Sporty Arkana RS Line coupe-SUV arrives

RENAULT’s new Arkana RS Line variant has joined the French brand’s range for MY22. It features unique sports styling both inside and out to give a dynamic edge to the Arkana nameplate.

“Strategic additions like the Arkana RS Line are a clear nod to our sporting heritage and allow us to continue to grow the brand ahead of other new models we have coming,” Renault Australia general manager Glen Sealey said.

“With positive sales growth at the end of 2021, a massive 150% growth YTD in 2022, and an engaged dealer network, the outlook for the Renault brand is undoubtedly positive – subject to production availability, of course,” he added.

Sitting at the summit of the Renault Arkana range, the RS Line adds a suite of sporty design elements to this premium small SUV over and above the already well-specified Intens variant, including 18-inch RS Line diamond-cut alloys, a specific front bumper design with an F1-inspired aero blade, RS Line badging, gunmetal grey door trims and front and rear skid plates.

Inside, Renault’s racing heritage is acknowledged through the provision of RS Line door sills, carbon-look interior trim, alloy-finished sport pedals, a perforated leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel with RS Line badging, red and grey contrast stitching, as well as RS badging.

Additional specification to distinguish the RS Line over and above the Intens variant includes a fully digital 10.25-inch instrument cluster, a frameless auto-dimming rear-view mirror and a sunroof. Metallic paint ($750) and contrasting black roof ($600) are optional.

The RS Line is powered by a 1.3-litre petrol TCe petrol engine that delivers 115kW and 262Nm. The Euro 6 compliant motor is claimed to consume just 6.0 litres per 100km on the combined cycle.

The Arkana offers up to 485 litres of boot space (including underfloor storage) with the rear seats in place, or 1268 litres with them folded flat

A full suite of the latest passive and active safety measures – including Active Emergency Braking with vehicle, cyclist and pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control with stop and go function, and rear cross-traffic alert – have ensured the Arkana is ANCAP 5-star safety rated.

Renault’s unique 5-Year Easy Life Ownership programme includes a 5-year/unlimited km warranty, plus 5 years’ roadside assistance and capped price servicing (the Arkana will cost just $2,385 to service over the period.

A successor to the short-lived Kadjar, the Arkana is offered locally in three grades – Zen ($33,990), Intens ($37,490) and RS Line ($40,990). Despite its swooping roofline, the tiny engine rules the Arkana out as a Kona N-Line or T-Roc Sport rival; 0-100km/h comes up in 9.1 seconds while the top speed is 205km/h – not that outright performance is this segment’s highest priority.

Renault Australia has high aspirations for its recently introduced model. Mr Sealey previously described the Arkana as a competitor for premium players like the Audi Q3 Sportback, BMW X2, Mazda CX-30 and lower-tier Volkswagen T-Rocs, as well as more traditional small SUV rivals.

2022 Renault Arkana pricing*:

*Pricing excludes on-road costs.