Summary
The SEAT Arona is a small, supermini-based SUV/crossover that sits below the Ateca in the SEAT SUV family. It was launched in summer 2017 before arriving in the UK later that year.
The Arona is based on the SEAT Ibiza hatchback, and internally it looks and feels almost identical. It also shares a lot of its componentry with the related Volkswagen Polo, T-Cross and T-Roc models.
The SEAT Arona currently has an Expert Rating of 69%, based on 23 UK media reviews as of January 2023. That puts it on par its Volkswagen cousins, but ahead of all the other class rivals we have analysed to date. The Arona has been widely praised for its driving characteristics and decent standard equipment levels. However, the diesel engine has been criticised for being noisy and slow, while concerns have been raised about its behaviour during emergency brake and swerve maneuvres.
Key specifications
Body style: Small SUV/crossover
Engines: petrol, diesel
Price: From £20,730 on-road
Launched: Autumn 2017
Last updated: Summer 2018
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
The Car Expert
Score: 8 / 10
“The Arona is by no means the cheapest small SUV on the market, but it is one of the best.”
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Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The SEAT Arona is a well-rounded small SUV, with refined engines and generous standard equipment.”
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Autocar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Polished, mature all-rounder goes straight to the top of the class”
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Business Car
Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual FR
Score: 8 / 10
“With no mechanical changes, the SEAT Arona drives much the same as before. The latest changes, especially the interior, mark this Arona out against increasingly tough compact SUV opposition.”
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Car
Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual SE Technology
Score: 8 / 10
“With its handsome, mature design and family ethos, the Arona will naturally appeal beyond SEAT’s typically youthful audience, and those customers will get a pretty decent B-SUV to drive.”
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Car Keys
Model reviewed: Facelift range
Score: 8 / 10
“Considering SEAT has made such mild tweaks to the Arona, it really shows just what a great product it was beforehand. This crossover is still up there with the best, with the fun driving experience really helping to set it apart from many in this class – though there might be roomier models in this class.”
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Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The compact SEAT Arona offers the brand’s typical stylish looks and sporty feel in a practical shape”
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Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The SEAT Arona is a safe and roomy small SUV but it’s interior feels a bit cheap in places and high-spec models are quite expensive.”
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Company Car Today
Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual FR Sport
Score: 8.1 / 10
“The SEAT Arona is well worth considering, mainly because it has great whole-life costs, it’s competitively specced, reasonably practical, and drives pretty well.”
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Daily Mail
Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual FR Sport
Score: 8 / 10
“This is simply the most sensible car I’ve ever driven, with everything just as it should be and no surprises. A car, perhaps, for people who have no interest in cars.” (Chris Evans)
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Evo
Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual FR Sport
Score: 7 / 10
“SEAT’s Arona is one of the bigger entertainers in this class, but not yet an alternative to a hot supermini for people like us”
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Green Car Guide
Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual FR
Score: 9 / 10
“The SEAT Arona FR 1.0 TSI 115PS 6-speed manual offers fun, agility, economy, and practicality. It looks good and it’s even affordable. These are the key features that we look for in a car, and there aren’t many faults.”
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Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The SEAT Arona is one of the best small SUVs on the market today. While it’s pricier than the equivalent Ibiza hatchback, all models are loaded with standard equipment and it’s a very practical choice. It’s also good to drive and cheap to run.”
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Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“List price aside, we think the Arona is one of the best all-rounder compact crossovers. More comfortable than the Captur and more practical than the Juke, SEAT’s second crossover is another success story for the Volkswagen-backed carmaker.”
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Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual
“The SEAT Arona is a crossover that impresses. True, it is more expensive than a Renault Captur or a Nissan Juke, but the extra money gets you more equipment and, quite frankly, a better car. It’s quite possibly the best small crossover on sale.”
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Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.4 / 10
“The SEAT Arona is a stylish, jacked-up small family car with tempting finance deals available”
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The Sun
Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual
“I am not 100% sold on the exterior, however, which can look a little plain in some colours and trims. And this is one crossover that definitely won’t enjoy going off the beaten path. But it is very good at what it does and is certainly one of the best little SUVs in what is currently a very crowded market.”
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The Telegraph
Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual FR
Score: 8 / 10
“Pleasingly unpretentious, with a whiff of sporting behaviour in its make-up, the SEAT Arona isn’t a car to excite any of the senses except perhaps the wallet and the satisfaction of a vehicle well designed for its job.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Although not perfect, the SEAT Arona is the only car of this type to score consistently strongly across all categories. And so, just as the SEAT Ibiza has become a frontrunner in the supermini class, so the Arona moves into pole position as far as small crossovers are concerned.”
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Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel manual FR
Score: 6 / 10
“Try to forget the idea it’s an SUV and this little car makes more sense. It rides and handles well and has plenty of space inside. You need to do a lot of miles to make the noisy diesel version pay back its extra purchase cost, but in petrol form the SEAT Arona surpasses rivals in the battle for supermini crossover honours.”
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The SEAT Arona is a decent enough crossover, but a Leon hatchback is bigger, better and no more expensive”
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What Car?
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Good to drive, roomy inside and fairly affordable to own”
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Which?
Model reviewed: Range overview
“The SEAT Arona hits the market bang on as an SUV with sporty styling and compact dimensions. It’s big inside, and most of the controls and functions are easy to use. On the whole, it’s great to drive, too, but we have concerns about how it handles in emergency manoeuvres.”
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Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: October 2022
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 83%
Child protection: 83%
Vulnerable road users: 65%
Safety assist: 70%
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: October 2022
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 83%
Child protection: 83%
Vulnerable road users: 65%
Safety assist: 70%
The rating above only applies to the versions of the SEAT Arona powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine and manual gearbox. It does not apply to any other engine/gearbox combination.
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of January 2023, we don’t have enough reliability data on the SEAT Arona to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Arona, we’ll publish the score here.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the SEAT Arona has received
2019
- What Car? Awards – Best Small SUV
- Tow Car Awards – Best Tow Car, Ultralight category
- DieselCar & EcoCar Top 50 – Best Compact SUV
2018
- WhatCar? Awards – Best Small SUV
- DieselCar & EcoCar Top 50 – Best Compact SUV
- Red Dot Design Awards – Best Product Design
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the SEAT Arona, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Audi Q2 | Citroën C3 Aircross | Dacia Duster | Fiat 500X | Ford EcoSport | Ford Puma | Honda HR-V | Hyundai Bayon | Hyundai Kona | Jeep Renegade | Kia Stonic | Mazda CX-3 | MG ZS | Mitsubishi ASX | Nissan Juke | Peugeot 2008 | Renault Captur | Skoda Kamiq | SsangYong Tivoli | Suzuki Vitara | Toyota Yaris Cross | Vauxhall Crossland | Vauxhall Mokka | Volkswagen T-Cross | Volkswagen T-Roc
More information
More news, reviews and information about the SEAT Arona at The Car Expert
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