Name: Seat Arona Review
Item: Seat Arona
Author: Gumtree.com

The small SUV market offers a bewildering array of options these days. The Seat Arona (named after a town in Tenerife) joined the fray in 2017 as half of Seat’s two-pronged entry into the class, alongside the larger Ateca. It sits in the middle of the small SUV field in many respects: not the cheapest, but cheaper than the likes of the Audi Q2, roomier than the Nissan Juke but less spacious than the Skoda Karoq, and more stylish than many but the higher-end offerings.

Visit the Seat Arona model page to explore available cars and learn more.

What we think about the Seat Arona

The Arona might not top every category in a competitive field, but it’s a great all-rounder that ticks all the boxes pretty well.

Pros

Handles well

More spacious than many rivals

Good range of equipment

Cons

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Functional interior

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Expensive higher level trims

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Rear seats less flexible than some rivals

The Arona is available in seven different levels of trim. SE is the entry-level trim, then the range ascends through SE Technology, SE Technology Lux, FR, FR Sport, Xcellence and finally Xcellence Lux. It’s probably worth stepping up to at least the SE Technology trim, as this adds rear parking sensors along with sat-nav and wireless charging. The SE Technology Lux is designed for drivers who want to use the car for long trips, with a diesel engine, adaptive cruise control, standard winter pack and space-saver spare wheel.

Driving performance of the Seat Arona

Our Driving Rating7 / 10

The Arona is offered with a choice of three petrol engines and one diesel. The entry-level 1.0-litre TSI 95 will take you from 0 to 60 in 11.4 seconds, and feels perfectly capable, particularly around town. If you’re going to regularly load up the car and take it on the motorway, the more powerful 1.0-litre TSI 115 is worth a look. On the standard 17-inch alloys, the Arona will handle bumps in city roads better than rivals such as the Citroen C3 Aircross. SUVs in general don’t tend to be the most thrilling cars to drive, but the agile handling of the Arona makes it feel a lot more fun than many rivals.

Safety and reliability of the Seat Arona

Our Safety Rating8 / 10

When it launched in 2017, the Arona was awarded the full five stars from Euro NCAP. It comes with six airbags, tyre pressure monitoring and tiredness recognition. There are also Isofix child seat mounts, front and rear seatbelt reminders and autonomous emergency braking. The high-end Xcellence trim adds rear cross traffic alert and blind spot detection systems. It all adds up to a safe family car.

Under the bonnet of the Seat Arona

Our Engine Rating7 / 10

The two versions of the entry-level 1.0-litre engine discussed above deliver 94 and 113 brake horsepower respectively. They’ll be adequate for most drivers’ needs, though you may feel some vibrations through the pedals. Those looking for a more refined experience behind the wheel will appreciate the extra power of the 48 bhp 1.5-litre TSI, which will take you from 0 to 60 in 8.2 seconds. The diesel is the slowest engine option, but it will build up speed steadily on the motorway and do a decent job around town.

What you'll find in the Seat Arona

Our Design Rating7 / 10

Viewed from the outside, the Arona has a certain degree of attitude. There’s the two-tone metallic paint for a start, available in a choice of nine colours for the body. Then there are the angular headlights, the X motif on the bodywork behind the rear door, and the heavily styled back end. It’s not the in-your-face styling of the Nissan Juke, but it’s showier than the likes of many more down-to-earth family cars on the market.

Comfort and interiors in the Seat Arona

Our Comfort Rating7 / 10

People buy SUVs partly for the elevated driving position, but the Arona doesn’t pitch you much higher than a regular hatchback. That said, the pedals and the steering wheel line up nicely with the highly adjustable driver’s seat. The funky styles of the exterior aren’t so apparent inside, but it all feels well screwed-together. The leatherette dashboard on the higher-end trims does give the interior a lift, and even the entry-level trims come with a leather-trimmed steering wheel, handbrake lever and gear knob.

What features you'll find in the Seat Arona

Our Features Rating7 / 10

The SE trim comes with a 6.5-inch touchscreen entertainment system with DAB and Bluetooth connectivity. That’s a pretty small screen by modern standards, but stepping up to SE technology trim buys takes that up to an 8.5-inch screen that’s bright and easy to use. A six-speaker stereo system is standard, while the SE Technology Lux trim offers an upgrade to a Beats system with a subwoofer in the boot. SE Technology and above all come with rear parking sensors too, while the higher end trims bring front sensors and powerful LED headlights.

What fuel efficiency to expect from the Seat Arona

Our Fuel Consumption Rating7 / 10

The various engines available with the Seat Arona will deliver between 42.2 and 58.9 mpg. They’re pretty impressive numbers – for the diesel in particular – but the petrol engines are none too thirsty either. They’re not best in class on this front though, with the hybrid engines available in rival models being even more parsimonious.

Running costs of the Seat Arona

Our Cost Rating8 / 10

The Arona isn’t going to cost you much to insure, with the various versions sitting in groups 8 to 12. Seat’s two-year, unlimited mileage warranty and 60,000-mile third year is fairly average. Depreciation is likely to be slower than others in the class, but faster than the likes of the Puma and the Kamiq. All in all, the Arona offers a decent value proposition.

Our verdict of the Seat Arona

4 / 5 Gumtree rating

In a crowded small SUV market, the Seat Arona is a great all-rounder that does all the basics well.

Seat Arona Review