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Quick overview
- Refined turbo petrol engines
- Good levels of standard equipment
- Excellent ride and handling
- Refined at all speeds
- No hybrid power on offer
- Rear seats are cramped
- Low driving seat base not to all tastes
- Driving modes only for FR models
From the moment it went on sale, the SEAT Arona has been one of the best cars in the small SUV sector. It takes its styling cues from the larger Ateca and, as well as an obvious family styling similarity that you would expect, the Arona also follows the Ateca’s lead when it comes to the way it drives.
Where many small SUVs can feel too tall for their footprint, the Arona has a supple suspension set-up that bats away most lumps and dips in the road surface, so the car feels secure and settled. This makes a big difference to how the Arona appeals to its driver and you are much more comfortable driving down switchback country lanes than in some other cars in this class. Only the Ford Puma and Skoda Kamiq are in the same ballpark as the SEAT in this respect.
There’s a little more road and wind noise to be heard inside the Arona than its key rivals, but there’s nothing to complain about when it comes to the turbocharged petrol engine line-up. There’s a pair of 1.0 TSI engines and a more powerful 1.5, though the stronger 1.0-litre unit makes a strong case for not bothering with the bigger engine. IF you do choose the 1.5, you are limited to the seven-speed DSG dual-clutch gearbox, where the 110hp 1.0 is available with manual or auto transmissions. The 95hp 1.0-litre engine is only offered with the manual ’box.
As with other SEATs, there’s a broad range of trims to pick from, which gives buyers plenty of choice when it comes to price and specification. SEAT provides ample kit with even the base version, so the Arona doesn’t leave owners feeling short-changed.
Nor will they have any sense the Arona has been scaled back in space for its driver and front passenger. The driving environment is very comfortable, though rear seat space is at more of a premium.
Prices
The Arona range gets under way with the SE model that costs from £20,730, while the SE Technology costs from £21,725. Choose the FR and its entry price if £24,145 as it kicks off with the more powerful 1.0 TSI engine. The FR Sport goes from £25,225, while the Xperience begins at £24,865 and the Xperience Lux has a price tag beginning at £26,405 or a further £1040 if you want it with the DSG automatic gearbox.
High mileage used SEAT Aronas can be bought for less than £10,000, but a four-year old car with average mileage will start from around £12,000 for an SE Technology trim model. A one-year Arona should be available from £16,000, while haggling a discount of £1500 on a new car from SEAT dealer is perfectly possible.
Infotainment, comfort and practicality
SEAT updated the Arona in 2021 and there was a stepped improvement in the quality of the fit and finish in the cabin. This was a very welcome upgrade, though the Arona is still not quite on a par with its cousins, the Skoda Kamiq or Audi Q2, when it comes to overall quality. Even so, the Arona comes with a dash that looks the part thanks to its clear dash display, which is upgraded to a Digital Cockpit in the high-spec FR Sport and Xperience Lux models.
The SE model has an 8.25-inch infotainment screen as standard, while other trims levels gain a larger 9.2-inch touchscreen that comes with satellite navigation and some connected services such as live traffic updates. With the screen placed high in the centre of the dash, it’s easier to reach and use than the one in the SEAT Ateca, and it comes with Apple CarPlay and Android for simple, wireless connection to your smartphone and apps. Larger on-screen icons than in the Ateca make the Arona’s system a whole lot clearer to use on the move.
Beneath the infotainment screen lie the physical control buttons for the air conditioning. It’s good to see SEAT sticking to this arrangement rather than operating them through the touchscreen. It is far easier to turn a dial as you drive to change temperature or fan speed or direction of the air flow than it is to scroll through various menus like you do in a Peugeot or Citroen.
The remainder of the driver’s environment is simple, stylish and comfortable. The seat has height adjustment as standard in all models of Arona, and the steering wheel moves for angle and depth to tailor the driving position to anyone. What you will notice, though, is the Arona’s driver sits lower in the car compared to those in the Skoda Kamiq or Volkswagen T-Cross. For some, this might defeat the purpose of choosing and SUV, while for others it adds to the notion the SEAT is a car with keen drivers in mind.
