Renault Arkana vs BYD Atto 2
What's the difference?

Renault Arkana

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2024 price

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BYD Atto 2

$31,990 - $35,990

2026 price

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Summary

2024 Renault Arkana

2026 BYD Atto 2

By Dom Tripolone

By Andrew Chesterton

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 1.3L

Fuel Type

Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

5.9L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Good looks
Punchy engine
Decent equipment list

Sensible, soothing looks
Ridiculous value
Spacious back seat

Dislikes

Glitchy transmission
Firmish ride
Not the cheapest

Tech can be fiddly
Driving dynamics are't stellar
Is 345km enough range?

2024 Renault Arkana Summary

Renault’s Arkana coupe-style compact SUV has been hit with its first makeover, which ushers in a range of styling changes, increased equipment and new model grade names.

There are few cars like it in the compact SUV segment, where vehicles usually favour the boxier, traditional SUV wagon shape over the stylish but often internal space compromised coupe SUVs.

Renault Australia is only expecting about one per cent share of the segment or around 1500 sales a year.

But if you want to stand out from the crowd of Mazda CX-30, Mitsubishi ASX and Toyota Corolla Cross small SUVs then the Arkana might be for you.

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2026 BYD Atto 2 Summary

There has never been a better time to be shopping for an electric SUV in Australia, with the avalanche of Chinese brands constantly smashing through the price floor as they bid for the title of Australia’s cheapest.

MG led the charge with its S5, which is $40,490, drive-away. Then Leapmotor upped (or downed?) the ante with its B10 with a $38,990, drive-away, price tag. And now BYD has knocked them both out with its Atto 2, officially Australia’s cheapest electric SUV (at least for now), with a MSRP of $31,990, which, in NSW, translates to a drive-away cost of less than $35K.

Cheap is one thing. But cheerful? Let’s find out, shall we?

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Deep dive comparison

2024 Renault Arkana 2026 BYD Atto 2

Verdict

The Arkana is a stylish alternative in a sea of same-same compact SUVs. It's relatively well equipped and has some hidden gems in its ownership and running costs that elevate it above some of the competition.

It’s not a bad thing to steer, either, but the lurchy dual-clutch could be a deal breaker for some.

The sweet spot is the Techno, which misses out on the Esprit Alpine’s special touches but represents the most bang for your buck.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with meals provided.

Verdict

The BYD Atto 2 isn't just the cheapest electric SUV in Australia, it's also one that doesn't feel all that cheap, which is a hell of a magic trick. If it's easy, comfortable city motoring you're after, the Atto 2 delivers in spades. But if your blood type is high octane, there are better driving EVs out there.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with meals provided.

Note: The author, Andrew Chesterton, is a co-owner of Smart As Media, a content agency and media distribution service with a number automotive brands among its clients. When producing content for CarsGuide, he does so in accordance with the CarsGuide Editorial Guidelines and Code of Ethics, and the views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

Renault Arkana vs BYD Atto 2 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Renault Arkana vs BYD Atto 2
What's the difference?