The Spanish car maker, owned by Volkswagen, already had the larger Ateca SUV on sale before its smaller Arona sibling hit Irish salesrooms last November in time for the January 181 sales splurge. It is the first SEAT model in the A0 compact crossover segment, the fastest growing segment in Ireland.
There’s huge demand for compact SUVs of this size so every manufacturer wants a slice of the action.
Built on Volkswagen’s MQB AO platform, this is the youngest sibling in SEAT’s SUV family and is best described as having city car agility with SUV flair and style. It certainly makes a statement in your driveway or out on the road.
Trims are S, SE, Xcellence and FR trims. All come generously specced.
Buyers can choose from three different petrol engines. The first is the 3-cylinder, 95hp 1.0L TSI linked to a five-speed manual gearbox. There’s also a 115hp version which comes with a six-speed manual gearbox, or the dual-clutch seven-speed DSG transmission. The latter is the new four-cylinder 150hp TSI offered only in the FR trim.
Diesel options are the 1.6L TDI with 95 and 115hp. The 95hp version can be matched with a five-speed manual gearbox or the seven-speed DSG; the 115hp with a six-speed gearbox.
While the official average fuel consumption figure is 4.9 L/100ms, the trip computer showed 6.9 L/100kms when I returned the car.
The interior of this five-seater is certainly spacious but it’s not as stylish as the exterior. However, the big white sweep across the dash and doors in my test car added its own cheer to the grey look.
Side windows reach far forward which means good visibility especially needed when approaching roundabouts. Seats are supportive and comfy; front ones can be heated. I also got a good driving position.
This is the first SEAT I’ve noted where the car’s boot doesn’t open with the SEAT badge. Luggage capacity is 400 litres and you’ll find a spare below.
Arona has all the driving assistance and infotainment systems that other SEAT models have, such as Front Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Hill Hold control, Multi-Collision Brake, Keyless Entry, a high-quality rear camera, 8-inch panel touchscreen, wireless charger, Rear Traffic Alert, Blind Spot Detection and the Park Assist (the car can park itself) which you can use for both parallel parking and parking at an angle.
My car was the 1.0L 115hp petrol version in a smart Desire Red exterior colour (€711 more) with a grey roof, and in the Xcellence trim and which came with 17-inch alloys (€444), chrome roof rails, LED Daytime Running Lights, Cruise Control, air con, Bluetooth, multi functional steering wheel, voice control, Full Link technology, front cornering fog lights, six airbags, Blind Spot Detection and Rear Traffic Alert, to name but some items.
Options included the metallic paint (€722), BeatsAudio (€555), an Easy Pack (€222), 17-inch alloys (€444), the full LED Headlights (€667). A few packs are offered.
Arona features Apple Car Play, Android Auto and Mirror Link. You can also opt for an optional BeatsAudio with six premium speakers, a 300W 8-channel amplifier and a subwoofer in the boot, if you want to blast your ears off.
Small petrol engines are becoming increasingly popular right now and I liked how well this 1.0 115hp drove on all road types tested. It’s ideal for nimble city commutes, motorway driving or for your holiday getaways.
This is a competitively priced, well specced small family car that should serve owners well. Buyers can also customise their cars with options provided for both exterior and roof colours. The roof can be grey, black, orange or the same colour as the body. I particularly liked the unusual X graphic engraved in the sheet metal on the C Pillar to show the car’s crossover look.
Prices are from €17,995-€24,215. While the basic price is €22,815, the total price of my car as tested came to €27,591.
Arona faces stiff competition from the Renault Captur, Nissan Juke, Peugeot 2008 SUV, Citroen Aircross in this hotly contested segment.
