2021 Seat Arona vs Kia Stonic: Battle of the baby crossovers
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- Опубликовано: 5 фев 2025
- The Seat Arona has been facelifted for 2021 with styling tweaks, new infotainment and improved levels of equipment. But how does it fare against the Kia Stonic, which was also facelifted within the last year?
In this CarGurus UK review Rebecca Jackson tests the two cars back-to-back to see what they offer to buyers. Does the Kia's mild-hybrid powertrain result in superior fuel economy to the Arona? Will the upgrades to the Arona's cabin help it to stand out from the crossover crowd? And which of these cars is the most practical and enjoyable to drive? This test reveals all.
Read our full Seat Arona expert review:
www.cargurus.c...
Read our full Kia Stonic expert review:
www.cargurus.c...
#kiastonic #cargurusuk #seatarona
I've just downloaded the complete manuals for both cars, and nowhere is there a function to enter - by - clapping.
What's this obsession with "hard, scratchy plastics..." ? Every review in average cars like these makes reference to them. As long as everything is screwed together and assembled properly then it makes no difference to me. If I want door to door leather I'll wait until I win the lottery and can afford a Bentley.
It's funny you should mention that...
I feel the same with the seeming insistence on having 'squidgy plastic' on the top of the dash...
Apart from, maybe, running a damp cloth over the dash every few months, I can not ever remember a time when I've sat in my car and 'felt' the top of the dash...!
It's hardly an obvious 'touch-point' in a car, is it...??? 🤔
@@jonathantaylor1998 How a car drives seems only as important these days as what it's like to sit in it whilst stationary and feeling the dashboard and fiddling around with the infotainment system. That said, I do enjoy these reviews - I just want more emphasis on what they're like to drive.
@@davidpollard4051 It's so subjective, especially these days of self driving cars. It is also affected by the OE tyres until you change them.
I have the Kia (GT Line S) and I honestly think it drives as well if not better than many cars in the same segment. I like the steering and I find it is just right, light in town, progressively heavier at higher speeds, composed, comunicative enough without chatter. The chassis is just fine, and follows the steering inputs with fidelity and composure).
it's not a race car, it's a car to drive on the public roads and it's incredibly comfortable on long motorway journeys thanks to Lane Departure Assist and active Lane Follow Assist (basically the car steers itself to stay in the lane: you only have to rest your hands on the wheel and it will do most of the steering adjustments and lane following, whether there are lines or not on the road)
What is more important to me is the safety equipment in particular blind spot monitoring.
Softer looks nicer, rattles less and is harder to scratch imo, aside from the actual physical feel.
My Auris is scratchy plastic all round and it never even occurred to me that it was until I actually scratched it to see.
I think you are hard pushed to find a car that hasn't unless you up the budget.
Now my Peugeot van has really cheap looking plastic that's quite boring to look at but on the whole as long as it looks smart inside I couldn't care less about what materials the interior has.
It's not like that bit of weird material on the nissan Micra dashboard makes it any better.
I have had a top of line Stonic GT Line S manual since June 22 and am very happy with it. On the other hand my partner has had a Seat Arona (not the top model, not the base model) automatic since February 2022 and is also very happy with it - he always drives automatics, and I much prefer manual. The cars are pretty similar in terms of comfort I think, although I personally prefer the Stonic and I suspect the mild hybrid does help with fuel economy on longer trips. It’s personal choice and. I’d say we’re both happy.
Mild hybrids aren't for fuel economy. They give an extra 'push' from low speeds and aren't active at all at speed.
Both of them would look better with interior upholstery like the brown leather Rebecca wore. Nice , thorough review by her. Interesting to compare those vehicles with the same sold in the usa by Kia and VW.
When a major maintenance came for my ionic electric,the car dealerships gave me the Arona 1.0 fr.2021
My first thoughts were, what a good looking solid car. But after driving I noticed its literally a brick on wheels.
This car is very heavy on the braking and the throttle response is either too slow or too fast.
And then there is a lot of shaking inside.
I just couldn't believe how bad it drove compared with my ioniq electric.
The Ioniq drives like a dream, everything is just so smooth
Drove one yesterday and i though it was brilliant. Also Ioniq costs nearly 3 time as much mate lol
"...the throttle is as responsive as a teenager on their smartphone..."
That cracked me up...! 🤣
A great line...
Not expecting a Bently nor Ferrari.. so this mild hybrid and a 7 yr warranty will do nicely
Great video as always, Rebecca. Thank you! Unfortunately, I can't say the same about the music playing while you're talking - I find it a distraction and quite annoying. Does anybody else?
Noted!
I chose the Kia, based on the fact that it actually drives well and it's a fair bit cheaper at a similar level of equipment.
It's mostly a subjective review. Objectively the Arona is bigger inside. Costs more. Is less fuel efficient. And has a fair bit fewer active safety equipment as standard.
Subjectively, the Kia looks a whole lot better and drives just as well.
Guess the economy depends on driving style, etc. I have the Arona 1.5 TSI manual and I'm averaging 47.3 mpg at the moment which is impressive.
@@karlfav6446 that is good to know, i'm weighing af ew up at the minute. Is yours the 148bhp model?
No . The Aroma has much better drivability , better road holding and more safety features. The interior is also more spacious. But Kia is more efficient.
nah arona is faster, more agile and better at being direct in the corners
I've the Arona and I love it!
Magical review Rebecca!
I drove a KIA Sportage without any problems for nearly seven years. I did not even consider anything made by VAG when I bought a new car. -A Stonic.
