expressed frustration with the dealer network, citing slow response times and a lack of communication during repairs. Parts availability was also raised as a concern, with one reader waiting weeks for a replacement component.

However, not all feedback was negative. Some owners praised their local dealerships for being helpful and accommodating, with quick turnaround times on minor fixes.

Overall, reliability appears inconsistent and dealer service varies significantly by location.

Estate

RENAULT

The Renault Arkana is an affordable, efficient and reasonably practical coupé SUV, but there are better rivals to consider

Used Renault Arkana 2021-2025 review

MPG

Both versions of the Arkana should be affordable to run. The full hybrid version is the most fuel efficient, averaging 58.9mpg, according to official WLTP tests. The TCe petrol isn’t far behind, averaging 48.7mpg under the same conditions. That’s on par with petrol versions of the Formentor and Taigo, but the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">plug-in hybrid</a> (PHEV) version of the former will be better still, granted you charge it up regularly.&nbsp;

Road Tax

All versions of the Arkana are subject to the current <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/how-much-is-car-tax-ved-rates-explained/n1153">road tax</a> flat rate fee of £195. No version cost more than £40,000 when new, so it won’t be subject to the luxury car tax surcharge.&nbsp;

Servicing

Servicing costs for both hybrid and petrol versions are on par with rivals from Cupra and Volkswagen. We were quoted £180 for a minor service from Renault, which includes cabin filter changes and a full vehicle check. A major service costs £269, but it’s more comprehensive, including oil and filter changes. You can have a minor and major service combined for £365.

Warranty

From new, every Arkana comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty. That’s not as good as Kia’s seven-year, 100,000-mile offering or Hyundai’s five-year, unlimited mileage cover. Toyota betters them all, giving you up to 10 years or 100,000 miles if you regularly service your car with an authorised Toyota dealer.

Insurance

The Arkana spans insurance groups 15 to 17. That’s similar to the Taigo, which means insurance costs should be similar. An entry-level Formentor sits in group 19, so it will cost more to insure.

Safety

The Arkana scored the full five stars in its <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP</a> crash test in 2019. It performed well for protecting adult occupants up front and children in the rear. All versions get automatic emergency braking (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">AEB</a>) and lane-keep assist, while Techno cars get blind-spot monitoring and a rear cross-traffic warning system.

<h2 dir="ltr">Reliability</h2>

Real-world owner reviews from our latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars/n27337">What Car? Reliability Survey</a> paint a mixed picture of the Renault Arkana’s dependability.

Some drivers reported electrical issues, including unexplained warning lights and faulty sensors that required repeated visits to dealerships. A few also faced delays fixing infotainment glitches. Frustrations grew when repairs were slowed by poor communication and long waits for replacement parts.

That said, not all experiences were negative – some owners found their local dealers responsive and helpful with minor fixes.

To find out more about <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/arkana/estate/used-review/n28193/reliability">used Renault Arkana reliability</a>, visit our dedicated reliability page.

Used Renault Arkana 2021-2025

If you want an affordable used coupé SUV that’s cheap to run, the Renault Arkana delivers, but it's not particularly brisk, the ride is firm and the reliability is questionable. In fact, we’d consider the VW Taigo or, if you can, spend a little more on the quicker and more engaging Cupra Formentor.

Prices for a used Arkana start from around £10,000. This will get you into a TCe or hybrid car with around 100,000 miles on the clock. There’s a variety of trim levels available at that price point.

If you up your budget to around £13,000, you’ll find an example with much lower mileage. Later 2024 and 2025 cars cost upwards of £17,000.

Check the value of a used Renault Arkana with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/car-valuation/">What Car? Valuations</a>

Find <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/renault">used Renault cars for sale</a>

Engine

The 1.6-litre hybrid is our pick. It’s quieter and more efficient than the 1.3-litre petrol, yet used prices are similar. There’s not much of a difference with performance, either.

Specification

We’d recommend going for a top-spec R.S. Line car. You can pick one up for a similar price to entry-level Iconic, yet it gives you useful extra kit, such as a bigger infotainment screen and heated front seats. It was also a popular trim choice when new, so there are loads of them available on the used market.

Our favourite Renault Arkana: 1.6 E-Tech R.S. Line

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Eye-catching looks without sacrificing too much practicality</li> <li>Strong performance in keeping with a sportier brief</li> <li>Running costs that won’t break the bank</li> <li>Classy interior with high-quality materials</li> <li>Pricing that isn’t exorbitant next to that of conventional siblings</li></ul>

Coupe SUV

When viewing a used car, always follow our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/used-car-buying-checklist/n1126">used car buying checklist</a>.

The Arkana will likely have been used on the school run, so check the interior for signs of wear and tear. Be sure to inspect the bodywork for stone chips and parking scuffs, as well the alloy wheels for damage. Make sure the car has a full service history and check the electrics are all working as they should be.

