Renault Arkana SUV - Interior & comfort

​Perhaps you’ve already seen the interior of the new Renault Captur or Clio and, if so, the Arkana’s cabin will be instantly familiar. Nearly all of it is carried straight over, and higher-spec models feature an eye-catching portrait touchscreen that boasts impressive screen resolution.

Like the Clio and Captur, the material quality is better than Renaults of old. The soft-touch surfaces are welcome and the quality puts some more expensive rivals to shame. However, some buyers spending upwards of £30,000 for a top-spec Arkana may be disappointed that the same interior is available in a significantly cheaper supermini.

Equipment

Every Arkana is well-equipped, so the best value for money is found at the lower end of the range. All cars get LED headlights, parking sensors, a reversing camera, cruise control and a touchscreen display with DAB radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Before the 2023 facelift, Techno (previously S Edition) brought the bigger screen and sat nav, plus larger wheels, ambient lighting and auto high-beam assistance. RS Line added electric heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, automated parking and sporty styling inside and out. The E-Tech Engineered version was exclusive to the E-Tech hybrid, and offered the same kit as RS Line but with gold detailing and unique styling touches.

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The trim structure was given a shake-up during the 2023 facelift. Entry-level Evolution cars get 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control, keyless entry and go, electrically adjusting and folding door mirrors, automatic high-beam headlights, rain-sensing wipers, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, navigation and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

Techno trim adds front parking sensors, artificial leather upholstery, 18-inch wheels, the upgraded infotainment system and more electronic driver aids. Esprit Alpine adds sportier styling, powered front seats, a heated steering wheel and adaptive cruise control.

Options

No matter which of the trim levels you go for, the only optional extras buyers can add are metallic paint and a spare wheel.

Technology

Renault’s 9.3-inch touchscreen doesn’t look too different from the screen fitted in the latest Mercedes S-Class – one of the most technologically advanced cars on sale. The Renault system not only looks great but is quick to load and pretty intuitive to use. Few mainstream carmakers have a system that works so well, although we expect many customers will still prefer to use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to send their phone’s apps to the car’s screen. It's worth noting though that these can’t fill the display because of its portrait layout.