SEAT began life as a Spanish firm which, for the majority of their early years, assembled Fiat cars and then stuck a SEAT badge onto them. The turning point came in 1986 when Volkswagen bought a 51% share in the company. Within two years, SEAT was in profit and they’ve never looked back.
SEAT say they put a bit of Spanish flair into their cars. Actually, most people prefer a bit of Germanic quality and reliability - which of course you also now get with SEAT.
Something that SEAT has been particularly successful with is SUVs. Here at Wagonex we have two of them….the Ateca and this one, the slightly smaller Arona. If you intend on carrying a lot of people, or a hefty load on a regular basis, go for the Ateca. However, if you want a really good family car that will also excel as transport for the school run, shopping, going to the tip, family holidays as well as the mundane day to day commute, the Arona will become part of the family.
The model available from our partners is the sporty Arona FR. Power comes from a 3-cylinder 1.0 litre petrol engine which gives 108bhp. Everything goes to the front wheels via a 7-speed automatic gearbox, while 0-60mph is achieved in a shade over 10 seconds. Avoid using all the Arona offers and you’ll manage up to 47.9 mpg, which is an astounding figure for an SUV.
The FR trim makes the SEAT Arona look and feel really special. You get satellite navigation, FR sports seats, rear parking sensors, cruise control, powered windows and mirrors, dual zone climate control, LED headlights, smart alloys, dark tinted windows, and a DAB radio. The sat nav comes with traffic alerts which means if there’s a hold-up ahead of you, it’ll send you around a diversion to avoid the queues.
The raised seat position is terrific for driving in town traffic. You really can see more of what’s around you. The light steering helps too, as does the supple suspension which keeps things comfy at low speeds.
And it’s surprisingly roomy. Adults will be perfectly happy in the back. Kids will love it. The boot is spacious too.
The SEAT Arona will become a family friend. Well equipped, roomy and good to drive. SEAT may have been late arrivals at the SUV party, but this just means they’ve been able to choose the best bits and put them all into the Arona.
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