Cosmetic and equipment tweaks lend added edge to Renault’s freshly-introduced SUV-coupe
Renault Australia has landed a new flagship variant of the relatively new Renault Arkana SUV in showrooms.
At the same time, the local distributor for the French manufacturer has confirmed minor price increases for its three-variant Arkana portfolio for 2022 – between $600 and $1500 depending on variant.
As such, the entry price of the Arkana Zen increases to $34,590 (plus on-road costs) for MY22 variants, which is up from the previous mark of $33,990 plus ORCs.
The new Arkana RS Line flagship costs $42,090 plus ORCs – up from an initial price of $40,990 first reported in August last year.
Sharing the same 115kW/262Nm 1.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine as its stablemates, the Renault Arkana RS Line adds equipment such as 18-inch wheels, a sunroof, heated and perforated leather steering wheel, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, wireless phone charger, black leather and suede upholstery with contrasting red stitching, faux carbon-fibre interior highlights, tinted rear windows, lower door protection and front and rear skid plates.
Similarly, the RS Line employs a 9.3-inch centre touch-screen and a 7.0-inch instrument display already featured on the mid-range Intens.
Meanwhile, standard safety equipment comprises a reversing camera, plus front, rear and side parking sensors, Easy Park Assist hands-free parking system, adaptive cruise control, tyre pressure monitoring, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, forward collision warning, safe distance warning, lane departure warning, lane keep assist and traffic sign recognition.
There’s also six airbags on board rear cross traffic alert, a speed-limiter and an auto-hold function for the park brake.
The 2022 Renault Arkana replaces the Renault Kadjar small SUV with a sleek coupe-like profile and new technology, slotting in between the smaller Renault Captur and the bigger, ageing Renault Koleos mid-size SUV.
Built in South Korea, the Renault Arkana rests on a 2720mm wheelbase and measures 4560mm long, 1821mm wide and 1571mm high. Cargo volume is 353 litres, extending to 1268L via the split-folding rear seats.
Key rivals for the Renault Arkana include the Volkswagen T-Roc, which it matches on price at the entry level.
How much does the 2022 Renault Arkana cost?Zen – $34,490Intens – $38,590RS Line – $42,090
* Prices exclude on-road costs
Keyword: Renault Arkana RS Line touches down