2025 Renault Arkana Esprit Alpine Review

The updated version of the Arkana has just been launched by Renault, and with it comes a few changes to the line-up, including the replacement of the R.S. model with Renault’s new flagship variant, the Esprit Alpine, which proudly displays the French colours throughout the car and adds some motorsport-inspired touches to the design. While they changed the model names, unfortunately a few things remain unchanged that really should have been updated, so has Renault done enough with this latest Arkana facelift to win us over? Let’s take a look.

How much does the 2025 Renault Arkana cost?

Starting off with some good news - the range currently kicks off with the Techno spec, which replaces the outgoing Intens, while retaining the same cost of $41,000 MRLP.

Pricing for the new base model has not officially been confirmed for Australia, however last year the base ‘Zen’ spec was priced at $37,500 MRLP, so expect Renault to remain well and truly in the sub-$40k range for this new base variant Arkana.

Finally, topping out the range is the Esprit Alpine - referencing Renaults motorsport division, and that will set you back $45,000 before on-road costs.

2025 Renault Arkana Pricing:

• Arkana Base model (name + pricing not confirmed) - ~$37,500 (Excl. on-roads)
• Arkana Techno - $41,000 (Excl. on-roads) 
• Arkana Esprit Alpine – $45,000 (Excl. on-roads)

What’s the exterior like of the 2025 Renault Arkana Esprit Alpine?

The Renault Arkana has typically done quite well for the brand, due in large part to its exterior styling. Firstly, having a Coupe body shape built on the same platform as the Renault Captur, a compact SUV makes the Arkana a Small SUV Coupe - and it pretty much sits alone in that segment. On top of that, the Esprit Alpine trim adds some nice sporty styling cues that make it pop, such as the all-new 19-inch two-tone ‘Elixir’ design alloy wheels. The Techno version gets 18-inch alloys that also have a two-tone design.

Another good thing to note is the fact that both new models of the Arkana come with LED headlights and C-shaped LED daytime running lights at the front. A major point of difference though is the use of glossy black plastic on the exterior of the Esprit Alpine; you’ll see it on the window trims, the exhaust tips and - if you decide to option it - you’ll find it on the roof and door mirrors.

New for this model year is the slightly revised Renault logo up front, which integrates nicely with some glossy black plastic between the headlights, and houses the various sensors that enable the Arkana’s suite of driver assistance and safety features - which has also been expanded for this year. The Renault diamond has also been integrated into the front grille which is a nice touch.

Also new is the revised taillight signature which is modern, sleek and LED, unfortunately the same can’t be said of the rear turn signals which use halogen bulbs, even in the top-spec Esprit Alpine.

From the side is the Arkana’s more unique angle, it really sits quite low, with most of the height of the Esprit Alpine coming from its 19-inch wheels. The coupe body style gives it a sporty look, but it retains enough practicality on the platform to still be a viable option for people in the market for an SUV.

What’s the interior like of the 2025 Renault Arkana?

‍Inside the Esprit Alpine you’ll find swaths of leatherette material, the seats also have black suede-feeling material that feels very premium. Interestingly the Techno spec gets real leather upholstery. You get a new steering wheel that is wrapped in perforated leatherette, and the Esprit Alpine gets a heated steering wheel with red, blue and white stitching, as well as on the doors - a nod to Renault-Alpine’s French roots. Both models get heated front seats as well.

The Alpine theme continues throughout the cabin, with blue stitching lining much of the upholstery on the dashboard, shifter, and centre armrest. You also get the Alpine ‘A’ logo embroidered on the integrated seat headrests. This helps differentiate the flagship variant from the rest of the range and brings some colour and styling to an otherwise monotone black interior.

While the Techno gets chrome trim, unfortunately Renault have opted to fit ‘slate-style’ garnish to the Esprit Alpines passenger side on the dashboard, which won’t be to everybody's taste.

Technology is a pretty good story for the Arkana. You get a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster that has a few different display modes which change with the drive modes, although I found the angle of the screen to be a bit strange as it is pointing upwards, slightly above my head - I guess by France’s standards I am a ‘short king’. I also noticed an issue where changing the drive mode while driving would hide the digital speed read-out for a split second, though I am sure this could be fixed with a quick software update.

