Introduction to the 2026 SEAT Arona
The Arona is SEAT's smallest SUV, though as it's built on the same platform as the Ibiza hatchback, it's more crossover than full-on SUV. That brings benefits in terms of performance, roadholding and efficiency, of course, married up with the style and added practicality of the larger body. For 2026, SEAT updated the design of the Arona and gently enhanced its interior at the same time.
Pros & cons of the 2026 SEAT Arona
Pros:
• Good value for money
• Decent boot space
• Simple formula is refreshing
Cons:
• No electrification at all
• Limited range of engines
• Only slight changes to design
Exterior & design of the 2026 SEAT Arona
• New headlights are brighter and sharper
• Contrast roof works well
• FR specification looks best
If you knew the Arona before 2026, you won't look at the updated one and wonder what it is, as the visual updates are relatively subtle.
The biggest changes are found at the front, where the radiator grille is enlarged and framed by six 'sides' - SEAT refers to it as hexagonal. Its internal design is more detailed than before, too.
Flanking the grille are a new set of all-LED headlights, featuring a distinctive, triangular daytime-running-light motif. The lights themselves are claimed to be brighter and offer better visibility than the previous design.
Underneath, the position of the driving/fog lights has been altered, as has the detail design of the bumper, giving the Arona a little more presence when viewed from the front.
The dark-coloured areas line up with black protective bodywork all around the base of the car, giving the Arona a little SUV ruggedness. The black roof rails and window surrounds pick up on that colour and theme, too.
There are new designs of alloy wheels as part of the 2026 upgrade and, while the 16-inch rims of the entry-level car look a bit plain, the 17-inch and 18-inch designs fitted further up the range look great in our opinion.
Dimensions of the 2026 SEAT Arona
Length: 4,164mm
Width: 1,780mm
Height: 1,530-1,538mm
Wheelbase: 2,566mm
Paint colours for the 2026 SEAT Arona
The one 'free' colour for the Arona is an eye-catching Phyton Yellow, while two new hues are called Oniric Grey and Liminal Red. They're classed as 'Premium' options by SEAT Ireland, as are Fiord Blue and Graphene Grey. Other metallic options are Nevada White, Midnight Black and Magnetic Tech. The roof can be painted Midnight Black as before or, new from 2026, Manhattan Grey.
Interior, practicality, tech & comfort of the 2026 SEAT Arona
• Retains physical switchgear and handbrake
• All versions get 9.2-inch touchscreen
• Boot holds 400 litres
'Enhanced' is a good word to describe the interior of the SEAT Arona following its update for 2026. There are no wholesale changes to the cabin, which remains one of the most spacious in the sector, though SEAT has boosted what it calls "perceived quality".
What does this mean to the buyer? Well, there are new, embossed upholsteries, a new leather steering wheel and soft door materials as well. Oh, and different colours for the surrounds of the air vents depending on which version of the Arona you go for.
Getting comfortable in the driver's seat
All versions of the Arona have seats with plenty of adjustment in them, including height, complemented by the steering wheel that adjusts in and out (reach) and up and down (rake). This is all done manually, as you'd expect at this price point.
The embossed upholstery is pleasant to the touch, while the bucket seats fitted to the Arona FR are a real highlight - they're comfortable to sit in and they look good, too.
Infotainment and technology
The Arona is fitted as standard with a 9.2-inch touchscreen running wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There's also an easy-to-read eight-inch display in front of the driver for the customisable instrumentation.
USB-C ports are found up front, as is a wireless charger. The latter is more powerful than before and also chilled to keep your charging device cool. Less obvious at first glance is an upgraded sound system.
Practicality around the cabin
The Arona remains one of the most spacious cars in the small SUV sector, and it's notably roomier than the SEAT Ibiza it shares its underpinnings with.
Ahead of the gear lever is a deep, angled well in the centre console that's particularly useful for storing your phone, even if you're not using the wireless charging function.
Despite the presence of an actual handbrake, there are two cupholders of decent size between the front seats, plus another little storage slot to the side of the compact bin covered by the central armrest.
The glovebox is above average in terms of capacity, while the front door pockets can accommodate big bottles and some oddments.
Rear-seat passenger space
One of the primary reasons to go for the Arona over its sibling, the SEAT Ibiza, is better rear-seat accommodation. Thanks to the taller roof, it feels way more spacious, and it has always been one of the class leaders in that regard.
Admittedly, the central rear seat is narrow and high-set, plus there's a tall 'transmission tunnel' bump in the floor, so it's best to use it only when strictly necessary. Still, the embossed upholstery adds a nice touch to proceedings, while the relatively tall windows make it a cinch to see out.
Fitting child seats to the SEAT Arona
There are ISOFIX mounting points on the outer two rear seats as usual, and it would be all but impossible to fit anyone or anything in the middle seat if you use those for bulky, rear-facing child seats. There's no ISOFIX up front, but it is possible to switch off the passenger airbag to allow retention of a child seat using the seatbelt.
Boot space in the SEAT Arona
At 400 litres to the luggage cover with all seats in use, the Arona's boot is one of the largest in its class. The rear seatback splits 60:40 for some versatility and folds down nearly flat. The floor of the boot itself can be set at two levels, and it lines up with the folded seats at its highest to create a long flat surface to ease carrying bulky items. The upright rear of the Arona helps facilitate that, too.
