Which to buy in 2022, the Renault Arkana or the Kia Sportage? We break down what each of these compact SUVs has to offer and pick the best buy for you.
Today we offer you two compact SUVs, but with a clearly different approach. On the one hand, a more conventionally styled SUV and, on the other, a coupé-type vehicle with a very characteristic design. Which to buy in 2022, the Renault Arkana or the Kia Sportage? We analyze what each of these models offers.
To face them, we are going to analyze sections such as the dimensions, the trunk capacity, the range of engines, the most outstanding standard equipment and the prices, all of them using only official data provided by their respective manufacturers. At the end we will extract the strengths of each model to help you choose the best option.
Dimensions
We start with the Renault Arkana. The coupé-style SUV comes with a body that is 4,570mm long, 1,820mm wide and 1,575mm high, all on a platform that has a 2,720mm wheelbase.
For its part, the fifth-generation Kia Sportage, which was officially unveiled just a few months ago, sports a body that measures 4,515 mm long, 1,865 mm wide and 1,645 mm high, all on a platform that features a wheelbase of 2,680 mm.
Trunk
The trunk is key when choosing an SUV model, since they present a more familiar approach where space and versatility prevail. Thus, the Renault model has 515 liters of volumetric capacity expandable to 1,270 liters once the rear seats are folded down.
In the case of the new Kia model, it has a trunk with 590 liters of volumetric capacity, a figure that grows to 1,780 liters when the rear seats are folded down.
Engines
In the engines section, the Renault Arkana is available with a 140 hp 1.3 TCe turbo petrol engine that integrates 48V Mild Hybrid technology and a seven-speed dual-clutch EDC automatic transmission. It also offers a 145 hp E-TECH hybrid version, this time with a CVT-type automatic transmission. Both send power to the front end.
Meanwhile, the Sportage is available with a 150 and 180 hp 1.6 T-GDi petrol block with Mild Hybrid technology, as well as a 115 and 136 hp 1.6 CRDi MHEV diesel. The range is completed by a 230 hp hybrid version and a 265 hp plug-in hybrid variant with up to 70 km of autonomy. There are manual and automatic transmissions, as well as front-wheel drive or 4×4 versions.
Standard equipment
Among the standard equipment of the Arkana (Intens finish) there are 17-inch wheels, emergency braking, rear camera, automatic parking brake, driving modes, multimedia system with 7-inch touch screen, lane keeping assistant, traffic signs, parking sensors, automatic climate control or tinted windows, among others.
Among the standard equipment of the Sportage (Concept finish) we find electric windows, fatigue detector, electric parking brake, LED headlights, 17-inch wheels, 10.7-inch digital instrument panel, 8-inch central touch screen, signal recognition, cruise control, two-zone climate control and driving modes, among others.
Prices
In the price section, the Renault Arkana Intens TCE Mild Hybrid 140 hp with EDC dual-clutch automatic transmission is the access version to the range and is available from 26,965 euros.
Meanwhile, the Kia Sportage Concept 1.6 T-GDi 150 hp with manual transmission is sold in Spain with a starting price of 24,100 euros.
conclusion
If we talk about the dimensions, the Renault Arkana is 55mm longer, 45mm narrower and 70mm lower than the Kia Sportage, and offers 40mm more wheelbase. However, the Kia model offers a larger trunk, with 75 liters more when all seats are available and up to 510 liters more when folding down the rear seats.
Video: this is the new Renault Arkana:
The range of engines is broader and more varied in the Kia model, with greater power and offering up to two different hybrid versions, in addition to the Mild Hybrid mechanics. It also highlights the 4×4 drive system, something that the Renault model does not include.
The standard equipment is also quite complete in both models, but the Kia has extra elements that are optional in the Arkana. And the prices are, again, cheaper in the Kia model, with a difference close to 3,000 euros in their respective versions of access to the range.
