Seat Arona review

Introduction

The Seat Arona is the Spanish car maker's second foray into the world of SUVs, launched in the hope of repeating the success of the Ateca (a former What Car? Awards category winner no less).

So what exactly is an Arona? Well, it's a small SUV based on the Seat Ibiza hatchback and gets its name from a small municipality in Tenerife.

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What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)

1.0 TSI SE SUV 5dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (95 ps)

Expected annual mileage	5000
Term months	48
Deposit months	12
Monthly payment	£263.14
Initial payment	£3,157.68

Step-by-step

Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.

• Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
• Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
• Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end

What you get

When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:

• Full manufacturer’s warranty
• Road tax and roadside assistance included
• No admin fees
• Free returns within 30 days*

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£3,158 initial payment, 48 month contract, 5000 miles p/a. Subject to status and conditions.

• Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
• No balloon payments
• Road tax included

It shares lots of parts with two more expensive VW Group models – the Audi Q2 and Volkswagen T-Roc – so it looks rather good value.

Seat Arona video review

But how does it compare with the best small SUVs out there? Well, that’s a tough (and popular) crowd to beat, because rivals include the Ford Puma, the Nissan Juke, the Peugeot 2008, the Renault Captur, the Toyota Yaris Cross and VW T-Cross.

Overview

With a tidy ride and handling balance combined with a spacious, well-built interior, the Arona still ticks a lot of boxes for the family. There are slightly quieter rivals out there, while some are even more practical, but you’d have to pay more for them. At this level, the Arona represents pretty good value, and we’d stick to the 1.0 TSI 115 engine and SE Technology trim.

Our pick

1.0 TSI SE Technology SUV 5dr Petrol DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (115 ps) review

RRP £26,380

Pros

• Tidy handling
• Spacious and user-friendly interior
• Competitive list price

Cons

• Some rivals have a bigger boot
• Doesn’t have a sliding rear bench
• No hybrid option

Our pick

1.0 TSI SE Technology SUV 5dr Petrol DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (115 ps) review

RRP £26,380

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Performance & drive

What it's like to drive, and how quiet it is

How fast is it and which engine is best?

The Seat Arona engine range kicks off with the 94bhp 1.0-litre TSI 95 that’s only available with a five-speed manual gearbox. It can feel a bit sluggish at low revs, but there’s enough power to sit comfortably at motorway speeds. Officially it’ll get from 0-62mph in 11.1sec, which is noticeably slower than the entry-level Ford Puma 125.

The mid-range 114bhp 1.0-litre TSI 115 doesn’t cost much more, but It has enough extra power to make it our recommended engine, pulling better from low revs and generally feeling more energetic. It’s available with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

We managed a 0-60mph time of 9.2sec with the automatic gearbox, beating the Kia Stonic 1.0 T-GDi we tested on the same day (at 10.2sec). That said, there are more muscular rivals out there, with the Puma 125 feeling stronger across the rev range, while the Toyota Yaris Cross feels more lively off the line with the help of its electric motor.

At the top of the engine range is the 148bhp 1.5-litre TSI 150. Its extra power helps deliver much quicker acceleration than either of the 1.0-litre units (0-62mph takes 8.3sec), but it’s only available with the automatic gearbox and limited to the sportier FR trims.

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

One of the strengths of the larger Seat Ateca is how fun it is to drive – a rare quality among SUVs, especially at this end of the market. The good news is that, on the whole, Seat hasn’t dropped the ball with the Arona.

With accurate steering and enough weight building up to help you judge how much input is required, you can turn into corners with confidence. Meanwhile, the Arona’s suspension resists body lean well and yet remains forgiving enough to soak up mid-corner bumps without any fuss. It’s more agile and entertaining than most direct rivals, especially the Citroën C3 Aircross, Peugeot 2008, Renault Captur.

The pricier FR and FR Sport versions have grippier tyres and firmer sports suspension that provide even better body composure. Those trims also add a Drive Profile switch that lets you adjust the weight of the steering, although we tended to leave it in Normal mode, which gives a progressive build-up of weight as you turn the wheel. The Arona isn’t the cornering king of this class, though – the sharper Ford Puma undoubtedly takes that title.

The Arona rides well on smaller wheels, confidently soaking up the bumps and potholes you typically find in most towns and cities. The same can be said when you reach motorway speeds, where the Arona proves to be a settled and comfortable cruiser.

If you opt for FR Sport trim, the combination of sports suspension with larger 18in alloy wheels means the Arona is noticeably less settled over craggy roads, but it remains more comfortable than the Ford Puma or Kia Stonic. A Nissan Juke is generally more agitated over all surfaces, too.

If comfort is high on your list of priorities, you could consider the softer Skoda Kamiq or the VW T-Cross.

Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?

The Arona's 1.0-litre engines are pretty hushed on a cruise, and they don’t become too thrummy when you work them hard. You do get a few vibrations filtering up through the steering wheel and pedals, though; the 1.5-litre TSI 150 is the smoothest engine in the range.

