Renault Arkana: the very first test drive
Let's be honest. We love Renault cars for their indestructible suspension, trouble-free units, inexpensive spare parts and the indifference of car thieves. What else does a thrifty person need? ABOUT! Resell without a problem. Okay, also in the piggy bank.
Design? Controllability? Dynamics? All this remained somewhere there, in Europe, when Renault nameplates were hung on Dacia cars and began to be actively promoted, including in Russia. There is no surprising Espace with us. Not our blood excite purposeful Megan RS. About the revived two-door Alpine A110 is better not to remember.
Logan, Sandero, Duster, Kaptur … Contrary to doubts, downshifting yielded juicy results: Renault is steadily in the top of the Russian market - fourth after Lada, Hyundai and Kia. But an obvious problem arose: the Russians got used to the fact that Renault is an inexpensive car that competes with Grants and “shnivy”. When the real European Koleos appeared, it was not easy to explain to customers why Renault should be paid as for the Kia Sorento Prime.
Arcana in the top version of Edition One has a red chip key with a black stripe. Simpler cars - white. At the base - the usual, with a folding sting. Arcana in the top version of Edition One has a red chip key with a black stripe. Simpler cars - white. At the base - the usual, with a folding sting.
A huge gap between the "popular" Renault and dear Coleos and should plug Arkana. And after all, everything is with her: a French design, a redrawn interior, a new powertrain and an all-consuming chassis with more “asphalt” settings.
Materials about Arkana on our website and on the channel “Behind the wheel” on YouTube have collected more than two million views! Captura did not even dream of such a hot reception. But when the prices were announced on May 23, the people were depressed: one and a half million for the red car in the “welcome” version of the Edition One …
Sell in 180 minutes
By chassis, Arkana is unified with Duster only by 55%. The steering is now with electric power, which is mounted not on the rail, but on the steering column. On all cars - Bridgestone Dueler tires of dimension 215/60 R17, but on the basic versions there are stamped five-spoke wheels with beautiful caps for casting, and on expensive ones - alloy wheels. By chassis, Arkana is unified with Duster only by 55%. The steering is now with electric power, which is mounted not on the rail, but on the steering column. On all cars - Bridgestone Dueler tires of dimension 215/60 R17, but on the basic versions there are stamped five-spoke wheels with beautiful caps for casting, and on expensive ones - alloy wheels.
The rear brakes are drum, duster. They work reliably, wear out slowly. Those who consider such a decision a stone age, people from Renault promise to introduce disk. When? Not soon. The rear brakes are drum, duster. They work reliably, wear out slowly. Those who consider such a decision a stone age, people from Renault promise to introduce disk. When? Not soon.
The layout of the suspension does not differ from the Kaptyurovskaya, but the front stabilizer is stiffer by 30%, and the rear - by 55%. The angular stiffness of the suspension is 24% higher. The layout of the suspension does not differ from the Kaptyurovskaya, but the front stabilizer is stiffer by 30%, and the rear - by 55%. The angular stiffness of the suspension is 24% higher.
The French will have to convince buyers that the TCe 150 turbo engine in conjunction with the Daimler concern is no less reliable than the old 2-liter aspirated. In the Arkan, a motor with a volume of only 1.3 liters develops 150 forces and is aggregated only with the Jatco JF016E variator, which is known for the Koleos crossover and is designed for 250 N · m. The French will have to convince buyers that the TCe 150 turbo engine in conjunction with the Daimler concern is no less reliable than the old 2-liter aspirated. In the Arkan, a motor with a volume of only 1.3 liters develops 150 forces and is aggregated only with the Jatco JF016E variator, which is known for the Koleos crossover and is designed for 250 N · m.
Nevertheless, the first hundred cars were sold out in 180 minutes. Online Prepaid. Rich Muscovites? Not at all. Orders came from 25 cities of Russia. During the first three days, 260 cars were sold! One and a half million rubles!
To be more precise - 1 million 419 thousand for the front-wheel drive version (they accounted for about 30% of the 260 sold) and 1 million 499 thousand for all-wheel drive (70% of sales). Expensive. But - complete stuffing. A 150-horsepower engine, a Jatco JF016E variator, heating everything and everything (including the steering wheel and windshield washer nozzles), all-round cameras and a dead zone control system, six airbags, LED headlights and much more.
To all online buyers who ventured to buy blindly - without seeing a live car, the company will deliver the acquired Arcana to the house. Even beyond the Urals.
Arkana has a 50 mm larger wheelbase than Duster. The body profile is completely different! Arkana has a 50 mm larger wheelbase than Duster. The body profile is completely different!
Not a duster
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I was one of the first to meet Arkana, and pretty much traveled - albeit in pre-production cars. I understand those who decided to buy online: beauty! And nothing to do with Duster. The only borrowed exterior detail is the exterior mirror housings from the new European Duster (we will have it later), and the filling and mirror element are new.
Sloping coupe-shaped profile - a reference to the fashionable coupe-crossovers premium segment. Among the "popular" ones there are none yet - although soon the Haval F7x of the Russian assembly will be released (it is slightly larger and more expensive). The sloping roof eats up part of the trunk: almost immediately under the rear window is a rigid shelf. Under it - 409 liters of space in all-wheel drive cars (with rear multi-link) and 508 liters in front-wheel drive (with torsion beam). For daily needs - more than. But if you want to carry bicycle-strollers-refrigerators, it is better to take a higher Kaptur.
