New SEAT Arona on sale now from £19,260

• New off-road style exterior
• Four petrol options available
• On sale now from £19,260

The new SEAT Arona is now available to order in the UK with prices starting from £19,260 for the entry level SE, rising to £25,835 for the range-topping Xperience Lux.

Available in six trim levels, the SUV features a more rugged, off-roader appearance and like the facelifted Ibiza, the car on which it’s based, it gets a host of new connected technologies.

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Since the Arona was introduced in 2017, SEAT has sold more than 350,000 examples globally and the brand’s smallest and most affordable SUV has established itself as a key pillar in the SEAT range. It competes in one of the most saturated areas in the market and has rivals from nearly every manufacturer. These include the Ford Puma, Nissan Juke and Hyundai Kona, as well as the mechanically identical Skoda Kamiq.

2021 SEAT Arona: Exterior

The Arona gains an updated grille, a reprofiled front bumper and newly designed, repositioned fog lamps, similar to the ones on the facelifted SEAT Ateca. The lights on all Arona models now feature full LED technology. Eco LEDs come as standard on SE and SE Technology trims but can be upgradable to full LEDs, which are standard on FR models upwards.

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Buyers can choose between three new 17-inch and 18-inch alloy wheel designs and the car can be finished in a choice of 10 colours, including three new choices: Dark Camouflage, Asphalt Blue and Sapphire Blue. There are also three roof colours available: Midnight Black, Magnetic Tech and the new Candy White, to allow buyers greater personalisation.

At the rear, SEAT has introduced a new spoiler and diffuser, while the Arona name is now finished in embossed, handwritten lettering on the rear in a two-tone chrome finish, alongside the SEAT badge.

Interior and specifications

There’s a slight change to the trim levels available for the Arona. The SE, SE Technology, FR, FR Sport and Xperience specs remain the same, while the range-topping Xperience Lux replaces the Xcellence.

For 2021, the interior of the Arona will be fully digital, featuring a larger floating central infotainment system with a 8.25-inch screen as standard or 9.2-inch on SE Technology models and above, which is also now available in the Ibiza. On the higher range FR Sport and Xperience Lux models, the Arona also gets a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit display, which is linked to a new multifunction Nappa leather steering wheel.

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The use of lighting technology means the Arona’s redesigned air vents illuminate, with different colours available depending on the trim: Daring Red for FR trim and Aran Green for Xperience. Boot capacity remains at 400 litres and a double floor makes it even more versatile. It also gains four metal hooks that allow a net to be used to secure items in the boot.

Connectivity

The SEAT Arona has more connectivity tech than before, including wireless Full Link integration and SEAT Connect.

The integration of the wireless Full Link system means customers can now easily launch Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which are accessed via the new infotainment system and integrated steering wheel controls. Like other models across the SEAT range, the Arona is always connected to the outside world, with everything from media to traffic information available at the touch of a button or via voice recognition.

SEAT Connect, meanwhile, gives users access to a range of remote services, meaning they can remotely access their vehicle’s data, including driving details, parking position and anti-theft alerts. They can also control the opening and closing of the doors with the remote lock and unlock service, or remotely activate the horn and indicators to find the car more easily. The built-in eSIM also allows drivers to easily contact SEAT services, and it also forms part of the system that directly contacts the emergency services in the case of an accident.

Safety

The new Arona comes with a host of new driver assistance systems, such as Travel Assist, which delivers semi-automatic driving via adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. Side Assist technology, meanwhile, is designed to make changing lanes safer, with front and rear-facing radars monitoring the vehicle’s blind spots to alert the driver if there are vehicles in the vicinity.

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Newly introduced Traffic Sign Recognition technology also ensures drivers always know what the speed limit is on any given road. The Arona now features Park Assist too, which means the driver can choose to have the car park itself automatically.

Engines

Under the bonnet, the new Arona offers three versions of a 1.0-litre EcoTSI engine, plus a larger 1.5-litre EcoTSI. Outputs range from 94bhp to 148bhp and the engines come with either a manual or DSG automatic gearbox.

The 94bhp engine comes with a five-speed manual gearbox while the more powerful 148bhp engine, available exclusively on FR and FR Sports trims, can be matched to either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed DSG automatic.

What does it mean for car buyers?

The SEAT Arona was one of our favourite small SUVs when it was launched but since then, it’s been overtaken by newer rivals like the Ford Puma and Renault Captur. The changes mentioned above, however, along with a range of new technology features, should make the Arona easier to recommend and it remains good value - especially as many small SUVs start at more than £20,000.

Alternatively, if you can live without the updates, you should be able to get a decent discount on pre-facelift models.

See where the SEAT Arona places on our guide to the most reliable small cars.