You also get a uniquely sized and shaped 9.3-inch infotainment display, which works very well with built-in satellite navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, and the Esprit Alpine gets an upgraded 8-speaker Bose sound system which includes a subwoofer. I wasn’t able to compare with the Techno’s 6-speaker audio system, though I will say the sound quality is decent - not the best but far from the worst I have experienced, and it is helped by the mostly premium materials in the cabin.

My test car also had the optional sunroof fitted, which is large enough and I found that wind noise through the glass was not an issue - indicating solid build quality. Another nice touch is the ambient lighting in the interior - which changes colour based on the drive mode.

I also like the climate controls, they are no fuss, intuitive, and have a satisfying soft tactile feedback when you turn the dials, with a digi-analogue display for fan-speed and temperature.

Practicality is pretty good, albeit there are some questionable choices made. The centre console storage is quite deep but not very wide, the door bins are well-sized, and you get a couple of cupholders in the front. I did find the glovebox a little bit annoying to use, as the storage compartment within was very deep into the dashboard and so reaching in from the driver’s side was a bit of a struggle.

Connectivity is good enough, though starting to feel a bit dated with a couple of USB-A ports up front, an auxiliary port and 12V socket. You do get a wireless phone charger which is good.

What about back seats?

The rear space of the Arkana takes a slight hit to quality compared to up front. That isn’t to say that it isn’t a nice place to be, rather the seats are still the same nice suede-like material as up front, and you get enough leg support for longer journeys. Room in the back is also adequate for adults, I found that head room was decent - despite the Arkana having quite a low stance from the outside, although space in the rear isn’t great compared to other small SUVs.

Amenities are also good - you get 2 USB-A ports, and a couple of air vents in the rear, as well as net pockets and a soft leatherette fold-down centre armrest with a couple of cupholders.

What’s boot space like in the Renault Arkana?

‍Surprisingly given its appearance, the Arkana does quite well in terms of usable boot space. It opens quite high with a hatchback style mechanism, which makes it suitable for loading larger items. With both rear seats in place there is a 485L capacity, which Renault say is segment leading. There is also some under floor storage and a space-saver spare tyre that comes with both grades, a good inclusion to see.

The floor can also be dropped down a level to add extra space, and the rear seats can be folded flat for a total of 1268L.

What’s under the bonnet of the 2025 Renault Arkana?

The latest version of the Arkana comes with the same powertrain as before, a 1.3L 4-cylinder turbo petrol engine that makes 115 kW of power and 262 Nm of torque. It sends this power to the front wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. This transmission is good for efficiency - and the Arkana gets a claimed fuel consumption of 5.6L/100km on the WLTP combined cycle. Impressively, it actually can run quite comfortably on 91 RON, and it achieved that fuel efficiency using more affordable 91 unleaded petrol.

How does the Renault Arkana Drive?

In my brief time driving the Renault Arkana around the pock-marked roads of Orange, NSW - I have some thoughts on the powertrain that has been retained for this model year. Firstly, while the dual-clutch transmission helps the Arkana achieve good efficiency, it does have a way of being a little unresponsive from the get-go, and I found several situations where I wasn’t getting as much throttle response as I expected, particularly at lower speeds. This has been a very common criticism of these styles of transmissions, and one that the Arkana has received in the past, so things haven’t changed in that department.

I will say that the 1.3L turbo-petrol engine has some pep, and once you get going and are able to keep it in the right RPM range, the Arkana can be chucked around in quite a fun way. It has sharp handling dynamics, with steering feel that can be adjusted through the drive mode customisation menu - I found the perfect balance is sport for powertrain and regular for steering, as the sport mode steering felt a little bit artificially weighted to me. The driving modes consist of My Sense, Sport, and Eco. 

You also get paddle shifters, though Renault haven’t given you a way to keep the car in manual mode - it just switches back to Auto as soon as you keep it in the same gear for more than a few seconds. I think that my issues with the transmission would have been less noticeable if I was able to keep the car in manual mode.

