Renault Arkana ARK vs Volkswagen Tiguan CT1

Renault Arkana

ARK · 2020 – 2026

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

Volkswagen Tiguan

CT1 · 2024 – 2026

The third-generation Tiguan (CT1), on the MQB Evo platform.

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…

Volkswagen Tiguan

Pick the Tiguan for a roomy, practical family SUV with strong towing and a wide engine range.

Best engine: The 1.5 eTSI (150 hp) — the sweet spot.

Read the full guide

Performance

1.3 TCe 140 · Petrol vs 1.5 eTSI 150 · Petrol

	Renault Arkana	Volkswagen Tiguan
Power	140 hp	150 hp Winner
Torque	260 Nm Winner	250 Nm
0–100 km/h	9,8 s	9,1 s Winner
Top speed	200 km/h	210 km/h Winner
Power-to-weight	105,3 hp/t Winner	101,4 hp/t
CO₂ emissions (WLTP)	132 g/km	128 g/km Winner
Consumption (WLTP)	5,8 L/100km	5,6 L/100km Winner

Dimensions & space

	Renault Arkana	Volkswagen Tiguan
Boot	480 L	652 L Winner
Boot (seats folded)	1.500 L	1.650 L Winner
Wheelbase	2,72 m Winner	2,68 m
Length	4,57 m	4,54 m
Ground clearance	—	19,5 cm
Turning circle	10,9 m Winner	11,7 m
Towing capacity (braked)	750 kg	2.000 kg Winner

Powertrain & tech

	Renault Arkana	Volkswagen Tiguan
Platform	CMF-B	MQB Evo (transverse)
Drive	Front-wheel drive	Front-wheel drive · All-wheel drive
Engine family	1.3 TCe mild hybrid · E-Tech Hybrid 145	EA211 Evo 1.5 eTSI · EA888 2.0 TSI · EA288 Evo 2.0 TDI · eHybrid PHEV
Transmission	6-speed manual · EDC7	7-speed DSG
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol
Euro standard	Euro 6d	Euro 6e
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

Volkswagen Tiguan

New-generation software (MIB4) may need campaigns
Higher weight/reinforced suspension on eHybrid
4MOTION diesels: AdBlue/DPF on short trips

Pros

Renault Arkana

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

Volkswagen Tiguan

Even bigger boot (652 l) with a flat load floor
Modern MIB4 infotainment and driver assistance
eHybrid with ~19.7 kWh battery and low CO2

Cons

Renault Arkana

Sloping roof limits rear headroom
No diesel offered

Volkswagen Tiguan

eHybrid loses boot space (490 l)
Touch-slider controls take 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.

Volkswagen Tiguan

Comfortable, quiet and more car-like than the old Tiguan. The CT1 rides with better body control and noise isolation than the AD1, steers accurately, and feels lighter on its feet despite similar dimensions. Front-drive versions are easy; 4Motion adds traction in poor conditions. The 1.5 eTSI is smooth and efficient with its 48-volt assistance, the 2.0 TDI is the long-distance pick, and the eHybrid covers short trips on electric power. The DSG is smooth; there is no manual. It is a more polished, more digital version of the same formula — comfortable and competent, if still not exciting.