Whichever camp you fall into, the Arona is comfortable and its driver’s seat offers good support on longer drives. It’s also easy to judge the car’s front corners when parking or moving through densely packed streets. All but the base SE model have rear parking sensors as standard, which are definitely needed to avoid the risk of bumping the back end of the SEAT due to its high waist line limiting rear vision as you reverse.
Staying at the back of the car, the boot of the Arona is well shaped and practical, if not as large as some in the class. It can handle a few suitcases, but there isn’t a sliding rear bench or any clever back seat divisions as there is in the Honda HR-V. However, the rear seats are split 60/40 and tumble to leave a long load floor.
Which 2018 SEAT Arona model should you buy?
The Arona range starts with the SE that includes 17-inch alloy wheels, metallic paint, air conditioning, all-round electric windows, and SEAT’s 8.25-inch infotainment touchscreen. Next is the SE Technology trim that adds rear parking sensors and the larger 9.2-inch infotainment display. It also has wireless phone charging and sat-nav with voice control.
The sporty FR has rear privacy glass, ambient interior lighting, front sport seats, climate control, and automatic wipers. Pick the FR Sport for its larger 18-inch alloys, heated front seats, and the Digital Cockpit dash display. The Xperience offers a storage pack and adaptive cruise control, or you could have the Xperience Lux with Park Assist, front parking sensors, rear view camera, and Microsuede upholstery.
With the number of trim versions on offer with the Arona, it’s usually easier to move up a grade than trouble the options list. If you do want to upgrade, there are three different safety packs to choose from to build on the car’s already strong safety equipment score.
Value for money: how much does a 2018 SEAT Arona cost to buy and run?
Keeping a SEAT Arona on the road will offer few worries as combined fuel economy sits between 44.8- and 53.3mpg depending on the engine and trim you choose. The same applies to emissions as the engines produce 121- to 140g/km of carbon dioxide, which means they sit in company car tax bands ranging from 29- to 33%. When it comes to insuring the Arona, it’s also cost-effective thanks to group ratings that start at 9 and run up to group 18.
SEAT no longer offers the Arona with a diesel engine, so you have a straightforward choice between two 1.0-litre TSI turbo petrols and the 1.5 TSI. The 1.0-litres come in 95- and 110hp forms, and it’s the more powerful of this pair that makes the most sense in the Arona. There’s plenty of pep there for accelerating away from the traffic lights or getting out of tricky side junctions, and it’s happy to cruise along in silence on the motorway. The 110hp engine is also the only one in the Arona line-up with a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic gearboxes. The less potent 95hp motor only comes with the manual, while the 150hp 1.5 is limited to the DSG twin-clutch auto.
None of them is offered with four-wheel drive, but the FR models come with the Drive Profile modes as standard. This offers the driver a choice of Normal, Eco, Sport or Individual settings to tailor the car’s steering and throttle response, and how the DSG gearbox reacts if fitted. The DSG gearbox is smooth and fuss-free to use, but it can be a little jerky as the Arona pulls away from a standstill.
Verdict: Should I buy a 2018 SEAT Arona?
Anyone looking at a small SUV would be well served to consider the SEAT Arona. It covers all of the bases as it’s good to drive, refined and comfortable to a point where it queries the need for some drivers to look at larger cars. The engines are willing performers too, though not having a hybrid or EV option does mean the SEAT misses a trick next to newer rivals.
A roomy cabin in the front and decent boot space make the Arona potentially a family’s only car. Rear seat space is not as good as in a Skoda Kamiq, but the SEAT makes up for this with a lengthy list of standard kit. Choosing one of the higher specification models will not break the bank and the Arona’s running costs are very much on a par with its direct rivals’.