Accepted wisdom is that if you need to tow a caravan or trailer, then you need a big, heavy car to tow it with.
But what if you own of the best small caravans or a micro tourer, such as a Go-Pod or a Mink? Choosing a huge, heavy SUV could quite reasonably be seen as overkill. Or a waste of money. So step forward a diminutive used Seat Arona, the smallest of Seat’s SUV range.
What’s a used Seat Arona like inside?
Being able to travel in comfort can be an important trait of the best used tow cars, and the good news here is that small on the outside doesn’t automatically mean small on the inside. Indeed, legroom and headroom inside the Arona are both generous enough to allow four 6ft adults to travel in perfectly acceptable comfort.
However, the Seat isn’t that wide, so carrying three adults in the rear will require them to be happy with the idea of being in fairly close quarters.
Still, they’ll be able to bring plenty of stuff with them, because the boot capacity in the Arona is pretty generous: at 400 litres with the rear seats raised, it’s 20 litres more than you’ll get in a Volkswagen Golf, giving you some nice space for packing your essential caravan accessories.
Fold down the seats and you’ll free up a respectable 823 litres of space. Better still, there’s an adjustable-height boot floor in all models.
Although Seat has a fairly design-conscious brand image, you wouldn’t know it from the Arona’s cabin, which feels a touch austere. The plastics are largely dark and feel quite hard. That said, it’s actually well put together, so squeaks shouldn’t be an issue.
The cabin is well laid out, too, and the kit is generous, which could be tempting when buying a used car: all models have some form of air conditioning and automatic emergency braking.
SE models come with a small 5in central screen, but moving up to SE Technology increases this to an 8in affair, which is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Carrying on up the range adds LED headlights, climate control and automatic wipers, although only the top-spec Xcellence versions are fitted with a rear-view camera. Add in the best caravan sat nav and you will be well on your way to an enjoyable towing experience.
How does a used Seat Arona drive?
The ideal balance between performance and costs comes in the shape of the 115bhp 1.0-litre TSI model. This has 148lb ft of torque, which isn’t a huge amount, but enough for what’s required here.
Indeed, it gives the Arona a reasonable turn of pace when not hitched up. It also results in low running costs, with an official average economy figure of 49.6mpg.
You’ll have fun in an Arona, too, because the sharp steering and the fairly firm suspension make it enjoyable to drive.
When towing a modestly sized caravan, you become aware of the low torque figure, but it’s never alarming. You just need to be prepared to rev the engine a bit harder than you would normally.
The Seat’s light weight means it can get tugged around a little when towing in crosswinds, but easing off your speed a bit gives it a chance to settle soon enough.
The verdict on a used Seat Arona
The Seat Arona is a tow car that won’t work for anyone with more than a small van, but if that’s all you need, it’s great. You can see why it was voted Best Ultralight Tow Car in the 2018 Tow Car Awards. It’s well equipped, good to drive and pretty roomy, while running costs are decent.
Something else that can be an important aspect of staying safe on the road is appropriately loading a caravan for towing – don’t miss our expert tips where we talk you through the points to consider.
What to pay for an Arona
- High: price: £22,900; model: 1.0 TSI FR DSG; year: 2024; miles: 573
- Sweet spot; price: £12,800; model: 1.0 TSI SE Technology; year: 2020; miles: 42,500
- Low; price: £5700; model: 1.0 TSI SE Technology; year: 2018; miles: 109,000
What will it tow?
When it comes to appropriately matching a car to a caravan, the Seat has the following spec:
- Kerbweight: 1189kg
- Towing limit: 1100kg
- Noseweight limit: 55kg
- 85% match: 1011kg
Running costs of the Seat Arona
- Insurance group: 12
- Annual VED: £195
- Average economy: 45.6mpg
- Full service: £191
Servicing price supplied by Servicing Stop, 0844 324 5262
Trouble spots
First, 30,794 vehicles were recalled after it was found that the double buckle on the left rear seatbelt could unfasten of its own accord.
Then, almost 20,000 cars were recalled because the adjuster nut for the parking brake lever could loosen, causing more movement at the lever when the brake was applied.
After that, 81 cars were recalled to have faulty rear seatbelt buckles replaced.
A full list of recalls can be found at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk.
Used Ford Puma (2019-present)
If you’re the sort who really enjoys driving when not towing, the Ford Puma makes a great option. It has sharp steering, and suspension that Goldilocks would love because it’s not too soft, not too firm. There’s plenty of room for four adults, and the boot can easily carry all of their stuff, helped by the super-useful Megabox, which is really great for storing muddy boots and so on.
Used Kia Stonic (2017-present)
The Kia’s 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine feels stronger than you’d expect off the line, but less keen accelerating from low revs in one gear, such as when overtaking. But the Stonic is extremely stable when towing. All models have rear parking sensors and a touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Just make sure you can live with the firm ride.
Renault Captur (2013-2019)
As long as you can accept that the Captur has a comparatively low towing limit of 900kg, then it makes a fine choice if you have a lightweight van. It’s also roomy, and has a sliding rear bench to allow you to vary the legroom and boot space as required. Running costs will be suitably low, as are the prices, and it was popular when new, so there are loads out there.
If you’ve enjoyed reading this article, why not get the latest news, reviews and features delivered direct to your door or inbox every month. Take advantage of our brilliant Practical Caravan magazine SUBSCRIBERS’ OFFER and SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER for regular weekly updates on all things caravan related.
