Renault is hoping to become a dominant force in the C-segment market – Europe’s most popular market segment – with this hybrid family crossover, which seems “made for the school run”, said The Daily Telegraph. Although the Arkana is touted as Renault’s first purpose-built hybrid car, it isn’t the French brand’s “finest” work. Still, it drives reasonably well and the hybrid system is economical and fun.
The Arkana certainly looks good, said Autocar, with a sloping rear boot as well as a jacked up ride height, and the impressive interior has a mix of physical buttons and a 9.3-inch touchscreen. Although it lacks height, the Arkana is relatively roomy for a coupé SUV, with a good 513-litre boot. However, there are issues with the engine and chassis that make it a car that’s “better to look at than to drive”.
The 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and two-motor hybrid system never feels that quick, and the combination of the engine and gearbox can be uncomfortable on faster roads. The chassis makes the low-speed ride “too brittle”, and the car has an unfortunate tendency to “shimmy” over poor road surfaces, said Auto Express. So although it may sound impressive on paper, it’s “not as convincing in practice”. Prices start from £25,300.
-
Why Britain is struggling to stop the ransomware cyberattacksThe Explainer New business models have greatly lowered barriers to entry for criminal hackers
-
Greene’s rebellion: a Maga hardliner turns against TrumpIn the Spotlight The Georgia congresswoman’s independent streak has ‘not gone unnoticed’ by the president
-
Crossword: October 26, 2025The Week's daily crossword puzzle
-
Roasted squash and apple soup recipeThe Week Recommends Autumnal soup is full of warming and hearty flavours
-
6 well-crafted log homesFeature Featuring a floor-to-ceiling rock fireplace in Montana and a Tulikivi stove in New York
-
Film reviews: A House of Dynamite, After the Hunt, and It Was Just an AccidentFeature A nuclear missile bears down on a U.S. city, a sexual misconduct allegation rocks an elite university campus, and a victim of government terror pursues vengeance
-
Book reviews: ‘Gertrude Stein: An Afterlife’ and ‘Make Me Commissioner: I Know What’s Wrong With Baseball and How to Fix It’Feature Gertrude Stein’s untold story and Jane Leavy’s playbook on how to save baseball
-
Rachel Ruysch: Nature Into ArtFeature Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, through Dec. 7
-
Music reviews: Olivia Dean, Madi Diaz, and Hannah FrancesFeature “The Art of Loving,” “Fatal Optimist,” and “Nested in Tangles”
-
Gilbert King’s 6 favorite books about the search for justiceFeature The journalist recommends works by Bryan Stevenson, David Grann, and more
-
Ready for the apocalypseFeature As anxiety rises about the state of the world, the ranks of preppers are growing—and changing.
