SAY HELLO, OR more appropriately, hola, to the new SEAT Arona, the Spanish manufacturer’s rival to the likes of the Nissan Juke, Opel Mokka X, Peugeot 2008 and Renault Captur.
SEAT has been very busy: the Arona is its third new release in 2017, after the upgraded Leon and the new Ibiza. The Arona joins the family below the Ateca and there will be another addition in the form of a large SUV in 2018.
It is built on the same ‘MQB A0′ platform as the new Ibiza and the forthcoming new Volkswagen Polo. It is just 79mm longer than the Ibiza hatch, but is 99mm taller, which makes for better ground clearance, more front and rear headroom, and a larger 400-litre capacity boot.
Inside, the cabin has what is called the ‘High Console Concept’, which gives the console more prominence with every element positioned in a way that SEAT claims the ‘driver barely has to look away from the road while driving.’
There is an eight-inch black panel touchscreen with rear-view camera, a Connectivity Hub with wireless phone charger as well as Apple Car Play, Android Auto and Mirror Link and a GSM signal amplifier.
In terms of safety, the Arona features the same driving assistance systems as other SEAT models, including Front Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Hill Hold control and Multi-Collision Braking as well as optional Rear Traffic Alert, Blind Spot Detection and Park Assistance System, which works for both parallel and angled parking.
From launch, there will be three petrol engines and two diesels, all of which have direct injection, a turbocompressor, and feature an automatic stop & start system.
The petrol options are a three-cylinder, 95hp 1.0-litre TSI, which is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox or a 115hp version, which comes with a six-speed manual gearbox or the dual-clutch seven-speed DSG transmission.
There is a new four-cylinder, 150hp TSI with active cylinder deactivation technology, which is exclusive to the sporty FR trim and is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.
The two diesel options are a 95hp or 115hp 1.6-litre TDI. The 95hp version can be had with a five-speed manual transmission or seven-speed DSG, and the 115hp version can be had with a six-speed manual gearbox.
The Arona gets its full public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September before arriving on the Irish market in November.
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