In terms of daily driving and comfort, there isn’t much wrong about the way the Arkana drives. Some might find the suspension a little firm at times with the torsion beam setup in the rear (while various competitors such as the Kona N-Line are opting for multi-link rear suspension), and we were also driving on 19-inch wheels with rubber that wasn’t the thickest. Road and wind noise was not an issue either, even on some coarse-chip surfaces, the car felt very solid in most situations and while doing some light performance testing I found the rigidity of the chassis quite good.

Renault say that they have paid particular attention to the calibration of various driver-assistance features to not be overly intrusive while still offering a seamless driving experience, and I think they have achieved this. The lane-keeping system will gently nudge you back towards the centre of the lane, without too many micro-adjustments or by violently yanking the steering wheel in any direction. There is also a handy parking assistant, and a new 360-degree camera is included on both models.

I also tested the 0-100km/h sprint and got 9.57 seconds, which is close to the claimed time of 9.1 seconds.

What do you get with the Renault Arkana?

Renault Arkana Techno

• Exterior: 18-inch alloy wheels, new grille with diamond pattern, updated tail-light design.
• Interior: Leather upholstery, powered and heated front seats with lumbar support, climate control, 9.3-inch portrait-style infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, satellite navigation, 10.25-inch digital instrument display.
• Technology: Wireless smartphone charging, keyless entry, push-button start, LED head- and tail-lights, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, and a six-speaker Arkamys sound system.
• Safety: Autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot alert, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, front/rear parking sensors, and 360-degree camera.

Renault Arkana Esprit Alpine

• Exterior: 19-inch alloy wheels, sunroof (optional on Techno), exclusive Alpine branding, front/rear skid plates in gunmetal grey, French tri-colour stitching.
• Interior: Bose eight-speaker premium sound system with subwoofer, heated steering wheel, privacy glass, alloy sports pedals.
• Additional Features: Alpine logo on headrests, French flags on stitching, enhanced cabin materials like leatherette and suede-like material.

Is the Renault Arkana safe?

The Renault Arkana achieved a 5-Star ANCAP rating in 2019 for the pre-facelifted version, which is valid until December 2025.

Both the Techno and Esprit Alpine grades of the 2025 Renault Arkana come equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features. Here's a breakdown of what’s included across the range:

Standard Safety Features (Techno and Esprit Alpine):

• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB): Includes pedestrian and cyclist detection.
• Lane-Departure Warning: Alerts the driver if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane.
• Lane-Keeping Assist with Lane Centering: Helps keep the vehicle within the lane markings by providing steering input.
• Blind-Spot Alert: Alerts the driver when a vehicle is detected in their blind spot.
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert: Warns the driver of vehicles approaching from the sides when reversing.
• Traffic Sign Recognition: Detects and displays traffic signs such as speed limits.
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go: Maintains a safe distance from the vehicle in front, even coming to a stop and restarting if necessary.
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring: Monitors tyre pressure levels and warns of any significant drop.
• Front and Rear Parking Sensors: Provides auditory warnings to help with tight parking situations.
• Six Airbags: Covers both rows of seats, ensuring protection for front and rear passengers.
• 360-Degree Camera (new): Offers a bird's-eye view of the vehicle to assist with parking and tight maneuvers.

How much does it cost to run the Renault Arkana?

‍The Arkana is covered by Renault’s 5/5/5 policy, which has a 5 year, unlimited kilometre warranty, 5 years capped price servicing and 5 years complimentary roadside assistance.

Service intervals are good at every 12 months or 30,000 km, whichever comes first, and come in at a total of $2385 for 5 years or 150,000 km.

Final thoughts on the Renault Arkana

While this year's updates haven’t been the most extensive for the Arkana, not having an increase in price is nice to see, and it still retains its unique selling points, while having a sporty Alpine revamp for the flagship variant. That being said, there are a couple of styling decisions on the interior, and aspects of the driving experience that won’t be everybody's cup of tea. For those who like the low stance Coupe styling of the Arkana, and an efficient torque-y driving experience, the Arkana is a good option for the segment.