There’s a moderate level of road noise in all versions, although wind noise is pretty low. It’s quieter than the Ford Puma and Kia Stonic, but for something quieter, look at the Audi Q2 or VW T-Roc.

The Arona's manual gearbox and clutch pedal are not quite as well-weighted as a Puma’s but they’re more precise than those in the Juke. The Arona’s automatic gearbox changes gear smoothly. The stop-start system isn’t as quick or as smooth as the mild hybrid Puma, though.

“There is a slight pause when setting off in the automatic version, but you can nudge the gearlever across from D for a more responsive S setting.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

Interior

The interior layout, fit and finish

What does the interior look like and is it well made?

The interior of the Arona improved tenfold during its mid-life update. Many of the hard, scratchy plastics across the upper sections of the dashboard have been replaced with soft-touch materials and convincing fake-metal trim to make it a far more pleasant place. You have to search lower down in the interior to find cheap-feeling plastics but that’s also applicable to the Arona’s rivals.

All versions come with a leather steering wheel, a leather gear knob and handbrake, and they all look and feel good. On SE Technology and above, the outer air vents come with ambient lighting, which is a nice touch.

As a whole, the interior feels well screwed together and is a step up in material quality compared with the Ford Puma, Kia Stonic and Renault Captur – which predominantly use hard plastics. That said, it doesn’t quite live up to the best small SUVs in this respect, namely the Audi Q2, Lexus LBX and Mazda CX-30.

Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?

You shouldn’t find it difficult to get comfortable in the Seat Arona thanks to the driver’s seat providing plenty of adjustment and the steering wheel adjusting for both height and reach. However, unlike in the Ford Puma and VW T-Roc, you don't get adjustable lumbar support on any version.

If you long for a lofty driving position in your small SUV, the Arona does this better than the more car-like Stonic and Skoda Kamiq. However, have a look at the Puma, the Renault Captur or the VW T-Cross if you want to sit even higher up.

The Arona’s eye-catching looks haven’t come at the expense of forward visibility. The relatively slim windscreen pillars don’t obstruct your view out much – even when you're pulling out of junctions – and it’s easier to judge where the car’s extremities are than it is from the more enclosed interiors of the Nissan Juke or Peugeot 2008.

The Arona’s rear pillars are fairly chunky but no worse than most rivals, while a relatively tall and wide rear windscreen means your rear view out is still better than the Juke’s. To help out with parking, every trim includes rear parking sensors, while SE Technology adds a rear-view camera and the FR trims add front parking sensors.

All versions of the Arona come with automatic full LED headlights to help give great visibility at night (although some lower-spec versions come with dimmer Eco LED units).

Are the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

The Arona’s interior is well laid out, with the infotainment touchscreen sitting high up on the dashboard. A digital driver’s display is standard across the range, replacing traditional analogue dials with either an 8.0in or (on top-spec FR-Sport trim) a 10.0in display that can show full-screen navigation maps and other information.

Every Arona has an infotainment touchscreen, DAB radio, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring. SE comes with an 8.25in touchscreen but all other versions come with a larger 9.2in screen.

They’re not the biggest displays out there (a Stonic has a 12.3in one, for example) but they are crisp, bright and respond quickly to your prods. In fact, the larger screen is one of the better systems out there, keeping everything simple with a small number of menus. You get physical controls for the air conditioning, which is something you can’t say about the Ford Puma or VW T-Roc.

Built-in sat-nav is standard with all trims except entry-level SE, but that shouldn’t be a problem because the standard smartphone mirroring lets you use a navigation app on your phone through the car's touchscreen.

Adjusting the fan speed and temperature is a doddle thanks to physical ventilation controls, proving far less distracting to use than those who bury them in the touchscreen, such as the Puma and 2008.

“The Arona's air-conditioning controls are positioned quite low down, but this isn't a major problem. They're so simple that I found I didn't actually need to look at them to use them.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

Passenger & boot space

How it copes with people and clutter

How much space does it have for people?

Even if you’re well over 6ft tall, you won't feel your hair brushing the Seat Arona’s high roof lining, and the front seats slide back far enough to accommodate anyone with long legs. Shoulder room is good too, making the Arona feel more spacious upfront than inside the Kia Stonic, Lexus LBX and Toyota Yaris Cross. The VW Taigo is similarly impressive spacewise but the bigger VW T-Roc will suit you better if you're very tall.

The front door bins are not the biggest but do have room for a water bottle. In front of the gearlever you get a cubbyhole, where the FR trims have a wireless phone-charger built in. There's also a decent-sized glovebox, a small recess for loose change and a large cubby behind the handbrake. The top-of-the-range FR trims add a central armrest. All we’d say is that the cupholders are bunched up beside the handbrake, making it quite awkward to use when you have drinks in place.

Yes, the Arona is a small SUV but there’s still enough head room in the rear seats for a couple of six-footers to fit in. In fact, there’s more than you get in the Stonic and Nissan Juke. While the Skoda Kamiq and VW T-Cross allow you to stretch out your legs a bit more, it’s still less cramped than in the LBX, with just enough clearance for their knees behind the back of the front seat.

