First Drive | 2021 Renault Arkana | Is Cut-Price SUV-Coupe An Affordable BMW X6?

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Hybrid power and stylish looks for Renault’s SUV-coupe thingy, but is the Arkana really a BMW X6 for a whole lot less cash?
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[@rogernorton9904]

Despite all the negative comments, there are a lot of positives for this car. It's made in South Korea, so likely to have far fewer quality control problems than a French built car. I have seen it in the flesh and it looks really great.The mild hybrid version has the engine that was developed by Renault and Mercedes, the same engine going into small Mercedes models, so one would expect fewer reliability problems if Mercedes back it. As an example, the engine has a timing chain like most German cars, rather than a belt, that is good for the entire life of the car. Timing belts generally have to be changed at 60,000 miles or 6 years at a cost of around £800 because of all the stuff you have to remove to get at it, so an instant future saving there. The interior looks great, again with few QC problems. Anyone who has sat in a Kia or Hyundai will understand. I think I have almost talked myself into buying one.

[@dylanmccaigmusic]

This really useful to know! Thank you!

[@rogernorton9904]

@@dylanmccaigmusic as an owner now for 7 months, I have nothing to contradict what I wrote originally. By the way, on a long run, I get better mpg than manufacturer's official figures.

[@dylanmccaigmusic]

@@rogernorton9904 Hi Roger! Once again, thank you for honest feedback! I have just put my deposit down for the S Edition 1.3 in the Zanzibar Blue colour and the car is arriving in Sept/Oct time. I am been looking at reviews (you know when you get paranoid and think ‘is this defo the right car?’ and with so many mixed reviews, it is difficult. I have driven the car twice and really enjoyed it. Once again, thank you for your feedback as an owner!

[@dylanmccaigmusic]

@@rogernorton9904 the other cars I looked at were very different! The 2022 Mini Cooper 3 door and the Peugeot 208 GT-Line.

[@rogernorton9904]

@@dylanmccaigmusic Congrats, you'll love it. I have the same midrange model, the top of the range having more toys that I would never have used. I did however get the leather upholstery option.

[@rlc2978]

So your ignorance makes a car bad on account of a control feature found in many brands? Should I really bother to watch the rest of your review?

[@vanaramauk]

LOL. Not with an attitude like that, no. Mark. :-)

[@capta1nnark546]

U sound like a salty Renault fanboy lmao the car is rubbish, a peasants version of a German big gun

[@ytlurker220]

You can adjust every single audio level in the settings. Not hard. Many other brands such as Mazda require the GPS instructions to be playing to adjust the volume. Also, you can make the steering heavier and sharper using the My Sense settings.

[@ytlurker220]

@@MrMan540 Glad to hear! Hope you can figure it out, it's one amazing package and looks so elegant.

[@oliverstemp9132]

There's something really good about how this looks, the interior is good as well. The petrol version seems much better than the hybrid, and I prefer the standard styling over RS line too

[@ellisrochlin2267]

although a tad slower the 1.6 lump gives another on average 7-10 mpg v the 1.3

[@paulhands2763]

I can’t believe these views for one minute, I’ve test drove one and it’s a great car, so good it’s being delivered in September i would recommend driving one your self and not listen to this chaps views, clueless.

[@marknichol8167]

Hang on. I’ve driven hundreds of cars and yet because my opinion differs to yours on a car you’re bought, I’m clueless? LOL.

[@madsbuhris]

I think this is a good looking car. I was hearing you saying its ugly but I cant agree with that!

[@marknichol8167]

I think plenty of people will agree with you. It’ll probably age well too, especially as more of these things appear. 👊🏻

[@spursman3998]

Thoroughly enjoyed this. Great review. But disagree with you regarding the looks. I think it looks brilliant. Subjective I know, but regardless, really helpful review. Cheers.

[@marknichol8167]

Thanks mate. It’s great when someone can disagree with you without calling you names 😂👊🏻

[@ianpies2498]

The big brother clip - nightmares for me tonight. Thanks Mark......

[@milespowell9495]

It definitely looks better than the citreon C4

[@MarkLaingold]

Not the first time I notice it in your videos, but 3008 boot space is actually 520l and not 398l. I owned that cat for three years, and it's a massive boot. Maybe you take the stats of 3008 Hybrid4?

[@H4M24UK]

For a second I thought it was MGK reviewing the new Arkana

[@jamesreid1147]

I think it’s a well functioning car for the price ! I think you were put off from the get go re sat nav !!

