Renault Arkana vs Zeekr X
What's the difference?

Renault Arkana

$29,990 - $40,990

2024 price

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Zeekr X

$48,900 - $64,900

2026 price

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Summary

2024 Renault Arkana

2026 Zeekr X

By Dom Tripolone

By Andrew Chesterton

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 1.3L

Not Applicable, 0.0L

Fuel Type

Unleaded Petrol

Electric

Fuel Efficiency

5.9L/100km (combined)

0.0L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Good looks
Punchy engine
Decent equipment list

Engaging driving dynamics
High-end equipment
Luxurious-feeling cabin

Dislikes

Glitchy transmission
Firmish ride
Not the cheapest

Tech still fiddly in places
Ride might be too firm for some
Still a sizeable ask for a not-so-sizeable SUV

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 Zeekr X Summary

Zeekr is making waves in Australia at the moment but it's not because of the car you see before you.

Nope, it’s the 7X mid-size SUV that’s captured a heap of attention and a whole lot of sales. In fact, of the 1832 sales the brand has managed over the first three months of 2026, just 54 were for the X.

But that was the old X and this is the new one. With more power, more performance, faster charging and a whole heap of pretty special equipment, especially for the small SUV segment.

So, is that enough to finally put the X on the map?

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Deep dive comparison

2024 Renault Arkana 2026 Zeekr X

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

It's a good thing in a small package, this Zeekr X, and there are a lot of things I like about it. In fact, the only sticking point for me is the price. But that's all about perspective. If you see this as a newcomer Chinese brand, then yes, there are a lot of more affordable options out there. But if you see it as a premium player, it's really a more affordable version of a Volvo.

Note: The author, Andrew Chesterton, is a co-owner of Smart As Media, a content agency and media distribution service with a number of 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 Zeekr X What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Renault Arkana vs Zeekr X
What's the difference?