Seat Arona reviews: decent value and ‘well-designed for its job’

Few contenders in the closely fought small SUV/crossover class are hugely desirable vehicles, said The Daily Telegraph. But the mildly refreshed Seat Arona, with its new grille, LED headlights, and colour options, comes as close as any. Pleasingly unpretentious, with a decent-sized (but not exceptional) 400-litre boot, it certainly won’t excite any of the senses, but it is good value, and “well-designed for its job”. Prices start from £19,600.

The changes to the 2021 model are mostly to the interior, said What Car?, and include softer materials, a new infotainment system and, in higher-trim versions, a 10.25in digital cockpit. Is this enough to entice buyers away from the Arona’s rivals? It is certainly one of the “more enjoyable cars” in this class to drive, but the Ford Puma is better on the road, and the Škoda Kamiq is more comfortable.

For a small SUV, the new Arona is still “pointy and direct”, and relatively unfazed by challenging road surfaces, said Autocar. It also comes with advanced safety features: the lane-keep assist is unintrusive and easy to turn off, and adaptive cruise control can self-adjust over a wide range of speeds. All in all, it no longer feels as cheap as it used to, it’s economical, and it’s reasonably good to drive.