[@stevenmoran4060]

Had a drive in theRS Line full hybrid yesterday and loved it and, I was surprised by the size of it, big is the word. But, crossed it off my list as there is no rear wash wipe, granted the shape will probably keep the rain off when driving but, and a big but, we live in towns with trees. These trees drop sap and the birds in the trees drop their stuff too, how are you supposed to clean the rear window of tree sap, and stuff and snow in winter? I was surprised by the headroom in the Arkana as I have a 3 year old 3008 and it’s a very tight fit for me and my long back but no problem in the Arkana. Looks like another 3008 for me in a couple of months for my next lease.

[@darrentoohie7375]

Interesting review, I have the Etech Hybrid and wonder what your thought’s are on the gearbox, do you find it over revs and screams out for gears especially on inclines and when you put down more throttle. Great review by the way

[@kinnonmcallister]

Can you please tell me if the seat height is relatively high and comfortable. Thanks

[@stephandolby]

Competitor for the new C4?

[@drawwithdan5821]

Good looking car. Hopefully it'll be some kind of freak secondhand bargain.

[@johnhaynes9910]

I would love to see you do a review on something from the Soviet era like a Trabant or the early Skodas, it would be hilarious :)

[@rc666]

Maybe for you, not for normal drivers in the present.

[@johnhaynes9910]

@@rc666 I think you miss the point, he is a brilliant presenter, entertaining as well as factual. Modern cars are frankly pretty bland in the main, him doing a review of something truly awful would be very funny without a doubt.

[@marknichol8167]

@@johnhaynes9910 thanks John. I’d love to do that! 😂

[@saintetienne755]

So it's a big Captur?

[@AUSSIExRULES]

You mentioned that you came from a Qashqai to this car. How do you compare them both from a good and bad perspective?

[@Ambienfinity]

"The giraffe would be screwed." Indeed -- I don't get why they try and sell a bloody great SUV, with all the expense and compromises involved, without giving decent interior room. Arkana understand the X6 either.

[@kinnonmcallister]

How high exactly please. Cannot seem to find that information anywhere. Ground to maximum seat height. Yes I am disabled and it is very important to me. Thanks for any help 👍

[@jwvandegronden]

I have a different set of requirements, being a company car, all lease options are almost rediculously expensive nowadays. With the higher list prices for EV’s and the way lease contracts work in Holland, they all end up around 950 euros bruto, so 425 net ex lease tax (percentage of the car is added as part of your income to pay tax over). Because of the higher list price and even despite the discount to promote EV’s, it is still more costly than this hybrid, which simply is 10 grand cheaper! And the only car that has a sunroof without stromgarming you into the highest specced out version leaving you pennyless. The only brand who also doesn’t do that i think, is Skoda, but they’ve become way too expensive. And I dont have my own driveway so officially not allowed to have a wall box (pedestrians can trip over the charging cable), so bottom line: ~ Good looking car ~ Renault is the most environmentally aware manufacturer if you take imto comsideration cradle to cradle of the entire lifecycle of the car, including production ~ sunroof (a must) ~ proper buttons and knobs ~ lift gate/fast back ~ efficiency support where it matters most ~ option to install LPG ~ great seats for long hauls ~ fits a bike ~ lastly, No range anxiety. I still find electric cars too much of a pitty vote and the push for them is just too much. On their own merits, like we’re creeping towards now in Holland, they prove to be overpriced and too little critiqued. Pempered is the word that comes to mind. Next gen? Definately, but now i happily settle for this renault.

[@sasicuomo3973]

Renault💪❤️🔝

[@6ettinold]

Take something as pointless as an SUV and make it even less pointless and less practical by giving it a coupe roofline!😄 Waiting for an Evoque-esque soft top next!

[@andrewwheeler8591]

Damn just got myself a Q3 black edition 🤔 Oh hang on...... 😁👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@thecarguru4741]

Volvo's sat nav works the same way

[@idimidodjimi6760]

Interesting try , B- for effort D for execution. We do need more interesting cars , but i think they dropped the ball with drive-train. OFC Mark gets an A+ as always.

[@Ambienfinity]

He's the best around, is Mark.

[@marcbearelle3335]

commentaar van de reportage..meer negatieve commentaar 🤥🙄, auto gezien en gestest.... mooi interieur en exterieur... voor zijn prijs klasse... 👀

[@RogueBrit]

Nugget

[@Alan-ox3zs]

Chicken?