Carrying three people in the back of the Arona is a bit of a squeeze for all concerned, but that’s similar with many rivals in this class. A middle passenger will have to straddle their legs either side of a tall and wide centre tunnel, though, unlike in the Stonic, which has an almost flat floor. If you’ll regularly need to carry three in the back seats, the wider VW T-Roc is a slightly better bet.

How much room does it have for luggage?

On paper, the Arona's 400 litres of boot volume is better than the Stonic’s (at 352-litres) and a rough match for the Skoda Kamiq and Toyota Yaris Cross (397 litres). We were able to fit six carry-on suitcases in its boot, but that still falls short of the Kamiq (seven cases) and the champion of the class – the Ford Puma (with eight).

A height-adjustable boot floor comes as standard on all Arona trim levels to boost versatility. In its highest setting it creates a separate storage area underneath and also removes the lip at the boot entrance. Even when you place it in its lowest setting, there’s less of a drop from the entrance than the Stonic’s, making it easier to heave heavier items in or out. There’s also the bonus of a storage well underneath the boot floor.

Don’t expect the Arona to have any clever practicality tricks up its sleeve, such as sliding rear seats or a folding front passenger’s seat. Both are available on some rivals: the Renault Captur and VW T-Cross get a sliding rear bench allowing you to exchange rear leg room for a bit more boot space.

The Arona's rear bench folds down in a 60/40 split, which isn’t quite as versatile as the 40/20/40 split found in most versions of the Yaris Cross. There are no release handles in the boot to make the process easier, either. Instead, you have to open the rear doors and press a button next to the rear head restraints – a bit of a faff.

“The Arona's height-adjustable boot floor also means there's no step up to the rear seats when they're folded, which I found useful when I used the car for an Ikea run.” – Darren Moss, Deputy Digital Editor

Buying & owning

Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is

How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?

The entry-level Seat Arona is at the more affordable end of the small SUV spectrum, costing about the same as a Renault Captur and less than the majority of its rivals, including the Ford Puma, Nissan Juke and Skoda Kamiq.

The downside is that it’s expected to depreciate quickly, losing its value faster than all those rivals. However there are cash discounts available, which reduces the amount of money through depreciation for private buyers. However, that fast depreciation can increase the amount you have to pay each month on a PCP agreement.

Fuel economy is competitive against rivals. The 1.0 TSI 95 averaged 45.9mpg in our Real MPG testing, while the more powerful 115 version achieved 49.6mpg – bettering the Stonic 1.0 T-GDi on the same route (at 45.8mpg).

Official CO2 emissions for the Arona are comparable with those of the VW T-Cross (which is useful to know if you're a company car user because it affects the BIK tax rate) if not quite as low as the hybrid-powered Lexus LBX, Renault Captur or Toyota Yaris Cross. There won’t be a full hybrid version of the Arona, but a mild hybrid version is due to arrive in 2027.

Entry-level SE trim includes 16in alloys, cruise control, air-conditioning, electric front and rear windows, a contrasting roof colour and metallic paint. Our favourite trim level is SE Technology, because of the better infotainment system, ambient lighting and rear privacy glass.

The FR First Edition and FR Sport trims are the more performance-focused options, with larger 17in and 18in alloys respectively, enhanced styling, firmer sports suspension and a few extras, including dual-zone climate control, heated front sports seats, power-folding door mirrors and, if you go for FR Sport, keyless entry and start.

Is it reliable, and how long is the warranty?

The Arona finished in the bottom half of the small SUV class in the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, in 23rd place, out of 35. That places it above the Ford Puma, Toyota Yaris Cross and the Nissan Juke in last place, but the Audi Q2 and VW T-Cross finished in the top 10.

Seat as a brand, meanwhile, placed 18th out of the 30 car makers ranked, below Vauxhall and Toyota.

All versions of the Arona come with a three-year warranty that covers you up to 60,000 miles. That’s similar to most rivals but no match for the seven-year cover you get with a Kia Stonic.

Seat also gives you Europe-wide breakdown cover for two years and you can pay extra to have your warranty extended if you plan to keep your car for longer.

How safe is it, and is it easy to steal?

Every Arona comes with automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assist, a driver attention monitor and traffic sign recognition.

The Arona was tested for safety by Euro NCAP in 2022 and scored the full five stars – better than the Ford Puma, which only got four stars. However, it’s hard to compare with newer rivals because the testing regime has become more stringent over the years. Overall, the Arona provided a good level of protection for adults and children in both frontal and side impacts without any major weak areas.

"Given the Arona’s reliability record, I find it a bit disappointing that you only get a three-year warranty" – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

Buy it if...

- You want a a small SUV that’s more fun to drive than most rivals

- A smart and easy to use interior

- Has a good amount of space for four adults

Don’t buy it if…

- You want fuel-efficiency that matches a hybrid rival

- The biggest boot in the class

- You want the most versatile rear seats

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