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What’s it like?
The Arona was only SEAT’s second-ever SUV when it launched in 2017, coming hot on the heels of the larger Ateca. However, the Arona was a B-segment (supermini) challenger, based on the same underpinnings as SEAT’s own Ibiza hatchback and also the Volkswagen Polo. Heading into battle with a whole wealth of rivals, including the Ford Puma, Opel Crossland, Peugeot 2008, Citroen C3 Aircross, Renault Captur, Nissan Juke, Honda HR-V, Toyota Yaris Cross, Hyundai Kona, Kia Stonic and Fiat 500X, among more, the Arona’s strength is that it has a surprisingly spry chassis for a crossover of this type – although its interior finishing, while absolutely fine, isn’t the most daring. Nevertheless, the Arona remains a smart and stylish compact-SUV choice on the second-hand market.
Which model to go for?
SEAT kept things remarkably simple throughout the Arona’s life, fitting it essentially with either a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine (badged the TSI) or a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel (the TDI). There was a four-cylinder, 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol option known as the ‘TSI Evo’, which could shut half of its cylinders off at times of low demand to save fuel, but despite a robust 150hp output it was always vanishingly rare on our shores – we saw a single one for sale in the entire country when researching this piece, for instance.
Therefore, you’re either looking at the 95, 110, or 115hp versions of the 1.0 TSI, or the 115hp TDI. On the used market, the lower 95hp TSI is a rarity, as are any diesel models – there was a 95hp TDI as well, but that seems to have been completely overlooked by Irish buyers in favour of the brawnier 115hp unit. All Aronas are front-wheel drive and most come with a six-speed manual gearbox – you’ll know if you’re in a rarer 95hp variant if it only has a five-speed manual, while a seven-speed DSG automatic was an option on versions with higher outputs.
The best bet is the stronger three-cylinder TSI, though, which is good news because it’s by far the most readily available car on the used market. It actually started life with 115hp and 200Nm, and was reduced to 110hp during a midlife facelift in 2021 as a result of having to meet stricter emissions regulations; facelifted Aronas, by the way, are easy to spot as they have separate, circular daytime running lamps just below their headlight units, which pre-facelift models do not. So, a nice 110hp or 115hp TSI manual in a higher specification, like FR or Xperience (sometimes sold as ‘XP’, it has a more rugged, off-road appearance), would be the sweet spot and easiest-to-find example of a second-hand Arona.
Does anything go wrong?
Aronas will typically have been used in busy urban areas, so the main things to consider are the condition of the body panels and the alloy wheels, especially on the upper models fitted with larger 17-inch rims. So, check for scratches and scuffs on the bumpers, or any dents in the panels, or excessive kerbing of the alloys. Beyond that, most of the technology fitted to the Arona is tried-and-tested stuff, so there are no serious issues to worry about as long as the car you’re looking at has been well maintained and serviced during its life.
SEAT has issued five recalls for the Arona to date: one regarding the driver’s airbag; another for the adjustment of the handbrake; a further recall for the control unit of the instrument cluster; and then two separate issues pertaining to the seatbelt buckles.