The SEAT Ibiza and Arona are being renewed to compete with the brands that dominate the market

SEAT is an iconic brand going through a rather unpleasant period. In fact, there is a lot of talk that it will soon stop being at the forefront. There are reports that it will soon stop manufacturing cars and that the legendary models that have written its name into the history books of the automotive industry will disappear. But that will take time to happen, if it ever does, and SEAT’s models still have a lot to say.

Few cars are more popular in our country than the SEAT Ibiza, and the brand has decided to give it a facelift to renew its range and keep it as one of the favourites, especially among young drivers. Alongside the renewal of the Ibiza, which is already in its fifth generation, the Arona, now in its first generation, will also be updated.

This renewal will take place by 2026, so we won’t have to wait long to learn the details that will help these models maintain their status in the market. For now, this has been an announcement made at the CUPRA stand at the Munich Motor Show. At that event, it was announced that SEAT is once again an important brand for the Volkswagen Group, complementing the high-performance brand that was spun off from SEAT.

While CUPRA focuses on higher-performance versions of models we know from SEAT, alongside its own proposals, SEAT remains the choice for compact cars designed for urban journeys. For that reason, the Volkswagen Group has once again placed its trust in the brand and its models, which continue to hold their ground against the newly arrived Chinese brands and other European brands with the same philosophy.

Small exterior changes, big changes under the bonnet

The changes expected are few in terms of styling. The image of both models will be kept, as it is very well known and the aim is to strengthen it in the market. However, under the bonnet significant changes are expected. The Ibiza and Arona range will incorporate new petrol engines with mild hybridisation.

These will be compatible with the Euro 7 standard, which is far stricter than the current one and will enable more sustainable mobility without sacrificing the competitive pricing that these two models are known for. These models will continue to rely on conventional engines, although with some level of electrification.

Besides updating these two well-known models, SEAT plans to take a similar approach with other models, such as the León and even the Ateca, which will receive a facelift to keep them relevant for European buyers.