Large instrument dials with a color display between them raise only one question: why are there so many risks? Large instrument dials with a color display between them raise only one question: why are there so many risks? |
Arkana in the top performance is equipped with cameras in a circle. The front camera, for example, helps a lot on the roads and in a cramped yard. Arkana in the top performance is equipped with cameras in a circle. The front camera, for example, helps a lot on the roads and in a cramped yard. |
On machines it’s simpler - simple twists and air conditioning, in the top - single-zone climate control and handles with displays. On machines it’s simpler - simple twists and air conditioning, in the top - single-zone climate control and handles with displays. |
The interior echoes the inside of the second-generation Duster, which will appear with us a little later. The steering wheel is also adjustable for reach: a range of 40 mm is barely enough for me, but it's better than nothing. The interior echoes the inside of the second-generation Duster, which will appear with us a little later. The steering wheel is also adjustable for reach: a range of 40 mm is barely enough for me, but it's better than nothing. Related Materials
Renault Arkana: prices start at 999 thousand
The interior is a mix of the already known solutions of some European Renaults. I really liked the elongated nozzles of the ventilation system (similar to those located on Duster, which is sold in the Middle East) and the round climate control knobs on top-performance machines: only the rings rotate, and the cores are displays with clear and bright graphics. Moreover, the displays are push: the central pressed - and recycling is turned on.
But plastic is hard everywhere. Soft inserts - only on the door trim, and the machines in the basic version and they will be hard. Backlight (eight colors) - only in rich versions.
Finally, the power buttons for heating the front seats (it is two-stage) are arranged humanly - in a long row of keys above the climate control unit. And adjusting the steering wheel according to the reach (within 40 mm) allows you to sit comfortably even with my height 186 cm. The seal of the doorways is laid and on the thresholds - they must always remain clean.
The button to the far left turns on the blind spot monitoring system. The button to the far left turns on the blind spot monitoring system. |
The transmission control washer is like on other Renaults, and the algorithm is the same. The transmission control washer is like on other Renaults, and the algorithm is the same. |
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In general, richer than Captura, not to mention Duster. The only thing that surprised me was the modest supply of space in the back. From a car with a wheelbase longer than that of Octavia, you expect more. And about the low doorway you can sniff - take care of your head.
Arkana rides exactly as it looks - youthful. Engineers managed to marry a 150 strong turbo engine and CVT. How much I pressed, I got so much. And why is there manual switching of pseudo-gears?
The front seats are good in shape, but too soft (on commercial vehicles they promise stuffing harder). Between them is an armrest with boxing. The front seats are good in shape, but too soft (on commercial vehicles they promise stuffing harder). Between them is an armrest with boxing.
The back is not too spacious for a car with a wheelbase of 2721 mm (for Octavia 2686 mm): with a height of 186 cm, I sit down with a small margin in my knees. The ceiling does not press. There is an armrest and one-stage heating, but there is no ski hatch. The back is not too spacious for a car with a wheelbase of 2721 mm (for Octavia 2686 mm): with a height of 186 cm, I sit down with a small margin in my knees. The ceiling does not press. There is an armrest and one-stage heating, but there is no ski hatch.
The sticker on the gas tank flap says that you need to fill 95th gasoline. Do not be alarmed. So far, the lasso has been certified only under the "ninety-fifth", but the motor was originally designed for the "ninety-second" - bravely!
Reliability? Engineers say the turbo engine is as reliable as the two-liter aspirated. Do not believe? So do I. I will believe after a run of 100, 000-150, 000 km.
Our people would prefer the classic automatic machine to the variator, but the French do not have this - in Europe they only have robots. Those who do not believe in the bright future of small-turbo engines will take Arkana 1.6.
How much
The graceful Arkana is quite a bit inferior to the Capture in patency. The angles of entry and exit are the same, with steel crankcase - 205 mm. The graceful Arkana is quite a bit inferior to the Capture in patency. The angles of entry and exit are the same, with steel crankcase - 205 mm.
Next to the button for opening the fifth door is a rear view camera and two license plate lights. The closing handle is only one (under the right hand), but very comfortable. Next to the button for opening the fifth door is a rear view camera and two license plate lights. The closing handle is only one (under the right hand), but very comfortable.
So, the prices. We go from top to bottom.
Half a step below the Edition One version is the Arkana 1.3 TCe 150 in simpler versions - its price starts at 1, 229, 990 rubles.
Even lower is the Arkana with a 1.6 Capturodaster engine (114 hp), all-wheel drive and a six-speed manual. This is 1, 169, 990 rubles.
The front-wheel drive Arkana 1.6 with a JF015E Logan CVT is valued at 1, 049, 990 rubles. In the version with all-wheel drive, this version will not be.
Finally, Arkana 1.6 with five-speed manual and front-wheel drive. The price of the machine in Life configuration is 999 thousand rubles! Yes, this is Arkana with the usual kondeya, with a simple “balalaika” instead of eight-inch multimedia, without foglights. But she confidently pierces the world with her LED headlights, and the sellers of Kreta, Kashkaya, Vitara and other crossovers from the segment should now nervously startle. This is a shock.
The trunk is large in size, but low. For all-wheel drive vehicles, the floor is flush with the threshold (trunk volume 409 liters), while for front-wheel vehicles it is noticeably lower (508 liters). The trunk is large in size, but low. For all-wheel drive vehicles, the floor is flush with the threshold (trunk volume 409 liters), while for front-wheel vehicles it is noticeably lower (508 liters).
The spare wheel is on a 16 inch drive, therefore it is considered temporary. In diameter, it completely coincides with 17 inches, but narrower by 10 mm. The spare wheel is on a 16 inch drive, therefore it is considered temporary. In diameter, it completely coincides with 17 inches, but narrower by 10 mm.
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Elegant, roomy, with good cross |
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The interior is more modest in appearance |
Renault Arkana without camouflage: shock price!
