Seat Arona
Registered from 2017 to 2025.
About this model
The SEAT Arona is a subcompact crossover SUV (B-segment) manufactured by SEAT since 2017, as the smallest crossover SUV offered by the Spanish brand. As of 2019, it slots in below the Ateca compact model and Tarraco seven-seater.
From the Wikipedia article SEAT Arona, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2019 1.0 petrol. 1,081 of 13,001 tests failed, 8%.
Better than 58% of 2019 cars. The typical one fails 9%, across 908 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres and wheels | 46% | 501 |
| Brakes | 34% | 365 |
| Visibility | 14% | 148 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 6% | 68 |
| Lights and electrics | 5% | 55 |
| Steering | 4% | 48 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A tyre seriously damaged
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- A tyre cords visible or damaged
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn
Where it stands out against its peers
- Steering: failed more often than 94% of 2019 cars — 4% of its 1,081 failed tests, where an ordinary 2019 car has 1%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Tyres and wheels — 46% of its failures
- A tyre seriously damaged
- A tyre cords visible or damaged
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- Brakes — 34% of its failures
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn
- Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution.
- Exhaust and emissions — 6% of its failures
- Lights and electrics — 5% of its failures
- Visibility — 14% of its failures
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
When it starts failing
At 80–100k miles this one fails 17% of its inspections, against the 14% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–20k miles | 5% | 5% | 4,376 | |
| 20–40k miles | 9% | 9% | 6,953 | |
| 40–60k miles | 13% | 12% | 1,441 | |
| 60–80k miles | 17% | 14% | 174 | |
| 80–100k miles | 17% | 14% | 41 |
12,985 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 20k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.0 petrol · 105 hp · 1201 kg · 2552 mm wheelbase · 5.4 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 1.0 petrol · 1210 kg · 2552 mm wheelbase · 5.6 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2019 | 1.0 petrol · 1212 kg · 2552 mm wheelbase · 5.8 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 1.0 petrol · 1210 kg · 2552 mm wheelbase · 5.7 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2017 | 1.0 petrol · 108 hp · 1186 kg · 2552 mm wheelbase · 4.7 L/100km (NEDC) |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/01640/21
A software error in the control unit for the instrument cluster may result in no visual or audible warning being given when passengers in the rear seat do not have their seatbelt fastened, increasing the risk of injuries in the event of an accident. The product does not comply with the requirements laid down in the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
SR/02845/25
If the front passenger airbag is deployed as a result of an accident, the gas generator housing may burst or components of the gas generator housing may come loose and cause serious or fatal injuries to vehicle occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users