Nice car review, being very detailed and full of useful information, as always, Rebecca. Nevertheless, although the SEAT ARONA is, on average, a better B SUV than the KIA Stonic, a potential buyer might also take into account the fact that KIA cars are very, very reliable.
@@CRiZLA ???
I nicely balanced review with just the right amount of humour. "As responsive as a teenager on there smartphone" made me laugh.
I agree. Seat for the win. Kia is a good car too.
what colour is the seat arona?
Which color is that for Arona?
How can a car in this sector be the winner when the MPG is so poor, gearbox rubbish sluggish mmi. What is the obsession with scratchy plastics, they are low down because they are harder wearing than a soft plastic in that area. Why is Rebecca wearing a coat in what looks like a glorious day? So many questions that need answers 🤔
I got my partner the previous Arona on PCH in FR trim with the same engine/DSG box as this one, and I can't wait to get rid of it. Decent to drive and reasonably roomy but the cost cutting is crazy. No rear lights, no rear seating storage, no grab handles. Everything is covered in cheap plastic.
Interestingly we have both an Arona and the previous generation Ibiza. The older Ibiza has no rear interior light either, and no grab handles so it seems it's something Seat have always done. Wouldn't change either car though as have both been excellent
does kia have good automatic transmission?
4:22 how can you compare seats cockpit display with audis when its on whole different level. Also claiming that not much has been done in the seats front cabin is a lack of appreciation then since basically everything has changed lol. Poor review in my opinion
I would agree with your findings, however for me the mold hybrid is more useful. I definitely would have to find a way to cover up and soften some of those hard plastic surfaces.
Lovely, all three 👍
SEAT didnt listen to the owners when we request the start/stop button be on the correct side.... Fair they put a lamp in the rear...
Does anyone have a static like noise on their Arona at 50 and above? Coming from the bottom front windscreen? Must be wind related
Is “squidgy” a word the auto press has introduced to the lexicon or did it have other origins?
im getting to lowering it to
HATCHBACK
I'd have said the Seat over the Kia but then the Seat is still a petrol driven car without gimmickry of hybrid technology which I am not a fan of.
Rear seating looks good to me as the seats fold down almost flat, making for a comfortable nights sleep when out in the country with no urgency to be home before darkness envelopes the skies. Yes my vote goes to the Seat but I still prefer my Fiesta.
I've subscribed, only for You...lovely Rebecca!! 😀
I think the Kamiq is better than both but any trim other than Monte Carlo looks like it would only appeal to pensioners - which brings me on to the reason I haven't bought a Kamiq - that god awful cloth upholstery. It looks cheap and tacky and feels really basic. Why isn't there an alcantara or leather option? This is the reason I'll probably go for an Arona.
Really stuck on which to get. The Kia Stonic GT line S 2022 automatic or the Seat Arona FR Sport 2022 in automatic. Such a difficult decision.
I’m getting the stonic GT line S looks good and the fuel economy is great it’s for a decent amount of space for me and my wife and child so and with the 7 year guarantee we are happy with that. I do like the seat I’ve had the Ibiza before and was great but from what I’m hearing the Kia is more reliable and that’s what I need and fuel economy due to the ridiculous pricing of fuel!
Also I’m getting the 2023 version in automatic Kia stonic GT Line S has heated seating and steering wheel no key so start and stop system which is amazing keyless entry to the car just press the button on the door handle and your in.😅
@@jodynehenry4473 both are good choices, I've gone for the Seat Arona FR Sport, it was nicer to drive from my test drives and gives me what I want. The Kia was a good choice also, have to wait until end of June to pick it up.
@@HerrmannBurger awww nice one that’s cool I’m hoping il get mine earlier than June although he did say June but thinks the colour I want might already be available.
@@HerrmannBurger have you gone for automatic? I’ve gone for the Kia stonic GT Line S so the highest spec you can get in this range of car.
Both of these cars struggle to contain road and wind noise which retracts from the driving experience...
that's the reason I do not rush to get either one of them.
I have this noise in my Ibiza
Is rediculus that neither have rear AC vents in the middle. Those cars those money should have rear AC vents. Kids and adults need AC in the rear or heat without freezing or melting the front passengers.
Delightful presenter but her being 5 foot 4" means the review sections on available leg/headroom space is not representative of the average person.
Being that the average height in the UK is 5 foot 7", it's not exactly like she's 2 foot smaller than average, and she is actually more representative of the average person than someone at say 5 foot 11". 3 Inches aint that much mate, don't fool yourself!
@@SelfMadeManiac There's plenty of space in the back on every review isn't helping anyone is it (unless of course your 5 foot 4")!
Just get a kia ceed or seat Leon for gods sake
What is it with the scatchy plastic all you reviewers seem to have it’s a obsession to complain about it do you go around the car all the time your driving get in the real world .Always sounds very bias .
Seat Arona
Arona for me.
Well that's awkward, you showed the spoiler of the Kia while talking about the spoiler of the Arona..
I would choose the Seat
The best thing about this review is that coat. These two cars are both horrid and utterly disposable.
Not sure exactly what you're expecting from a low-mid priced small SUV
Why do Kia have the Xceed and the Stonic?
I think the xceed is a bit larger and more plush
@@xander1931 stonic is Rio sized
@@UltraJaff Yh
Why do churches have steeples?
Pretty
Arowners!🤣
Nice but they need to do an EV
Both manufacturers do, so your point is absolutely moot.
Seat exterior is a big drawback
ha ha ha
Battle. Pmsl
Seat is miles better than the KIA