[@user-gr1ny1yj8s]

Your cool

[@livc444111]

Looks good. Will wait until its value has plummeted until I consider

[@chrisallnutt3204]

Sorry , who are you ???? 🤷‍♂️

[@vanaramauk]

No need to apologise Chris. My name's Mark. I'm Vanarama's car reviewer. My name is written right at the start of the video that you've clicked into. I'm a Taurus and I like rock music and windy walks. Have a wonderful day.

[@chillout1109]

So it's basically a Kadjar Coupe then? 🤔

[@marantamil459]

Yup

[@miguelcorreia1291]

A Kadjar coupe with the chassis of a clio/captur

[@willh9386]

Double figures 0-60 🤔that’s just silly . Is it built any better that the usual French stuff

[@jjjnout6778]

Isn't it funny how most of this "safety equipment" is there just to retard your driving....in 20 years you'll just be sitting there bored out of your head 😴

[@comisar7041]

Thy copy X6 AND GLE

[@ljones1377]

Test drove this (I own a clio) expecting something different. Honestly disappointed no different to a clio driving experience. Small cabin too.

[@pauldavies9564]

Feels firm and lumpy…..which one 😂😂😂 it’s not quick, it’s not a sports car you donk…it’s not a drivers car, didn’t know the stig was a Geordie 🤣🤣

[@The5tandardBearer]

What are you talking about. A roller-coaster of a review, I got tired watching this.

[@vanaramauk]

Rollercoaster? Thank you. Mark.

[@gabbyst9883]

This review is rubbish. And please familiarize yourself how to pronounce “Mercedes” if you’re reviewing cars “professionally” 🙃

[@vanaramauk]

"Sorry". Love, Mark. x

[@henrylkefi3640]

i tnink ure paid by volkswagen or peugeot hahaa

[@vanaramauk]

I mean, I'd absolutely love it if Volkswagen or Peugeot paid me to say that a Renault is less than amazing, but sadly they tend to spend their money on more important things. Like making nice cars. Thanks for your thoughts though. Mark. :-D

[@henrylkefi3640]

@@vanaramauk no , ure answer prouve that ure paid by one of them ... hehehe , renault recently made a great cars better then volkswagen , only peugeot start to to renew their models

[@vanaramauk]

@@henrylkefi3640 Then your answer proves that you're paid by Renault. See... See how I use your logic against you? Mwah hah hah! Mark. (Only kidding, just to be clear.)

[@henrylkefi3640]

@@vanaramauk kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHW0ZJabf9OHfcU kzbin.info/www/bejne/inTJpJqZg7edfsk kzbin.info/www/bejne/equtYoKHqqaLfKs I SPEAK FACTs

[@pigeonpoo1823]

This should be renamed the Renault Laurel Hubbard. Just because this ugly beast identifies as a coupe SUV, does NOT make it one.

[@williamfence566]

German styling with french build. Oops!

[@marantamil459]

French build quality is getting better especially with the PSA group

[@livc444111]

Sounds like a decent mix

[@idimidodjimi6760]

@@marantamil459 I can confirm that. My DS7 is built better than any Audi i've been especially compared to new Q5.

[@idimidodjimi6760]

@@DashCamSerbia Yes i did . Barely drove it around the block , it arrived on Friday on 17th of July and i was going on vacation on 19th and im still in Greece. I coulnd't register the car cause waiting time on technical checkup is now apparently about 10 days. So being smart i didn't want to wait that much when i get back to arrange one i did it 2 days ago from here and got empty slot on next Friday.... the world we live in sheesh

[@neilbissett1240]

Love your reviews but another crap french car 😂😂

[@livc444111]

Love to know what you drive just out of curiosity

[@rc666]

@@livc444111 a Discovery

[@neilbissett1240]

Skoda superb

[@livc444111]

@@neilbissett1240 😄 funny that, you dislike French crap but the entire interior of your car is virtually French through a company called Faurecia...

[@neilbissett1240]

@@livc444111 hears my issue I bought a peugeot 3008 brand new and ended up with paint issues after bird mess burnt a hole in the paint work and I washed it every other weekend and just because I missed removing the bird mess just says they have one major problem which is soft paint to finish this I contacted the dealership as soon as it happened and the dealership were absolutely rubbish about it so guess what I got rid and decided I wouldn’t by another french car …….

[@huy_gtr108]

Haven't test Arkana yet but I already drive Meagan & Master for many years. Sorry to Renault company, ur car is worst car in my life, so many problems with electric, side door stuck can't open, engine noisy, gear box screw up all the time, car not smooth to drive honestly.

[@graytou]

Not taking advice from a man who wears ladies glasses. Sorry George.

[@marknichol8167]

Who is George and why are you apologising to him?