SEAT Arona SUV - MPG, running costs & CO2

​The SEAT Arona uses a thoroughly modern range of petrol engines but the diesel was phased out during its mid-2021 facelift. This shouldn't put off too many buyers, as the 1.0-litre petrol produces excellent fuel economy figures and is competitively priced.

SEAT Arona MPG & CO2

The Arona uses the newest, most fuel-efficient engines offered by the VW Group, with an entry-level 1.0-litre and more powerful 1.5-litre petrol, the latter of which is fitted with clever cylinder-deactivation technology to save fuel.

The entry-level 94bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine is claimed to return up to 51.4mpg when combined with the standard manual gearbox, with CO2 emissions of 124g/km placing it in a reasonable bracket for Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) company car tax. The 109bhp version is just as economical, returning up to 53.3mpg, although this drops to 47.9mpg with a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox fitted.

A 148bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine is offered with the FR and FR Sport models. It uses cylinder-deactivation to effectively reduce its size when full power isn't required – when cruising steadily, for example. This can return up to 49.6mpg, with emissions of 129g/km of CO2 placing it in a reasonable BiK band.

The 1.6-litre diesel engine was offered in 94bhp form until it was discontinued with the arrival of the facelift in September 2021. It manages up to 58.9mpg and emits 125g/km, but it’s in a higher BiK band than the petrols because of the extra tax levied on diesel models. A DSG automatic gearbox affects running costs slightly, with fuel economy dropping to 54.3mpg with a slight rise in CO2 emissions to 135g/km.

VED (road tax) costs £180 per annum from year two, and because all models are priced well below the premium bracket, there’s no surcharge to worry about.

Insurance

Insurance group ratings for the Arona start from eight for the entry-level 1.0-litre petrol, stretching to group 17 for the sporty 1.5-litre petrol.

Servicing

SEAT offers fixed-price servicing plans for all its cars, which can be taken out on new cars until three months after the date of purchase. Customers can pay just over £400 upfront to cover the first two years/20,000 miles of routine maintenance, or spread the cost over 18 monthly payments of just over £20.

Warranty

Although SEAT’s three-year/60,000-mile warranty is competitive against Ford and Peugeot, it’s far from the most impressive on the market, coming well short of the five-year/unlimited-mileage policy enjoyed by Hyundai customers or Kia’s seven-year/100,000-mile warranty. The MG ZS, meanwhile, comes with a seven-year/80,000-mile warranty.