SEAT refreshes Arona crossover SUV

SEAT’s Arona, first launched here in late 2017, is regarded as being a small city crossover or compact SUV. The latest upgrade of the model was unveiled here in October 2025 along with a refreshed Ibiza, both with a refreshed youthful look, upgraded interior, and choice of TSI petrol engines. There are no hybrid or fully-electric versions.

Well over 750,000 units have been sold globally to drivers seeking ‘the perfect urban SUV' for energy, versatility and the styling for which the brand is renowned. The 413 Arona buyers in Ireland so far this year show many Irish customers agree with those sentiments.

Arona is named after a town on the southern coast of Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands. SEAT cars are built at the company’s production plant at Martorell, outside Barcelona, where Arona is built on the same platform as the Ibiza hatchback.

The exterior of my car was in Oniric Grey, more like a soft mint shade which looked really well with the contrasting black roof. Features are a new hexagonal grille design, new front and rear bumpers emphasising the car’s sportiness, roof rails, 18-inch ‘Performance’ Alloy wheels, painted door handles and mirrors, front fog lights with cornering function, rear fog lights, DLRs, and dark-tinted windows. As this was the FR grade, it had a laser-etched FR logo on the B-pillar for another sporty edge. The FR logo stands for Formula Racing, which, as well as styling, improves the car’s driving experience by firming up the suspension, steering, and engine options.

The spacious interior had dark headlining, attractive two-tone textile bucket seats – with integrated see-through head restraints – that were both comfy and supportive. Seats have manual adjustments and can be heated (with the optional Winter Pack). You sit higher than you would do in a normal hatchback. The forward slope of the windscreen, the narrow A-pillars, and long side windows provided excellent forward and side visibility, especially at roundabouts.

The upper dash includes nice soft-touch material (repeated on seats and doors) and a wide silver bar for added interest.

Selection for the DSG automatic transmission is on the flat of the central console beside the Drive Mode selector for Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual choices. I liked the traditional pull-up handbrake for quick reassurance that it was engaged when parked.

The 9.2-inch central display screen navigation system seemed just right for the Arona. Graphics are colourful and clear. The system features Full Link smartphone integration with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there are rotary knobs for adjusting the dual-zone temperature while on the move.

A 10.25-inch driver’s information cluster consists of two dials with speed shown in small figures on the bottom right. It would be more visible if located high up between the dials. However, you can customise the screen to suit your preference, including having a map of the area shown between both dials.

The leather-wrapped, multi-function steering wheel includes remote audio, voice and volume controls, and paddles mounted behind the steering wheel for manually changing gears.

Other features are a bucket-type glovebox, good-sized door bins, two cupholders, a small area below the front armrest, two small USBs, and a wireless phone charger.

Rear passengers have good head and leg space, albeit with a high transmission tunnel, and pockets on front seat backs; the middle seat is fixed in place, so there is no centre armrest with cupholders. Boot capacity of 400 litres can expand to 823 litres with rear seats folded down.

Trims are SE, SE Plus, FR, Arona, and Black Edition. Even the entry-level Arona is well specced with numerous standard features.

Petrol engines are a 1.0 TSI 95hp 3-cylinder with a 5-speed manual gearbox, or a 1.0 TSI 115hp paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, which was my review car. Maximum torque is 200Nm, top speed 195km/h, and acceleration from 0-100km/h is 10.00 seconds. Average fuel consumption is circa 5.7 L/100kms but I achieved 4.6 L/100kms over an 80km journey. Road tax is €200.

The car can start looking for a suitable parking space when you press the Park Assist button. It will turn the steering wheel to guide you into parallel or bay spaces. Other useful features include front and rear parking sensors, rear-view camera, Hill hold, Drowsiness monitoring system, Lane assist, Front assist with autonomous Emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist protection. Arona received the maximum 5-star safety rating from Euro NCAP in 2022.

I was able to get a good driving position behind the wheel; there was nice pick-up from the punchy engine and good response from the direct steering; I felt every bump in the road with the sporty-tuned suspension. Arona is a good small SUV for scooting around town, for school runs, or on drives down the country, but the engine could get quite noisy at high revs, and there was also some noise on certain road surfaces.

Arona has a 3-year (90,000km) manufacturer’s warranty as standard.

PRICE: range entry at €28,146; my FR car as tested €36,146.