Every year, the ABC newspaper launches the “ ABC Award for the Best Car of the Year ”, one of the most prestigious awards in the sector in our country. This award is awarded after a selection process by a professional jury, made up of 36 motor journalists, which represents 70% of the final decision. 25% of the evaluations depend on the subscribers of ABC premium and 5% of the users registered in ABC.es, who have decided with their choices. This year’s winner is the Renault Arkana, the rhombus coupe SUV that has received so much praise for its groundbreaking and avant-garde design. In Very Interesting we have been able to test all its propulsion alternatives and you can read the test of the hybrid variant of 145 CV, composed of a thermal block and two electric motors with a starting price of 27,075 euros .
One of the conditions to be presented as “Best ABC Car of the Year” is to be a car marketed in the last 12 months of the year, but the ratings go much further. Journalists, who have the possibility of driving all kinds of production cars, must explain the reason for our choice, based on criteria of technological advances, safety, design and new modes of propulsion . The Renault Arkana was chosen for its ability to democratize a body, the SUV coupe , which until then was reserved for premium brands. In addition, it does so without losing a notable habitability for the rear seats and a trunk of 523 liters of capacity .
Nice and efficient
Another of the key elements when choosing the Arkana as “ABC Car of the Year” has been technology, with a completely hybrid range that stands out for its contained consumption and low CO2 emissions. All this with the ECO environmental mark that accumulates so many advantages in the main Spanish cities such as Madrid or Barcelona, which are experiencing times of mobility restrictions and anti-pollution protocols focused on private mobility.
The Renault Arkana has won, yes, and it has done so against renowned rivals and firms that are usually winners in this award. An example of this is the Seat Arona or the Volkswagen ID.4, two of the favorites that have stayed within points of victory. Also participating in this award were the Audi Q4 eTron, Citroën C4, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sorento, Mazda MX-30, Nissan Qashqai, Opel Mokka and Toyota Yaris Cross.
The award ceremony
The award ceremony took place at the newspaper’s headquarters in Madrid and the CEO of Renault and Alpine Iberia, Sébastien Guigues, was very satisfied: “The ABC award confirms the success of this model, which has become a one of the brand’s best-selling vehicles to individuals since its launch, with an average of 1,000 orders per month and has also been placed in the TOP 3 of its segment to individuals . The Arkana Moment continues ”.
This award for “Best ABC Car of the Year” celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021, of which 10 have gone to the signing of the oval. As they explain to us from the newspaper: “Renault 5 (1973), Renault 18 (1979), Renault 9 (1983), Renault 21 (1987), Renault 19 (1989), Renault Clio (1991), Renault Twingo (1994) , Renault Laguna (1995), Renault Mégane (1997) and now Renault Arkana (2022) ”.
