2021 Seat Arona: We tested the renewed B-SUV

We tested the 2021 Seat Arona. It is one step ahead of its competitors with its renewed appearance and technologies. All driving reports of Seat Arona are in our news.

The Arona acquires aesthetic and equipment details of the latest Seat
The restyling, more visible inside, does not include electrified mechanics
On sale for 16,670 euros, the Seat Arona 2021 is already in dealerships

It arrived on the market in 2017 and since then it has positioned itself as one of the benchmarks within the brand in terms of sales and the Seat Arona does not stop growing. During its short period of life, it has introduced some updates such as, for example, a digital instrument panel and a CNG engine, but now the time has come to launch a deeper facelift that we have already been able to analyze in person during its presentation. international.

A restyling in the Ateca style

Until a very a few years ago, the renovation of a model when it had already been on the market for a few years represented a more or less profound aesthetic change. That has almost disappeared and now most of the improvements are in elements that are often not seen. If we focus on the aesthetic changes that the Ibiza and Arona have received, in the former, they are hardly noticeable, as they focus on the new headlights with LED technology, standard throughout the range, and the handwritten spelling of the name that they already incorporate. all Seat.

In the Arona, in addition to the led headlights and the lettering, there are more changes and to reinforce its SUV image, the X-perience finish incorporates elements in imitation aluminum in the front and rear bumpers and the fog lights come to occupy a more prominent place in the upper part, next to the main projectors. The Arona will have two possible frontals, with or without these round fog lights reminiscent of those of the Cupra Formentor.

But the most remarkable thing is the technology and the dashboard that the two models share and that is completely new. It is made of a material with a soft touch and a pleasant texture. Depending on the model and the finish, it has subtle color details, as well as new air vents that are illuminated, in four different colors, also depending on the finishes. Both have specific upholstery for each of them with colored details.

Characteristics of the Seat Arona 2021

Length: 4.14 meters
Width: 1.78 meters
Height: 1.55 meters
Battle: 2.57 meters
Weight: 1,185 kilos (most basic version)
Trunk: 400 / 1,280 liters
Engines: 1.0 TSI (95 and 110 hp), 1.0 TGI 90 hp and 1.5 TSI 150 hp
Transmissions: Front / Manual 5 or 6 speeds, Front / Automatic 7 speeds
Prices: Between 16,670 and 22,060 euros

The screen of the infotainment system can now be 8.2 or 9.2 inches, the largest reserved for the highest finishes and has the Full Link system released in the León and that allows total connectivity with our smartphone without the need for cables, in addition to being able to charge it in the same way.

Voice control is much more efficient and you no longer have to give precise and perfectly vocal commands; to activate it you just have to say Hello Hello. The two models will now also be connected and can be connected with them from our mobile through the Seat Connect app.

No major mechanical changes

The range of engines is only gasoline for the two models and is made up of propellants of 80, 110, and 150 horses, in addition to a TGI of CNG and 90 horses in the Ibiza, while in the Arona the gasoline has powers of 95, 110 and 150 horses, in addition to the TGI of 90, with the possibility of a seven-speed DSG change with the two most powerful.

Test drive

After driving the new Seat Ibiza 2021 for the first time on the roads of Bilbao, we got behind the wheel of the renewed Seat Arona. In the urban SUV, the exterior changes are more important than in Ibiza, and, as in the utility, the interior is completely new. Thanks to this, the cabin has been modernized, has gained in technology, and has taken a leap forward in terms of quality, with better fit adjustments and materials that are more pleasant to the eye and to the touch, such as the soft plastic that covers the dashboard or the frame of the aerators, which can be customized with different shades and have lighting.

As in Ibiza, these changes affect the driving experience, first of all, because the layout of the controls changes and everything is closer to hand, with a larger central touch screen and located at eye level, in the upper part of the dashboard, numerous storage spaces, digital instrumentation that provides all kinds of information in a clear and configurable way, a more modern infotainment system with more functionalities, numerous storage spaces and, something that is especially interesting in these times: physical controls to operate the air conditioning system; Unlike some of its rivals – more than we’d like – the Arona still allows you to change the temperature quickly and without distraction, which is appreciated.

At the wheel, the multiple driving assistance systems also help, not in vain, the Arona can have a level 2 of autonomous driving at any speed thanks to the new travel assistant, which works to keep the car in the lane, warn the driver of vehicles in the blind spot or change the high beams automatically in the dead of night.

From a dynamic point of view, nothing changes concerning the previous model. The Seat has not carried out changes in the technical part and the engines that make up the mechanical range are the same turbocharged gasoline that we knew until now, including the 1.0 TGI that also runs on gas. In the contact, we were able to test the 1.5 EcoTSI variants of 150 CV and DSG change just after getting off an Ibiza with the same engine and the truth is that the urban SUV behaves practically the same as its utility brother, so it moves with a lot of ease, especially in the city, with smoothness and the convenience of a quick and comfortable gear change.

It also performs well on the road and its 150 hp allows it to carry out overtaking and recoveries with ease. The Arona is indeed taller, but in motion, it is very difficult to find differences between one and the other that extra height is an advantage because the Arona enjoys better visibility from the driver’s seat and is easier to get in and out of the car, as with any SUV.

Range and prices of the Seat Arona 2021

The new Seat Arona is already on sale with a starting price of 16,670 euros for the Reference finish. Above, the Style is offered, from 19,270 euros, the X-Perience, from 21,710 euros, and the sportier FR, with a base cost of 22,060 euros. All trim levels are available in a Plus version, with a better standard endowment in exchange for 200 euros more.

In the upper finishes, the equipment can be very complete and include, in addition to wireless connectivity through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a powerful sound system signed by Beats Audio, heated front seats, or wireless charging for smartphones. There are also more customization options than before, with new wheel designs up to 18 inches, various available upholsteries, the ability to change the color of the air vents, and, of course, to configure the exterior with various colors, including the new Dark Camouflage of the images, even of painting the ceiling in contrast in gray, black or white.