Renault Arkana - Interior, design and technology

The Renault Arkana is aimed at buyers who are conscious about style. Its coupe-like shape and SUV-like ride height mean it sits in a niche part of the market, although there are still rivals in the shape of the Toyota C-HR, Peugeot 408 and Cupra Formentor, all vying for the same customers. 

The Arkana’s styling is probably the biggest reason to buy one – Renault is banking on buyers falling in love with the exterior looks and the presence it exudes. However, some potential buyers may be put off by the interior. It’s nearly identical to the one in the Renault Clio and Renault Captur, and while it looks and feels right for a circa-£20,000 supermini or SUV, it’s underwhelming in a coupe-SUV sold on its looks – especially if you’d paid more than £30k for a range-topping version. By comparison, the 408 features a cabin that’s been just as heavily styled as the interior.

The Arkana’s interior looks even more dated if you were to take a peek inside the Renault Austral or electric Renault Megane E-Tech. The French firm’s newer models feature crisp dual-display infotainment setups and Google-powered technology. Perhaps the only redeeming quality of the Arkana’s interior is how simple it is, with physical piano-style buttons and rotary dials for the climate controls, as well as the solid build quality. 

We also liked some of the touches in our Esprit Alpine-spec model, such as the French tricolour flags and stitching, and suede door panels and seat. However, they’re not enough to overlook some of the scratchy plastics and cheap-looking finishes you don’t get in more grown-up rivals, including the Mazda CX-30.

25

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

Entry-level versions of the Arkana come with a seven-inch touchscreen as standard, although models in Techno trim and above get a 9.3-inch portrait display. Similarly, base cars have a 7-inch TFT driver information display behind the steering wheel while the rest of the range features a full 10-inch driver information display that occupies the whole instrument pod. 

We found the resolution of the 9.3-inch touchscreen in our test car was decent, although it’s laggy and Renault’s older infotainment software isn’t nearly as intuitive as its new Google system featured in the Megane or Austral. The home page is split into three main widgets to give easy access to all of the major functions, while a switch on the dashboard allows you to toggle through the various drive modes.

Thankfully it’s even easier to bypass the built-in infotainment system, as Renault has made wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard across the Arkana range. The systems work well here, with phones connecting quickly once you start the car, and expand into the full area of the portrait set-up. There are a few shortcut buttons to key features, and we’re glad to see Renault has kept physical air-con controls at least.