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The SEAT Ateca was first introduced in 2016 and is named after the Ateca village which is west of Zaragoza and near the SEAT headquarters in Barcelona. Within the SEAT range it sits between the Arona and the Tarraco in the C-SUV segment and is also included in the Cupra family as the Cupra Ateca.
The new SEAT Arona SUV was first introduced in 2017 and is the smallest crossover SUV in the SEAT family. It fits in between the Ateca and Tarraco in the line up and was released in response to the growing demand for utility vehicles.
This guide will compare the SEAT Ateca and the SEAT Arona to highlight their similarities but also where they differ so that you can decide which SEAT SUV will fit your lifestyle best.
The SEAT Ateca SUV is built on the VW group MQB A1 platform which is shared with the Skoda Karoq and the Volkswagen T-Roc. It keeps its own style, which was facelifted in 2020, but shares many mechanical parts with its Volkswagen Group siblings.
The updated Ateca got new LED headlights and tail lights, redesigned bumpers, and the printed logo on the rear of the car is now the same hand written script found elsewhere in the SEAT range.
The new SEAT Arona is built on the MQB A0 platform from the VW group which is also used on the Ibiza hatchback and the Volkswagen Polo. It is often compared directly to the Ibiza when considering the entire SEAT range, although the Arona is 95mm longer and 93mm taller.
The Arona, too, had an update with front fog lamps that are positioned high up next to the new style grille alongside daytime running lights which had previously been missing. It also gets the new style of font for its name badge along the rear of the car.
The newest models of both cars have had a refresh on their interiors too.
The Ateca now has a leather steering wheel, updated door cards, new upholstery designs, an eight way adjustable driver's seat, a pair of USB C ports, multi-colour ambient lighting, and voice recognition.
The Arona added more soft touch materials throughout the cabin, LED lighting around the air vents in higher trim models, and a leather trimmed steering wheel and gear stick.
Headroom for the front seats is comparable with the Arona giving 1059mm and the Ateca 1063mm but passengers in the rear seats will fair better in the latter. They'll have 30mm more headroom than those in the Arona. Taller passengers that are a regular in your car will be relieved for that.
The other greatest difference inside the two cars comes from the boot space. The larger Ateca offers 510 litres of space (reduced to 485 litres for the four wheel drive option) compared to 400 litres in the Arona. When the rear seats are folded this gap is broadened as the Arona only offers 823 litres compared to the enormous 1623 litres in the Ateca.
SEAT are well known for equipping their cars with a range of excellent equipment and features. Both the Arona and The Ateca will give you 17 inch alloy wheels, an 8.25 inch touchscreen in the centre console, cruise control, automatic emergency braking with front assist, Full Link smartphone integration, automatic LED headlights with light sensors, and SEATs Connect: Safety Service and Remote services.
The Ateca has several additional pieces of equipment park assist which includes self parking functionality and front and rear parking sensors, dual zone climate control, roof rails, keyless entry, and a wireless phone charger.
The Arona offers an 8 inch digital cockpit and a contrast coloured roof on top of the standard equipment. What's interesting is that the digital cockpit is standard on the Arona but not available unless you opt for the FR Sport trim on the Ateca.
Opting to upgrade either model will add on additional equipment and advanced technology such as a rear view camera and adaptive cruise control.
The SEAT Ateca and the SEAT Arona share the 1.0 litre petrol TSI that outputs 110PS and the 1.5 litre petrol 150PS engine but differ in other options from there. The Ateca has more option overall, with three petrol and two diesel options currently available whilst the Arona offers only three petrol engines.
The most powerful engine is the 2.0 litre petrol 190PS engine that is available on the Ateca. It's fuel economy is much lower than the other petrol engines, with a combined mpg of 35.3 and the highest emissions too at 184 g/km.
The most efficient engine is the shared 1.0 litre petrol 110PS when in the Arona rather than the Ateca. It'll give a combined mpg as high as 53.3 in the Arona compared to 46.3 in the Ateca and lower CO2 emissions with 121 g/km against 146 g/km.
The Ateca has an added bonus of offering a four wheel drive option on it's most powerful petrol and diesel engine, giving a full SUV experience to those that enjoy the option in a small SUV package.
Neither currently offers a hybrid option, which is perhaps their only let down, although its likely that this will change with both models next update or refresh as the company moves towards a greener future.
Looking at the SEAT Arona vs SEAT Ateca and either option will give you a great car with strong levels of equipment and safety features.
The Ateca does offer more options in its standard trim, so if you're looking for a little more without having to upgrade your trim levels then its the option for you. The Arona, however has a greener performance and yields better fuel consumption when compared against it's larger sibling.
If you're ready to explore further than our knowledgeable teams at John Clark SEAT in Aberdeen and Dundee are always on hand to help you with any questions and to guide you through the models in person.
