Launch Drive: 2024 Renault Arkana Esprit Alpine

We tried to think of the best analogy to describe the 2024 Renault Arkana Esprit Alpine - burger with the lot, or supreme pizza don't really cut it - so we'll settle for vastly improved, striking to look at, with more sportiness and improved punch.

That's no quick take, but it does some up the shiny new model that showcasing Renault’s new logo, with a standout range topping variant now known as the Esprit Alpine, the Arkana offers impressive power delivery (113kW and 262Nm from its 1.3-litre 4-cylinder turbo engine), and some decent handling.

Body roll is minimal, even at speed, with the petrol powered SUV backed by a 7-speed dual clutch transmission (eDCT). Get up and go feeds on very nicely, and it handles most overtaking tasks with aplomb. There are three driving modes.

You might need to shift to Sport mode if you need to punch past a truck going up a hill, but otherwise it’s more than enough. Let’s face it, most buyers for the Arkana are city-based, making this a plenty powerful option that offers a load of flair and a fun driving experience.

There’s turbo lag if you drive it like you stole it, but most people are never going to be that rough with this French SUV. Fuel economy is a claimed 5.9-litres/100km, although the best we could manage was 7.7-litres – which is still admirable.

Available in Techno (the mid-spec) and the aforementioned Esprit Alpine, with an entry level model to come later, we tested the top of the line model in a variety of conditions, against the backdrop of farm land, wineries, and small country towns.

The Esprit Alpine is the standout, adorned with a restyled glossy black chrome-finish grille with that new logo, twin black exhaust tips, a blacked-out nameplate, and translucent smoky tail lights. An F1-inspired aerodynamic blade in Gunmetal Grey adds flair.

Glossy black detailing, and 19-inch two-tone ‘elixir’ alloy wheels complete a much more stylish exterior, while inside, you’ll find Alpine Blue highlights. This includes stitching on the upholstery and gearshift, and an embroidered arrowed A on leatherette seats.

The French influence is further evident with the ‘Tricolore’ stitching on the perforated steering wheel and suede-style door trims. But it’s the drive, and the safety and driver assistance features that stand out. Each of them has three levels of intrusiveness too.

That means you can basically wind out all those things like lane keep assist, and lane centring, to give you back more control of the driving experience. There’s plenty of tech, including active emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, traffic sign recognition with speed alert and over speed prevention.

Adaptive cruise control with stop and go, and a blind spot warning system also feature, as does auto high and low beam headlights are joined by Renault’s innovative QRescue code to assist emergency services in the event of an accident.

A 360-degree camera system provides surround view in reverse and park assist hands free parking. Rear cross traffic alert completes the package. Tech wise, a large 9.3-inch floating portrait infotainment system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, although it doesn’t use the whole screen.

There are USB ports front and rear. It’s joined by a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster that’s easy to read, and super sharp. A wireless charging pad sits in the back half of the centre console, ensuring your phone is stowed while you drive. There are eight ambient lighting options.

A Bose premium sound system in our test variant featured eight speakers and a strategically placed subwoofer that doesn’t encroach on boot space. It’s a very audio experience. The driver enjoys a heated 8-way electrically adjustable seat with lumbar support – 6-way electrically-adjustable for the front passenger.

Boot space of 485-litres and a split-level boot floor that adds an extra 26.2-litres boost practicality. Automatic ‘walk away’ door locking adds additional security too. It’s available in seven colours, including Solid White (Techno only).

Six metallic colours include Universal White, Zanzibar Blue, Metallic Black, Metallic Grey, Flame Red and Night Blue. The 2024 Renault Arkana is backed by a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty with identical roadside assist and capped servicing periods.

Impressively, the latter is just $2,385 for the entire period, with servicing every 12 months or 30,000km. It’s priced at $41,000 for the Techno and $45,000 for the Esprit Alpine, both plus on-roads. If we were choosing, we’d take the latter, just for all the cool touches that showcase Renault’s performance brand.

Expect to see more use of it in the future, including dedicated Alpine performance EV models, with those expected to launch in the coming years. If you want to know more about the Arkana though, visit their Australian website, or talk to your local dealership.

This story first published on Exhaust Notes Australia. Our test vehicle was provided by Renault Australia as part of an Australian media launch event. 

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