Dundalk Motoring Review: The SEAT Arona delivers comfort in a changing world

It has been a while since I drove a Seat. They have been a bit of a mystery in terms of direction in recent years but that has changed and Seat will continue as the accessible entry point in the VW Group. Cupra has successfully been hived off as the sporty, electrical brand and what remains is being offered as value to a younger demographic of buyer.

The models offered are familiar enough like the Ibiza, the Ateca, the Leon hatchback and Tourer and this week's test car, the Arona. It swaps bestseller titles with the Ateca but this new model has seen a big uptake in sales in 2026 so far.

The new Arona is a refresh and not all-new but was a bit overdue and gives some welcome invigoration into the Seat brand.
The Arona is offered against the likes of the Skoda Kamiq, Yaris Cross and Kona and think of it as an elevated Ibiza to earn the SUV label and a straightforward proposition in the B segment. You get to choose a petrol engine and that's it. The only choice is manual or automatic.

Seat models are predominantly petrol and diesel with the electrification to be found elsewhere with Cupra and other VW Group brands. The new Arona has slimmer headlights, a new grille, different fogs, a 9.2 inch navigation screen, wireless charging, illuminated air vents, embossed textile upholstery and new paint and roof colour options. It qualifies as new, but not radically so. The rugged shape is already what buyers want and is in no way jarring, being cute even.

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I was in the FR Trim model with a DSG automatic gearbox - it's rare to get a press car these days with a manual gearbox. Power was 115hp making for a very sweet combo, is nicely responsive and makes day to day living with this compact car a cinch. In and around town it is nimble and light and has that wonderful,easy-to-drive feeling that's so attractive in a car.

Visibility is excellent and the car feels quite spacious, in the 4 of the 5 seats. A small family with a multitude of demands will be well served with an Arona and its impressive 400 litre boot with a nifty double floor. And for the empty nesters it also makes perfect sense especially if you have not been swayed by the electric revolution. I was approached by a retired lady who was effusive in her praise of the look of the car and was going to go to the dealer to have a closer look - possibly wanting to be a bit different and not wanting to get in line for a Yaris Cross with everyone else.

The interior has greatly improved and the drive to avoid using hard plastics has lifted the Arona’s interior. The cabin is well laid out and a decent smattering of physical buttons is provided that is, of course,most welcome. Mine had a manual handbrake which is usually avoided when automatic gearboxes are fitted these days but it was nice to be able to exercise my dormant driving skills. The standard basic safety tech is good and you can option others but that starts to get expensive and no model has LED headlights as standard. It reassuringly has a 5 star NCAP rating.

The ride though is its strongest point. It always feels assured and capable with the grip available making for a very pleasant driving experience. Noise levels are quite low and not intrusive and the suspension is a notch above comfortable towards harder and I liked it. The seats were comfortable and supportive too and that VW Group feel you also get in Skoda's is a quality that drivers, including me, like. Expect fuel economy of between 5.3 and 5.7 L/100km Seat if they are to be successful as a value brand will need to be very mindful of the competitors - especially the new far east brands.

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For a car that starts at €29,175 (you’ll need €35,240 for the DSG FR trim model I had that brings into play some serious competitors) it is very surprising that two items that are nearly standard on most cars - adaptive cruise control and high beam assist - are options on all models at stark odds for a brand aspiring to be labelled value.

Seat would want to be careful who they are comparing themselves to in terms of value because if they are not careful they will have their lunch eastern by those far eastern brands and even some European brands, like Dacia, who can put you in a much bigger Duster for the same entry price as the Arona.