Seat Ibiza & Arona: Rejuvenation for two chic Spaniards

Seat launched its sporty subsidiary brand Cupra seven years ago. Recently, the millionth Cupra vehicle rolled off the production line, a Cupra Formentor. «Cupra is not just a brand, but a movement. This success writes another chapter in our growth story,» said Markus Haupt, CEO of Cupra and Seat. In Switzerland in particular, the typical Seat today seems to be a Cupra model.

But what about Seat, the pride of the Spanish car industry? The brand is celebrating its 75th anniversary - and then that's it? Not at all! After all, the Seat Ibiza, for example, has been an established name in the small car segment since its launch in 1984. With the Arona city crossover, Seat has also been meeting the needs of customers who are looking for a higher seating position but still want compact exterior dimensions in an SUV since 2017. And thanks to a customer base that is on average ten years younger than that of the other Volkswagen Group brands, Seat definitely sees a future for itself.

Future clearly outlined
Next year, two attractive models will be rolling out: the revamped Seat Ibiza and Arona, both of which will also be available as mild hybrids from 2027. In 2028, the Seat Leon will be launched as a full hybrid, and just one year later it will receive a comprehensive update. So the plan is clear: the Spanish manufacturer will continue to go full throttle and position itself as the exciting entry-level brand in the group. «Both the Ibiza and the Arona are in a customer segment that is very price-sensitive,» adds Fernando Salvador, Head of Product Development at Seat. «That's why we've tried to keep the price the same, despite updates and additional features such as full LED lights, fog lights, and at least 16-inch instead of 15-inch rims.»

The 56-year-old Spaniard adds: «We have also been able to make savings in purchasing, production, and research and development, as these are not two completely new models. We have also deliberately decided not to offer certain equipment variants. This helps to reduce costs in production and retail.» The results of these efforts are impressive.

Dynamic and agile
The front of the Ibiza, with its new grille and narrower full-LED lights, looks noticeably fresher. At the rear, a color-contrasting diffuser adds dynamism and pizzazz. Inside, soft-touch materials, an 8.25-inch or 9.2-inch infotainment display, and a dark headliner bring a breath of fresh air. Under the hood is the astonishingly agile three-cylinder engine with 85 kW/115 hp (with 6-speed transmission or 7-speed DSG) or the 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 110 kW/150 hp and 7-speed DSG. The latter is naturally a better fit for the dynamically designed, 4.07-meter-long and 1.78-meter-wide small car. It also allows it to sprint to 100 km/h in six seconds. During our test drives on the island of the same name, the Ibiza was particularly enjoyable thanks to its good handling, appealing suspension comfort despite the sometimes rough terrain, and precise steering.

Compact and balanced
The redesigned Arona city SUV also offers excellent driving characteristics. It is available with the same engines as the smaller Ibiza, but only in combination with a 7-speed DSG transmission. The higher seating position provides good visibility, and as with the Ibiza, the balanced suspension ensures good handling. At the touch of a button, you can choose between four driving modes (Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual), allowing you to easily adjust the steering, gear shifting, and drive characteristics to suit your preferences.

Visually, the 4.16-metre-long and 1.78-metre-wide SUV can be recognized above all by the narrower full LED lights, the repositioned fog lights, the revised radiator grille and the black plastic protection running around the entire body. A successful mix of robust SUV and chic city runabout, which - just like the Ibiza - offers an appealing amount of space both in the rear and in the luggage compartment with 400 liters (Ibiza: 355 liters).

And, as promised by Fernando Salvador, the prices for the Seat models arriving in January 2026 as Style or FR versions are also correct. This means that both the Seat Ibiza (from $25,950) and the Seat Arona (from $32,250) are two attractive Spanish cars that are well worth a closer look. And there will also be special ’Move FR!’ models for both models. The Seat Ibiza «Move FR!» with 1.0 TSI, 115 hp, and 6-speed manual transmission will be available with additional equipment (including heated front seats, full LED pack, and extended warranty) starting at CHF 28,250, representing a customer benefit of CHF 3,250 – olé!