Arona pricing starts from around £16,000 and runs to just under £25,000 and there are three core trim levels - 'SE', 'FR' and 'XCELLENCE', with variants in each case. We'll get into detail on that in a minute. The engine choice on offer is pretty much the same as you get in an Ibiza and as usual in this segment, is primarily geared towards petrol power. The green pump-fuelled options are mainly 1.0-litre three cylinder units and most buyers will want the 1.0-litre turbo TSI powerplant we tried, offered with either 95 or 115PS, with the faster version gaining a 6-speed manual gearbox. That perkier 1.0-litre TSI derivative is the only variant in the range that can be ordered with an automatic gearbox, a 7-speed DSG transmission that costs an extra £1,300.
The other Arona engines on offer will be rarely seen, but both have plenty to be said for them. For petrol people, there's a 1.5-litre TSI EVO unit that has plenty of power - 150PS - and impressive frugality too, thanks to clever cylinder deactivation technology. If efficiency really is a priority though, you'll want the 1.6-litre TDI diesel, offered with either 95 or 115PS. You've really got to be covering a much higher annual mileage than is typical for cars of this kind though, if you're to justify the TDI powerplant's price premium of more than £2,000 over the equivalent 1.0-litre TSI petrol variant.
