Renault here says it is studying factory’s new compact coupe-styled SUV.

“YES, we are considering Renault Arkana but no decision has been made yet.” 

This from Renault New Zealand’s communications person, Kimberley Waters, in response to whether the French brand’s coupe-shaped compact sports utility might also show locally now that it has just been made available in Australia. 

Pitched as an indirect replacement for the Kadjar, and a step below the Koleos, the model will avail to our neighbours in three variants, spanning two trim levels already familiar in the local brand lingo – Zen and Intens – plus a new configuration, R.S. Line, that lends a sporty ambience.

The respective prices for these are $A33,990 – which works out as $35,460 in NZ dollars on today’s rate - $A37,490 ($NZ39,100) and $A40,990 ($NZ42,760). 

All are powered by a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine making 115kW and 262Nm, this sent to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. 

Zen and Intens are on sale across the water from this week. RS Line joins the fray in January.

Standard equipment includes a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, black leatherette upholstery, LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, a heated steering wheel, keyless entry and start, climate control, and front, side and rear parking sensors. 

Active safety aids include autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, blind-spot monitoring, traffic-sign recognition and Easy Park Assist. The car has a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

The Intens adds a larger 9.3-inch central touchscreen, satellite navigation, a 7.0-inch driver display, 18-inch alloy wheels, leather and suede upholstery, rear cross-traffic alert, and electric front seats with heating and ventilation.

R.S. Line has all that and adds a sportier exterior styling with a unique front bumper and black and grey trim. The interior features dedicated leather and suede upholstery with red stitching, red-striped seat belts, a perforated leather steering wheel, carbon-effect trim for the dashboard, aluminium pedals and a frameless rear-view mirror.

It also includes wireless smartphone charging, unique 18-inch wheels with red accents, a sunroof, black leather and suede upholstery with red stitching, and rear privacy glass.

Combined claimed fuel economy is rated at 6.0 litres per 100 kilometres. Intens and R-Line have Eco, Sport and My Sense drive modes.

In Europe Arkana also comes with a hybrid drivetrain comprising a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, two electric motors and a 1.2kWh battery pack, for a combined output of 106kW. The extra electrical assistance also improves the SUV’s fuel economy up to a claimed 4.9 litres per 100km.

Arkana is built on the CMF-B platform that the Clio and Captur base on and it shares elements of both of those cars’ designs. The front end features the same C-shaped daytime running lights and radiator grille as the Clio, while the SUV’s glasshouse and ride height bear resemblance to the Captur.

The Arkana’s boot has a capacity of 513 litres and Renault has also added a couple of practicality tweaks, such as a flat-folding rear bench seat, a 360-degree parking camera and large front door pockets which can accommodate 1.5-litre water bottles.