THE SEAT Arona it was released in 2017, so we can't call it “old”. But the SUV segment, or B-SUV, is unforgivable; the pace of renewal has been quite accelerated.
In less than a year, many important news have arrived — a handful of them, in fact — that make 2017 seem like it happened an eternity ago. Has Arona lost ground to its new and very capable rivals?
Not really; is the simple and reductive conclusion after several days of living with the SEAT Arona 1.0 TSI 115 hp Xcellence with manual box. This test turned out to be another reunion. There have been several Aronas I've driven, but it's been about a year since I was last at the controls of one — and soon with the most powerful 1.5 TSI.
Small on the outside, big on the inside
It's curious how the new B-SUV that were launched managed to accentuate some qualities that I already appreciated in the smallest member of the SEAT SUV family, which is also one of the smallest models in the segment.
And it's because it's one of the smallest, on the outside, that it surprises by the offer of space, on the inside, equivalent to that of its rivals, all of them larger in size. A clear consequence of the very good use of space that the MQB A0 guarantees, the platform on which the Arona rests and which also serves the very spacious “cousins” Volkswagen T-Cross and the recent Skoda Kamiq.
To be reviewed is the lack of attention given to passengers in the second row. Even though it is an Xcellence, top-of-the-range version on par with the FR, the passengers in the back are not entitled to ventilation outlets (which exists in the entry-level version of the “cousin” Kamiq), nor to USB plugs, nor even to a light. readout — yes, light for driver and front passenger only.
well installed
And ahead is the right place to be, as I'm very well installed. It's easy to find a good driving position on the SEAT Arona — seat and steering wheel adjustments are wide — and visibility is generally good.
The unit under test had several options and if I had to necessarily opt for one, it would be the Luxe Package, because with it we gained some very good seats. Not only are they very pleasant to the touch — largely covered in velor, which looks like Alcantara — they are also quite comfortable while holding you effectively.
I wish I had such nice words for the wheel, but no. The steering wheel rim is too thin and the material that covers it, in imitation leather, is not all that pleasant to the touch.
Where the interior of the SEAT Arona is not so well seen in relation to some rivals is in the materials used, which are generally harder and not the most pleasant to the touch, although this Xcellence version is in a better level than other versions of the Catalan model.
On the other hand, it counterattacks with an above-average editing quality that proves to be robust, even in the challenging parallels of our capital.
The Xcellence version relies on the interior with materials and details that elevate the pleasantness on board, but this is where it loses the most to some of the most recent rivals.
Agility to give and sell
It was time for us to get going and—hello…—I could barely remember how alert the Arona was driving. All because of the “fault” of the front axle, with a super-sharp response to the minimum application of force on the steering.
Driving modes are selectable from this button on the center console, but…
Confront the small SUV with a chain of curves and believe me, it will entertain you. The body roll is minimal and reveals an unnatural appetite in this type of vehicle for quick changes of direction. Intriguing is this sharpness and agility being served to us with a damping that feels softer than expected dry — and this featured the larger 18″ wheels with the lower profile tyres.
It is the steering, quite light and offering little initial resistance, which ends up clumping. In conjunction with the “fastest west front axle”, we ended up having to make small corrections on the direction even in the initial attack to the turn, as we ended up turning either too soon or a little too much.
The segment's new dynamic reference, the Ford Puma, is more consistent between the action of the controls and the reaction of the chassis. The Arona doesn't lose much to the Puma, dynamically, and together with the Hyundai Kauai, they are the three best options for those looking for a more refined driving experience.
Quieter on the highway?
The agility and sharpness demonstrated on rougher roads does not disappear on freeways or highways. Features that make the SEAT Arona something “nervous”, as if it could not truly “relax” on the asphalt.
The 18″ wheels, in combination with the lower profile tyres, may be partly responsible for this constant agitation. They are almost certainly responsible for the increased rolling noise; far from being annoying, it is more noticeable than in other Arona with more “rubber” and less rim.
On the other hand, aerodynamic noise is well contained, as is engine noise. Speaking of the engine…
… 1.0 TSI remains an excellent partner
It is one of the most refined three cylinders in the segment and one of the most interesting to use. Responds well in any regime and has a very good progressivity, little or nothing noticing turbo-lag. The 115 hp and 200 Nm, combined with the Arona's contained weight — less than 1200 kg — already allow for a very reasonable performance in theory and even lively in practice.
The Volkswagen Group's three-cylinder mil remains one of the best units available today at this level.
The best of everything? Consumption remains quite contained, matching what I got in the 95 hp version I recently tested on the Skoda Kamiq. On the highway it is 6.8 l/100 km, at more moderate paces in EN, it drops to 4.6 l/100 km, and in the day-to-day rides, with more city driving, it is above seven, but under eight.
Is the car right for me?
With the accelerated renewal of the segment, the temptation is great to go after the latest news. Truth be told, given the maturation seen in some of them, choosing one will hardly be a reason for regret. But that doesn't mean that SEAT Arona is no longer a valid proposal — quite the contrary.
The combination of (more) compact dimensions with dimensions at the level of the competition, as well as an engine that guarantees a good level of performance at the same time as moderate consumption; and yet one of the most edgy and captivating driving experiences in the segment, makes the SEAT Arona at least worth a test drive.
What's more, even with around 4000 euros in options, our SEAT Arona Xcellence turns out to be more affordable than most of the competition.