Seat Arona long-term test | Understanding the tech

Although I appreciate all the many safety features that our long-term Seat Arona offers, the rear-view camera is one that I’m especially grateful for on a daily basis. 

When reversing onto the road from the parking spot outside my house, the camera provides a clear, wide-angle view of both sides, allowing me to manoeuvre with complete confidence. 

This added reassurance ensures that every journey starts smoothly and safely. On top of that, the car is equipped with several other features that help keep me as safe as possible on every journey. 

While the lane assist isn’t overly intrusive, I often switch it off, especially on dual carriageway journeys as every time I change lanes (without indicating), the steering wheel gently but unnecessarily tries to pull me back into lane. 

I'm also not a huge fan of the stop/start function. Although I appreciate the environmental benefits, such as reducing emissions during idling and saving fuel, it can be frustrating when the engine cuts off after just a few seconds or when you're stopped at the top of a slope, causing a slight delay before moving off again. 

Another useful feature, but again, one I’m happy to turn off, is an audible warning that sounds when the car passes a new speed limit. I’ll admit it took me a few days to work out exactly why the car was beeping. 

When it comes to in-car technology for on-the-go entertainment, the Seat scores highly. 

The Beats Audio sound system delivers impressive sound quality, and connecting my phone via Apple CarPlay has been a breeze. 

Switching tracks on Spotify or tuning in to a different radio station is effortlessly done with the convenient steering-wheel-mounted controls. 

The car also features wireless charging, ensuring that while you're connected to the infotainment system, your phone battery won't drain. 

Making a positive impression

I’ve driven about 1,800 miles since receiving the keys to our long-term Seat Arona and, overall, my experience has been positive and I've found it to be a very enjoyable car. 

Practicality is fairly good, with several small compartments for coins, keys, and other items. However, I would prefer a concealed space to keep belongings out of sight when away from the car. While the glovebox serves this purpose, it’s not always convenient, especially if you have a front seat passenger who may need to awkwardly shift their legs for you to gain access. 

There are two cupholders in the front and the storage needs for rear passengers are catered for by rear seat pocket nets (ideal for the kids’ books and electronic gadgets) and door space for drinks bottles etc. 

It’s a well-established model having been around since 2017. It was given a facelift in 2021 and while not a head-turner it’s a classy-looking car that’s particularly well suited for drivers with young families.  

It provides decent comfort levels, something I especially appreciated while inching through traffic on the A43 in Northamptonshire early one morning for work. However, I missed having an armrest for that extra layer of comfort. 

Boot space is adequate at 400 litres and two medium-sized suitcases were easily swallowed for an airport run in the summer. There was no room for my pre-schooler’s buggy which was despatched to the front passenger seat leaving mum and the youngster (in a car seat) to sit in the rear. 

Our FR Limited Edition model offers an impressive array of safety features and standard equipment and I'll be sharing my thoughts on the highlights—and a few downsides—in upcoming reports. 

Seat Arona 1.0 TSI FR joins our fleet 

Seat’s future has been hanging in the balance since all the attention switched to its sister brand Cupra.

With a string of electric models heading to Cupra showrooms and no sign of any new electric Seats, the logical conclusion was that Seat was going to fade into the background.

Demand for internal combustion engines has remained high across Europe, however. Even with looming deadlines to end the sale of petrol or diesel cars, lots of drivers still want – or can only afford – them.

Over the next few years, Seat has confirmed we’ll see a totally refreshed line-up - before it transitions to electric powertrains, at the end of the decade.

In the meantime, cars like our new Seat Arona are, therefore, very much still relevant. Especially for those company car drivers that sit in bandings where longer range, or more family-friendly EVs are simply too expensive.

The model we’ve opted for it is the FR Limited Editon. It sits in the middle of the line-up, with a decent array of standard kit and a sportier look.

Powered by a 115PS 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine, paired with a seven-speed DSG, our Arona costs £28,620. The cheapest Arona costs £22,460.

Among the spec highlights are a nine-inch touchscreen with sat-nav and wireless smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

It also has sporty front bucket seats, 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry with push-button start, a digital instrument cluster, dual-zone climate control, LED headlights, parking sensors and a rear-view camera.

CO2 emissions of 131g/km mean a 31% benefit-in-kind tax penalty. A 20% taxpayer would have to fork out almost £150 a month for the pleasure of having this model on their drive.

The Arona sits in the heartland of the compact SUV market. Based on the popular Ibiza hatch, it shares the same eye-catching styling and keen driving experience.

With its raised seating position, interior practicality is high for a compact model. There’s decent room inside and a 400-litre boot.

Having launched in 2017, we’re looking forward to finding out if the Arona is still competitive among its growing pool of rivals.