The coupé SUV might sound like an unusual concept, but it’s a style of car that’s been around for quite some time now. The Renault Arkana was one of the later additions to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/coupe-suvs/n23014">coupé SUV</a> class, having launched in the UK in 2021.&nbsp;

It arrived as one of the more affordable offerings, with the class typically dominated by larger, more luxurious cars, like the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x6/4x4/review/n17306">BMW X6</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/gle-coupe/4x4/review/n17279">Mercedes GLE Coupé</a>. The Arkana, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/formentor/4x4/review/n22100">Cupra Formentor</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/taigo/hatchback/review/n23908">VW Taigo</a> joined the ranks more recently to make the niche more mainstream.

Engines and performance: The entry-level engine in the Arkana is a 138bhp 1.3-litre four-cylinder <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-a-mild-hybrid-and-should-you-buy-one/n22776">mild hybrid</a> petrol, badged TCe 140. It’s not especially quick, with 0-62mph taking 9.8sec. The 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre petrol engines in the Taigo and Formentor feel more punchy by comparison. They can also be had with a manual gearbox, whereas the Arkana is available only with an automatic transmission.

Alternatively, there’s the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-a-hybrid-car-and-should-you-buy-one/n1290">full hybrid</a> version. Badged E-Tech Full Hybrid 145, it combines a 1.6-litre petrol engine with a small battery and an electric motor.

Total power is 143bhp, and because the electric motor works instantly at low speeds, it's fine for pottering around town. Once outside the city limits, where the Arkana's non-turbocharged petrol engine takes over, acceleration is noticeably less sprightly, leading to a 0-62mph time of 10.8 seconds. That's slower than many cheaper alternatives, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/c4/hatchback/review/n22373">Citroën C4</a>.

There’s little wind and road noise as you drive along but refinement is let down by the engine in both versions, which sounds rather thrashy getting up to motorway speeds. The hybrid is quiet when driving around town, though, thanks to the electric motor.&nbsp;

Ride and handling: The Arkana’s ride is firm compared with most rivals – including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/c-hr/hatchback/review/n112">Toyota C-HR</a> – and if you drive over a deep pothole or razor-edged expansion joint, you’re greeted with a hefty thud. The firmness controls body movements well over bumps so you and your passengers don't get bounced around, as they might in the softly sprung C4.

The Arkana handles pretty well. It’s not as agile as a Formentor, but it has decent grip, not too much body lean and precise steering that’s pleasingly weighted. We wouldn’t say it’s fun to drive, but its sure-footedness gives you confidence on B-roads.

Interior and practicality: Finding a comfy driving position in the Renault Arkana is easy, with lots of seat and steering wheel adjustment. The seats themselves are comfortable and have plenty of bolstering to keep you supported through corners.&nbsp;

Behind the steering wheel sits an easy-to-read digital driver's display in one of two sizes. The entry-level Evolution trim includes a 7in one, while Techno and above increases that to 10in.

The dashboard is easy to use, with physical controls for all the important functions, including the climate controls. By contrast, the Formentor has some annoying touch-sensitive controls that are fiddlier to operate and more distracting on the move.&nbsp;

You sit higher up from the ground in the Arkana than in the Formentor, although visibility out of the front of the Arkana is slightly worse due to its chunkier windscreen pillars. It's not awful but you can’t see as much at junctions without manoeuvring your head around the side pillars.&nbsp;

As with most coupé-styled SUVs, the sloping roofline means visibility out of the back isn’t great. To make parking easier, every Arkana comes with rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera, with front parking sensors added with mid-spec Techno trim.

You get an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">infotainment touchscreen</a> on all versions, starting with a 7in landscape one on Evolution trim. That's slightly smaller than the one in the Taigo and much smaller than the 12.9in display in the Formentor. Still, the screen is clear and the system responds quickly to your prods.

Stepping up to Techno or above swaps that for a portrait 9.3in infotainment screen. Like the smaller one, it has high resolution and responsive software, but it's still not quite as intuitive as the iDrive system in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x2/hatchback/review/n121">BMW X2</a>. All versions of the Arkana come with wireless <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> smartphone mirroring and built-in <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-sat-nav-apps/n24915">sat-nav</a>.

Interior quality feels like a step up from the C-HR (which has more hard plastics), especially in its rear-seat area. The Arkana has more soft-touch materials, the switches feel as well damped as they do in the C-HR, and it feels just as well screwed together. The Formentor feels plusher still.

The front seats in the Renault Arkana go back far enough to accommodate long legs and there’s plenty of width, so you won’t be rubbing elbows with your passenger. Head room isn’t particularly good, though, with taller adults liable to find their heads closer to the roof than in a Formentor.

