Hyundai Kona Electric vs Renault Arkana

The Hyundai Kona Electric starts from $40,500 before on-road costs, while the Renault Arkana opens at $39,990. That makes the Renault Arkana the more affordable entry point by $510.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $44,550 and $43,989 respectively.

The Hyundai Kona Electric qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Renault Arkana, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Both the Hyundai Kona Electric and Renault Arkana hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 80% for the Hyundai Kona Electric and 96% for the Renault Arkana.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Renault Arkana packs more ADAS features with 6 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 5 in the Hyundai Kona Electric.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the Hyundai Kona Electric and 6 in the Renault Arkana.

The Hyundai Kona Electric features a 12.3-inch touchscreen, while the Renault Arkana gets a 9.3-inch display and 7-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Hyundai Kona Electric stands out with heated front seats that you will not find on the Renault Arkana. The Renault Arkana counters with power tailgate. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Hyundai Kona Electric runs a pure electric powertrain producing 99kW and 255Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.9 seconds.

The Renault Arkana lines up making 105kW and 205Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 9.4 seconds.

The Renault Arkana has the clear power advantage at 105kW vs 99kW. In the real-world sprint, the Renault Arkana is 0.5s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Hyundai Kona Electric measures 4,350mm long on a 2,660mm wheelbase, 218mm shorter than the Renault Arkana at 4,568mm (2,720mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Renault Arkana generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 361L in the Hyundai Kona Electric and 430L in the Renault Arkana, giving the Renault Arkana a 69L advantage.

For towing, the Hyundai Kona Electric leads with a 1,300kg braked capacity vs 1,200kg. That 100kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 5 years (Hyundai Kona Electric) vs 5 years (Renault Arkana). Both match on warranty length.