Cars/SEAT/Arona

SEAT Arona — Buyer's Guide

Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.

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SEAT Arona overview

With 80,501 currently licensed in the UK, the SEAT Arona is one of Britain's well-known cars.

Euro NCAP awarded the Arona 5 stars in 2018, with 95% adult occupant and 85% child protection scores.

It has a 82.5% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include brakes, lighting, tyres.

Annual running costs are estimated at £2,602 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £217/month or 33p/mile.

NCAP Safety

2018

MOT Pass Rate

82.5%

35,000 tests

Monthly Cost

£217

est. annual total

New From

£21,000

Safety rating

Euro NCAP tested the Arona in 2018 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.

Adult Occupant

95%

Child Occupant

85%

Pedestrian

76%

Safety Assist

71%

Safety recalls

There are 5 known DVSA recalls affecting the SEAT Arona. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.

R/2025/230

On affected vehicles defective passenger airbags may have been fitted. On affected vehicles the passenger airbag should be deactivated and the passenger seat not used until the recall action has been completed.

Build dates: 2025-01-23 to 2025-02-18

R/2020/113

It is possible that the bracket of the double belt buckle has been damaged during the forming process.

Build dates: 2020-02-26 to 2020-02-27

R/2019/157

Drivers air bag may not inflate at the correct rate.

Build dates: 2017-12-01 to 2017-12-17

R/2019/039

Hand brake lever travel increase due to adjuster nut movement.

Build dates: 2017-05-25 to 2018-11-06

R/2018/138

Left rear seat belt may unfasten involuntarily.

Build dates: 2017-05-01 to 2018-09-26

Reliability & MOT

Based on 35,000 MOT tests, the Arona has a first-time pass rate of 82.5% above the UK national average of 72%.

This is a positive sign for reliability. The Arona is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.

Running costs

Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old SEAT Arona are estimated at around £2,602 per year, or £217 per month.

Fuel

£989

/year

Road Tax

£195

/year

Depreciation

£763

/year

MOT

£55

/year

Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.

Fuel economy

The Arona achieves a combined fuel economy of around 53.3 mpg (42.2 mpg urban, 50.4 mpg extra-urban).

VariantFuelCombinedEngine
ARONAPETROL53.3 mpg1.0L
ARONAPETROL49.6 mpg1.0L
ARONAPETROL49.6 mpg1.5L
ARONAPETROL48.7 mpg1.5L
ARONADIESEL67.3 mpg1.6L
ARONADIESEL57.6 mpg1.6L

Depreciation

Starting from £21,000 new, a SEAT Arona typically retains about 50% after 3 years and 42% after 5 years.

AgeRetainedEst. ValueLost
1 year68%£14,200−£6,800
2 years57%£12,050−£8,950
3 years50%£10,600−£10,400
4 years45%£9,550−£11,450
5 years42%£8,800−£12,200
6 years39%£8,150−£12,850
7 years37%£7,650−£13,350
8 years35%£7,300−£13,700
9 years33%£6,950−£14,050
10 years31%£6,600−£14,400

How common is the Arona?

There are currently 80,501 licensed and 323 SORN Aronas in the UK (80,824 total). This makes it a common vehicle on UK roads.

Frequently asked questions

Is the SEAT Arona reliable?

The Arona has a 82.5% first-time MOT pass rate based on 35,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.

How safe is the SEAT Arona?

Euro NCAP awarded the Arona 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2018. It scored 95% for adult occupant protection, 85% for child occupant protection, 76% for vulnerable road users, and 71% for safety assist features.

How much does a SEAT Arona cost to run?

Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Arona are estimated at around £2,602 per year (£217/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.

Are there any recalls on the SEAT Arona?

There are 5 known safety recalls affecting the Arona. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.

How much does a new SEAT Arona cost?

A new Arona starts from around £21,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 42% of its original value.

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