You’ll find a six-footer will have more leg room in the back of the Arkana than in a C-HR. As you might expect, the stylish roofline eats into rear head room but not by as much as you think, making it possible for your tall friends to sit back there without too much hassle. That said, the Formentor still offers more head room.&nbsp;

There’s room for three adults to sit side-by-side in the rear, with a decent amount of shoulder room on offer. Better still, they won’t have to straddle a bulky central tunnel, meaning that they have a good amount of foot space. Indeed, our only demerit is that the middle seat is slightly higher, so they’ll have to slouch to stay clear of the roof.&nbsp;

In the boot, there’s 480 litres of space to play with, which is more than enough for several <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/the-cars-with-the-biggest-boots/n18791">carry-on suitcases</a> or a set of golf clubs. It’s also bigger than the boots in the C4, the Formentor and the C-HR.

A two-level boot floor is standard with the Arkana, allowing you to minimise the loading lip and ensure there’s no step in the floor when you fold down the rear seats. They don’t do anything particularly impressive though, splitting 60/40 rather than the more flexible 40/20/40 arrangement that you’ll find in an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q3/4x4/review/n20019">Audi Q3 Sportback</a> or X2.

Trims and equipment: In earlier cars, the Arkana’s trim levels consisted of Iconic, Techno and R.S. Line, but these were later replaced by Evolution, Techno and Esprit Alpine. The Arkana's entry-level Evolution trim is relatively well-equipped, with 17in alloy wheels, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-cruise-control-and-should-you-have-it-on-your-next-car/n26822">adaptive cruise control</a>, automatic headlights, automatic climate control and keyless entry. Mid-spec Techno gives you a few more goodies, including a bigger <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">infotainment screen</a>, a leather steering wheel, 18in wheels, wireless phone-charging and extra safety kit.

Esprit Alpine trim is a sportier trim level, adding lots of styling tweaks, 19in alloy wheels, heated seats, a heated steering wheel and electric front seats.

Facelift: Renault updated the Arkana in 2024, with a light facelift that included a new grille design, new Renault badging and smoked rear taillights. The 1.3-litre mild hybrid engine was also dropped from the line-up.&nbsp;

"While the Renault Arkana’s firm suspension helps to make it quite controlled as you drive along over undulations, I found that it thudded lots over imperfections in town." – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor</a>

If you're interested in buying a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/renault/arkana">used Renault Arkana</a> or any of the cars we've mentioned, head over to our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Cars For Sale</a> pages to find lots of cars listed at a great price.

Used Renault Arkana 2021-2025 reliability

Search more than 20,000 new cars in stock now >>

https://www.whatcar.com/new-cars-in-stock

Volkswagen ID 7 Tourer

Renault Symbioz

Dacia Spring

Alfa Romeo Junior

Peugeot e-5008

MG Cyberster

NEW REVIEWS:

site ribbon config

When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.,The Arkana will likely have been used on the school run, so check the interior for signs of wear and tear. Be sure to inspect the bodywork for stone chips and parking scuffs, as well the alloy wheels for damage. Make sure the car has a full service history and check the electrics are all working as they should be.,,At the time of writing, the Renault Arkana has no recalls listed. ,The Arkana didn’t do very well in our 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey, finishing in 26th place out of 33 cars in the family SUV section, with a score of 89.7%. That’s below the Kia Sportage (2021-present), Nissan Qashqai (2021-present) and Toyota RAV4, but above the MG HS.As a brand, Renault did better, finishing in ninth place out of 31 manufacturers. That’s above Cupra, Nissan and Volkswagen, but below Toyota, which claimed fifth place.Used Renault Arkana reliability: the owners’ viewIn our latest Reliability Survey, Renault Arkana owners said they had a mixed experience with reliability and dealer support. A number of owners reported recurring electrical issues, including warning lights appearing without clear faults. In some cases, these were linked to faulty sensors, which took multiple trips to the dealership to resolve. One owner mentioned a persistent fault with the infotainment system, which was slow to be fixed.,,Several owners expressed frustration with the dealer network, citing slow response times and a lack of communication during repairs. Parts availability was also raised as a concern, with one reader waiting weeks for a replacement component.However, not all feedback was negative. Some owners praised their local dealerships for being helpful and accommodating, with quick turnaround times on minor fixes.Overall, reliability appears inconsistent and dealer service varies significantly by location.

Used Renault Arkana 2021-2025 reliability

Renault Arkana 1.3 TCe MHEV Iconic EDC 2WD Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Renault Arkana 1.6 E-TECH Iconic Auto 2WD Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

What should I look for in a used Renault Arkana estate?

What are the most common problems with a used Renault Arkana estate?

Is a used Renault Arkana estate reliable?

Used Renault Arkana reliability: the owners’ view

What Car? has cars in stock

Quick search

Tools & services

Information

Legal bits