Test drive of the Seat Arona 1.0 TSI XCellence: a perfect SUV for the city

We put the Seat Arona to the test with the 95 CV 1.0 TSI engine and the XCellence trim level, a combination that seems perfect for city use.

The Seat Arona arrived on the market in 2016 to become the Spanish brand’s flagship proposal for competing in the B-segment SUV category. This category has grown exponentially over the years, and there are now models for every taste.

The manufacturer has read the current market trend to perfection, so it offers a family of SUVs that starts with today’s protagonist and is complemented by the Seat Ateca and the Seat Tarraco.

This is the crossover version of the Seat Ibiza and, in fact, it shares the same platform as the brand’s city car: the MQB-A0. However, it gains 8 cm in length and 10 cm in height over it to give it a more adventurous look. This remains purely aesthetic, since we will not even have all-wheel drive versions as an option.

We carried out our test of the Seat Arona with the 95 CV 1.0 TSI engine, that is, the most basic powertrain in the range, paired with a five-speed manual gearbox, which we will discuss in more detail later.

A fashionable design

The Seat Arona is the crossover version of the Seat Ibiza, so its look is similar to that of the Spanish brand’s city car, but with several touches that make it more adventurous. In fact, the only part of the bodywork that irremediably reminds us of its predecessor is the front, where we find LED headlights with an almost triangular light signature and a grille that, on our unit, combined a plastic finish with metallic accents.

Of course, there are elements typical of the segment, such as prominent bumpers with a metallic effect to protect the lower sections of the front and rear. In addition, on the side we find plastic mouldings both around the wheel arches and along the lower part of the doors.

At the rear, there is a fairly straight-edged tailgate flanked by two vertically arranged rear lights. The model name also sits centrally on the tailgate.

Where the Seat Arona gains ground over the Ibiza is in customisation options, since we can choose from several configurations thanks to the possibility of having the roof in a contrasting colour to the bodywork. On our unit, black and white combined perfectly. The C-pillar also features a metallic trim that made the trim level of our unit clear: Xcellence.

Enough space to become the family car

Interior space is one of the great strengths of the Seat Arona when compared with other rivals in its segment and, above all, with its smaller sibling, the Seat Ibiza. However, it is when you open the front doors that you realise how close the relationship between the two models is, as the dashboard is practically identical.

That is not a negative, however, as it has a fairly sober design which, in the car we tested, was slightly dressed up by the large white plastic trim running across the dashboard, around the gear lever and ending in the front door panels.

Ergonomics are good, since we have an 8-inch touchscreen on the centre console with which we can control the infotainment system and the navigation. Another point we liked in this respect is that the Spanish brand continues to favour physical buttons for controlling the volume of the multimedia system and, above all, the air-conditioning controls. This makes them much more intuitive to use.

What we did not like in this respect is something common to practically all models of the Group Volkswagen: the position of the lever for operating the cruise control. It sticks out from the steering column and sits just below the left-hand stalk, the one for the indicators. It is quite out of sight, so if you are not used to using it, you will have to take your eyes off the road and, if you are not careful, you may flash your high beams more than once before getting it right first time.

Generous space in the rear row and a boot within the average

The rear row is one of the best in the category, as there is plenty of legroom and good headroom, so people over 1.90 metres will be able to travel without much concern.

The centre seat is not really recommended, as a passenger sitting there will not be comfortable, either for width or for the padding of the bench. To make matters worse, the transmission tunnel will force whoever sits there to keep their legs too far apart.

As for the boot of the Seat Arona, it has a capacity of 400 litres, a figure that keeps it around the segment average: it beats models such as the Kia Stonic (352 litres), but falls behind models such as the Peugeot 2008 (405 litres) or its close relative, the Volkswagen T-Cross (455 litres).

An austere but sufficient engine

As we said earlier, the Seat Arona in our test had the 95 CV 1.0 TSI engine under the bonnet, that is, the most basic powertrain in the range. Do not be put off by this, as it is a three-cylinder unit more than capable of moving the 1,165 kilos the car weighs with ease.

It develops 175 Nm of torque, with most of its power sitting in the middle of the rev range. In this way, we have sufficient power between 2,000 rpm and 4,000 rpm, the range in which we will be driving almost all the time.

It is true that performance is not brilliant, as it takes 11.4 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h and reaches a top speed of 173 km/h. However, it becomes a very decent alternative for urban journeys and occasional overtakes.

If, however, you want an Seat Arona with the benefits of the DGT ECO label, you will have to opt for the TGI CNG variant, one of the gas-powered cars you can buy in our country.

A benchmark for three-cylinder engines

Where this engine really stands out is in smoothness of operation and quietness at cruising speed. These two aspects set this three-cylinder apart from those offered by other rivals in the segment, which are much coarser and even vibrate excessively when cold.

If you are one of those who often makes long journeys with the car heavily loaded, you may well miss a few more horses under your right foot. In that case, we recommend you pay the 650 euros difference over the 115 CV 1.0 TSI, a more capable engine for these kinds of situations.

As for fuel consumption, driving that alternated between motorway and urban routes, the figure came to 6 l/100 km. It is not a high figure, but it might have been reduced had a sixth gear been included to relax the engine on faster stretches.

Agile and dynamic handling

The Seat Arona has a fairly low kerb weight, which, combined with its compact dimensions, makes it a very agile car. The steering feels light thanks to its electric assistance, although it is direct enough that taking a roundabout does not require overly forced movements.

The suspension tuning is another point we liked, as it has a firm character that keeps the bodywork from leaning too much when taking a corner briskly. Let us be clear: we are not saying it has a sporty character, but it will prevent the car from floating when hitting a bump at high speed, all without sacrificing comfort.

The Seat Arona Xcellence Edition comes with a comprehensive standard equipment list

The Seat Arona in our test had the Xcellence Edition trim level, one of the highest in the range and therefore with very comprehensive standard equipment.

As a result, we have items such as a leather multifunction steering wheel, keyless entry and start, a digital instrument cluster, full LED headlights – which provide outstanding lighting –, dual-zone climate control, heated seats, an infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen and compatibility with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as ambient lighting.

In addition, we get a range of driver assistance systems that are up to the task, including blind-spot detection, a rear parking camera, hill start assist, adaptive cruise control and automatic parking assist.

To top it all off, the Seat Arona we tested included some extras such as the sound system signed by Beats, which delivered excellent sound quality and power.

How much does the Seat Arona in our test cost?

The price of the Seat Arona 1.0 TSI 95 CV paired with the XCellence Edition trim level comes to an attractive 21,400 euros. In addition, the brand offers a discount of up to 3,200 euros, so with a final price of 18,200 euros, it becomes an alternative well worth considering if you want an urban SUV with comprehensive standard equipment and an engine ideal for city use.

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverSEAT Arona18 versions · from 23,060 €