Towing with the SEAT Arona
The Arona has modest towing capability, maxing out at 1,200kg if the trailer has brakes. That's pretty decent by class standards. It's about half that for an unbraked load, which is ample for this size of car.
Safety in the SEAT Arona
The previous update for the Arona was in 2022 and that's when it was last put through its paces by the EuroNCAP to assess its safety. It came through with flying colours, achieving the full five-star rating. Individual scores were 83 per cent for both adult and child occupant protection, with 70 per cent for Safety Assist - covering the car's driver assistance systems.
Performance of the 2026 SEAT Arona
• Two turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol engines
• Manual and automatic gearboxes
• Surprisingly fun to drive
There's nothing headline-grabbing about the powertrain options available to buyers of the Arona - it's a 1.0-litre petrol engine or nothing. There are 95- and 115hp options and both versions have three cylinders and a turbocharger. The more powerful engine can be paired with a 'DSG' automatic gearbox, and all cars are front-wheel drive.
Driving the SEAT Arona 1.0 TSI 115hp DSG SE+ in Ibiza
Our first drive in the updated Arona was actually in a 1.5 TSI model, using a four-cylinder engine, but as that's not available to Irish buyers, there's not much point describing it.
The good news is that, outright performance aside, the 1.0 TSI engine would be our preferred choice in any case. The little three-cylinder engine has plenty of gusto and character when you're nipping about but quietens down to a distant thrum when you're cruising on the motorway.
In 115hp guise, it has more than enough performance to pull the relatively light Arona and its occupants along, and this engine works particularly well with the seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
It's possible to override the standard gearbox calibration using the gear lever or - exclusively to the FR model - paddles behind the steering wheel, but the system reacts quickly when left to its own devices, so we don't think many owners will bother.
The FR version purports to add a little sportiness to proceedings, and it certainly looks the part, though some may find the larger wheels (and hence lower-profile tyres) detract from the car's inherent comfort a little too much.
Saying that, our mid-spec test car sat on those largest wheels, and it was fine in all circumstances we encountered. Just bear in mind that the roads in Ibiza are generally smoother than in Ireland.
The Arona is pleasant to drive about at normal speeds, feeling more like a well-sorted hatchback than something that could be labelled a lumbering SUV. It certainly isn't that.
Fuel economy and running costs of the 2026 SEAT Arona
• No hybrid option at this stage
• SEAT offers affordable service plan
• Proven hardware for reliability
Without any electrification in the lineup, nobody is going to look at the Arona and expect ultra-low running costs, but actually, as it's such a simple car - mechanically speaking - and built on well-proven components, it still should cost buttons to run. Insurance will be low, and maintenance won't break the bank, either.
With CO2 emissions of 120-130g/km, depending on version, motor tax is either €190 or €200.
Real-world range and efficiency of the SEAT Arona
The petrol-only Arona won't be for those that spend all day every day at motorway speeds, but for ambling around it's fine. We saw as low as 7 litres/100km on the onboard computer, with a high approaching 9 litres/100km.
Servicing the SEAT Arona
SEAT Care is a servicing plan available to Arona buyers, covering all scheduled servicing and maintenance for three years or up to 45,000km. Prices begin at €12.99 per month, though owners can also choose to pay for each annual service individually.
SEAT Arona warranty
The standard SEAT warranty applies to the Arona. It means two years at unlimited mileage, then a cap of 90,000km and up to one more year of cover.
Irish pricing & rivals to the 2026 SEAT Arona
• Retail prices start at €28,175
• Rivals include VW T-Cross and Renault Captur
• Simple lineup to choose from
Irish retail prices for the updated Arona start at €28,175 for the SE model in 1.0 TSI 95hp guise with a manual gearbox. It's €810 more for the 115hp engine, then a €2,400 jump to add the automatic gearbox.
SE specification includes air conditioning, alloy wheels, LED lighting all-round and the same touchscreen setup as found on the more expensive cars, including rear parking sensors.
SE+ adds bigger wheels, dark-tinted rear windows, the Winter Pack, a parking camera and front parking sensors. The same engines are available as in the Arona SE and prices start at €29,745.
Topping the range is the Arona FR, with a few extra exterior add-ons, such as the sportiest wheels in the lineup. It also gets bucket seats and selectable drive modes. Only the 115hp engine is offered in this spec, priced at €31,665 with a manual gearbox, or €34,240 with the auto.
Verdict - should you buy the 2026 SEAT Arona?
The compact SUV segment is a popular one and though many cars in the class are moving to hybrid and electric power, there's still demand for a more affordable option with a simple petrol engine. That's what the Arona continues to offer buyers. Thanks to the 2026 updates, it's a little more polished and desirable than before.
FAQs about the 2026 SEAT Arona
Can the SEAT Arona have all-wheel drive?
No, all versions of the Arona are front-wheel drive.
Is there an electric or hybrid SEAT Arona?
Unfortunately not. For now, the only engines offered are simple turbocharged petrol units. SEAT has confirmed that a mild-hybrid option is in the pipeline for introduction in 2027.
Want to know more about the 2026 SEAT Arona?
If there's anything about the new SEAT Arona we've not covered, or you'd like help in choosing between it and other cars, you can avail of our expert advice service via the Ask Us Anything page.
