SEAT Arona vs Skoda Kamiq – which is best?

Savvy choices, too, because the Skoda Kamiq and SEAT Arona both hail from the VW Group multiverse, and both are cheaper than their VW-branded conterparts. As we’ll see, it’s quite hard to choose between the Arona and Kamiq.

SEAT Arona vs Skoda Kamiq compared

Styling

Both of these cars distil the SUV styling of bigger SEAT and Skoda models into something that's a lot easier to park.

The Kamiq gets split headlights and quite a smart overall appearance, whereas the Arona gets a slightly sportier look. A lot of Aronas come with a colour contrast roof, which helps the Arona visually stand out – and it looks taller, even though the Kamiq is actually a touch taller in reality. 

High-spec Monte Carlo versions of the Kamiq stand out with black trim and diamond-cut alloy wheels, while entry-level versions can look a bit plain. 

Interior and technology

At first glance, the Kamiq and Arona have a lot of interior similarities. Both have a fairly modestly sized touchscreen sitting above proper climate controls, with more physical controls dotted around the cabin in good places. We love how user-friendly they are, while the touchscreens make each car feel decently connected and modern without relying on the screens for everything.

The Kamiq has a few more interesting design flourishes than the Arona, such as the floating door handles and the fabric-covered dashboard. This lifts the perceived quality up one notch above the Arona, which feels quite plasticky.

Dimensions and practicality

Some small SUVs live up to their classification, but the Arona and Kamiq manage not to feel small inside. Doctor Who would appreciate how spacious they feel for passengers while not taking up much space on the road.

The Kamiq has a slightly longer wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels) than the Arona, which translates to slightly more rear legroom. In fact, very little comes close to the Kamiq’s rear-seat space in this class.

Being slightly longer, the Kamiq also offers more boot space than the Arona when the rear seats are folded.

Of course, Skoda also includes a host of ‘Simply Clever’ additions with its cars. The Kamiq comes with touches like a parking ticket holder, an ice scraper and – don’t forget – an umbrella in the driver’s door.

Engines

We hope a petrol engine is okay with you… since the vast majority of Kamiqs and Aronas feature the same 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, producing either 95 or 110hp. This is a great engine, capable of over 50mpg and peppy performance. If you’re going to be doing a lot of motorway driving, the more powerful version is a better choice because it has six gears instead of five (or an optional automatic gearbox).

A 1.5-litre petrol engine with 150hp is available in both of these cars. It’s limited to high-spec trim levels and comes with an auto ‘box as standard, but the extra power feels unnecessary in most situations.

Neither offers any sort of hybrid-ness or electric power, while the Arona was available for a few years with a grunty 1.6-litre diesel engine. There are plenty knocking around still, whereas we only found three diesel Kamiqs for sale across the UK at the time of writing.

Value

On the used market, the Arona seems a little cheaper than a similarly specced Kamiq with broadly comparable ages and mileages. It’s worth noting that the Kamiq’s sporty-looking Monte Carlo trim is generally quite a bit more expensive than lower-spec versions, and is noticeably more expensive than an Arona in SEAT’s sporty FR trim.

Both are widely available for under £200 per month on PCP finance at the time of writing, making either car an affordable choice.

Which is best?

With its more spacious rear seats, slightly more premium cabin and the useful Simply Clever touches, we’d probably pick the Kamiq over the Arona. But the Arona has plenty of appeal, and high-spec/sporty-looking models are cheaper than equivalent models in the Kamiq range. Why not test-drive both at your local Motorpoint store?

Made up your mind? Shop used SEAT Arona cars and used Skoda Kamiq cars for sale at Motorpoint. If you need more information on these cars, read our SEAT Arona review and Skoda Kamiq review.