Seat Arona vs Ford Focus: Comparing two popular cars

Buying a new car is a major investment and so it is important to do your research and compare the options available to you. The new Ford Focus and the Seat Arona are both popular choices if you are looking for a new crossover car, but which one is the best choice to mee your needs?

This guide will help you to decide by looking at the most comparable Ford Focus model, the Ford Focus Active, and the Seat Arona to evaluate the key aspects to help you choose the best new SUV-inspired car for you.

In this guide:

• Introducing the Ford Focus Active

Learn more about the Ford Focus Active and the features you can expect.

• Introducing the Seat Arona

Find out more about the Seat Arona and the type of car you can expect.

• Seat Arona vs Ford Focus: comparing the key elements

Learn more about how both cars differ including interior and exterior features, trim levels and costs.

Introducing the Ford Focus Active

Meeting customer needs is at the heart of the design of the newest Ford Focus, which is a driving force when it comes to driver assistance and technology features.

The rollout of the fourth-generation Ford Focus started in 2018 and the crossover Focus Active arrived in 2019. Even in its launch year, the Ford Focus remained in the top five best-selling cars in the UK.

The newest version of the car boasts an impressive portfolio of class-beating aerodynamics, premium handling and Ford’s most advanced range of driver assistance features ever. 

The Ford Focus is available in a variety of different trim levels but, the Ford Focus Active has the most similarities with the Seat Arona so, for comparison purposes, this is the trim we will look at in the most detail in this guide.

Introducing the Seat Arona

The Seat Arona hit the market in 2017. It is Seat’s smallest SUV and is a crossover that aims to meet the needs of everyday life, whether you are driving around the city or on rough roads in the countryside. It offers some great SUV capabilities at a fraction of the price of bigger, more traditional SUVs and offers a better drive than many.

Seat Arona Vs Ford Focus: Comparing the key elements

Interior space/boot space

The Ford Focus active offers more interior space than ever before. Both rear seat and front seat passengers have extra leg space and, similarly to the Seat Arona, the rear seat arrangement is split 60/40 and folds flat for added boot space.

As standard boot space is as follows:

• Ford Focus Active: 375 litres
• Seat Arona: 400 litres

The interior of the Seat Arona is slightly bigger than other Seat models. However, it’s not the widest car on the market so two larger adults sitting in the back may be a squeeze. 

Technology

If you’re looking for the best possible driver assistance technology then the Ford Focus Active is hard to beat. Its superior touchscreen is positioned above the steering wheel and this is the visual element of a range of different experience-changing features, including adaptive cruise control, wireless device charging, cyclist and pedestrian detection and FordPass Connect.

Another major feature of the Ford Focus Active is its easy-to-use infotainment system, complete with:

• Android Auto
• Apple CarPlay
• Superior quality sound system
• Ten speakers

The Seat Arona also offers slick infotainment and a generous package of standard equipment. All Arona trims come with a touch screen infotainment system, starting at 6.5 inches with the Seat Arone SE.

If you choose the SE Technology trim, you will have:

• 0-inch screen
• Wireless device charging
• Stereo system with six speakers

If you upgrade to the Technology model from the Lux range, you will enjoy more power and performance with a Beats system, complete with a subwoofer in your boot.

Seats
The Ford Focus has 18 settings for seat comfort and the Seat Arona also offers a full range of seat adjustments. You will have to choose a higher trim level with the Seat Arona to get the heated front seats that the Ford Focus Active offers as standard.

Exterior features

The Ford Focus Active boats as higher ride, larger tyres and bigger wheel arches, allowing for the best possible clearance and stability, even on rough roads. The raised driving position also offers incredible visibility in a similar way to the Arona, although neither offers the highest ride.

The Active also features extra body cladding and roof bars, while the wagon and five-door hatchbacks have front ends inspired by SUV design with a memorable dark mesh grille.

The Seat Arona boasts a trendy crossover appearance and drives like a Seat Ibiza supermini. Whatever trim level you opt for, it’s a sporty looking car.

Trim levels explained

The Ford Focus Active is available in three different trim levels, each offering a different set of features.

The Seat Arona is available in a variety of trim levels.

Engine options and fuel consumption

The Ford Focus Active is available with the choice of an EcoBlue diesel engine, an EcoBoost petrol option or an EcoBoost Hybrid.

These engines offer low emissions without the loss of performance or power. In fact, you can enjoy 10% better fuel efficiency and 20% faster acceleration.

Choose between:

• A 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine
• A 1.5-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine
• A 1.5-litre EcoBlue diesel engine
• A 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engine

From the Ford Focus Active, you can expect a fuel economy of up to 46.3mpg and emissions of 138-143g/km.

In comparison the Seat Arona offers:

• 0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine
• 5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine
• 6-litre four-cylinder diesel engine

The three-cylinder petrol engine is the leanest choice, offering decent fuel economy.

From the Seat Arona, you can expect up to 49.6mpg with CO2 emissions of 129g/km.  

Cost comparison

The Ford Focus Active range starts at around £18,300. At this sort of price, the Focus Active offers plenty for your money thanks to its generous package of standard features including:

• Electrically adjustable, heated part-leather front seats
• Power-folding wing mirrors
• Front and back parking sensors
• Keyless entry
• Sat-nav
• Rear privacy glass

The Seat Arona is a slightly lower cost alternative with prices ranging from £16,685 to the top of the range Xcellence Lux models, which can reach up to £25,235.

To find out more about the latest offers on the Ford Focus Active, please contact your local TC Harrison dealership today.