Renault Arkana ARK vs Renault Austral AUS

Renault Arkana

ARK · 2020 – 2026

The Arkana (ARK), a coupé-SUV on the CMF-B platform.

Renault Austral

AUS · 2022 – 2026

The Austral (AUS), a modern compact SUV on CMF-CD3.

First car

Second car

Pick this one if…

Renault Arkana

Pick the Arkana for a striking coupé-SUV with a roomy boot and an efficient hybrid.

Best engine: The 1.3 TCe (petrol) or E-Tech hybrid.

Read the full guide

Pick this one if…

Renault Austral

Pick the Austral for a modern compact SUV with an efficient E-Tech hybrid.

Best engine: The 1.3 TCe (petrol) or E-Tech Full Hybrid 200.

Read the full guide

Performance

1.3 TCe 140 · Petrol vs 1.2 E-Tech 200 · Hybrid

	Renault Arkana	Renault Austral
Power	140 hp	200 hp Winner
Torque	260 Nm	—
0–100 km/h	9,8 s	8,4 s Winner
Top speed	200 km/h Winner	175 km/h
Power-to-weight	105,3 hp/t	128,2 hp/t Winner
CO₂ emissions (WLTP)	132 g/km	108 g/km Winner
Consumption (WLTP)	5,8 L/100km	4,7 L/100km Winner

Dimensions & space

	Renault Arkana	Renault Austral
Boot	480 L Winner	430 L
Boot (seats folded)	1.500 L	1.525 L Winner
Wheelbase	2,72 m Winner	2,67 m
Length	4,57 m	4,51 m
Ground clearance	—	—
Turning circle	10,9 m	10,9 m
Towing capacity (braked)	750 kg	1.500 kg Winner

Powertrain & tech

	Renault Arkana	Renault Austral
Platform	CMF-B	CMF-CD3
Drive	Front-wheel drive	Front-wheel drive
Engine family	1.3 TCe mild hybrid · E-Tech Hybrid 145	1.2 TCe · 1.3 TCe · E-Tech Full Hybrid 200
Transmission	6-speed manual · EDC7	E-Tech automatic
Fuel	Petrol	Hybrid
Euro standard	Euro 6d	Euro 6d
LEZ access	Unrestricted access (compliant under current legislation)	Unrestricted access (compliant under current legislation)

Reliability & watch-outs

Known issues

Renault Arkana

Infotainment: freezes and lag
Electrical gremlins (12V battery)
E-Tech hybrid: 12V battery drain

Renault Austral

Infotainment software needs updates
Electrical gremlins on early cars
E-Tech hybrid: 12V battery drain

Pros

Renault Arkana

Striking coupé design
Roomy boot (480–513 L)
Efficient E-Tech hybrid available

Renault Austral

Modern interior with a big screen
Efficient E-Tech Full Hybrid 200
Roomy, modular boot (430–527 L)

Cons

Renault Arkana

Sloping roof limits rear headroom
No diesel offered

Renault Austral

No diesel offered
Infotainment takes getting used to

Driving experience

Renault Arkana

A comfortable long-distance cruiser rather than a dynamic driver's car. Steering is light and accurate enough for daily use, and body control is reasonable, but the ride is firmer than many rivals — especially on larger wheels — and can feel unsettled over sharp bumps. The 1.3 TCe feels responsive once moving, while the E-Tech hybrid prioritises efficiency and can feel less linear under hard acceleration because of its multi-mode transmission. The EDC dual-clutch is smooth at higher speeds but can show low-speed hesitation or judder.

Renault Austral

A refined long-distance cruiser rather than a dynamic driver's car, helped by optional rear-axle steering (4Control) that tightens the turning circle in town. Steering is light but accurate enough for daily use, with Sport mode adding more weight. The ride is firmer than many rivals, especially on larger wheels, and can feel unsettled over sharp bumps, though body control is reasonable. The E-Tech full hybrid feels responsive in mixed driving and can cover short distances on electric power alone, while the 1.3 mild hybrid is adequate once moving. Low-speed transmission behaviour can show hesitation or judder on early hybrid examples.