The SEAT Arona is structurally almost identical to the SEAT Ibiza rated earlier in 2017 by Euro NCAP, and has the same fitment of safety equipment.  Some additional tests have been conducted and the Arona has performed at least as well as the Ibiza in these.  Accordingly, this assessment is based on that of the Ibiza and the results of the additional tests.

The passenger compartment remained stable in the front offset test.  Dummy readings indicated good protection of the knees and femurs of both the driver and passenger.  SEAT showed that a similar level of protection would be provided to occupants of different sizes and to those sat in different positions.  In the full-width rigid-barrier impact, protection of the driver and passenger was good or adequate and the Arona scored fractionally better than the Ibiza.  In the side barrier test, good protection was provided to all critical parts of the body and the car scored maximum points.  In the more severe side pole impact, protection of chest was adequate and that of other body regions was good.  Tests on the front seats and head restraints demonstrated good protection against whiplash protection in the event of a rear-end collision.  A geometric assessment of the rear seats also indicated good whiplash protection.  An autonomous emergency braking system is fitted as standard. In tests of its functionality at low speeds typical of city driving at which many whiplash injuries are caused, the system performed well, with collisions avoided at all test speeds.

In the frontal offset test, protection of the 10 year dummy was good.  However, readings from the 6 year dummy indicated weak protection of the chest and marginal protection of the neck.  In the side barrier test, protection of the 6 year dummy was good but chest decelerations indicated poor protection of that part of the body for the 10 year dummy. The front passenger airbag can be disabled to allow a rearward-facing child restraint to be used in that seating position.  Clear information is provided to the driver and the system was rewarded.  All of the restraint types for which the Ibiza is designed could be properly installed and accommodated in the car.

The bonnet surface provided good or adequate protection to the head of a struck pedestrian but performance was weak and poor in tests around the windscreen pillars.  The protection provided to pedestrians' legs by the bumper was good at all test locations.  Protection of the pelvis was also predominantly good or adequate (note: from the 2021 facelift, pelvis protection is noticeably worse with predominantly poor results).  The autonomous emergency braking system can detect pedestrians as well as other vehicles.  In tests, the system showed good performance, with collisions avoided or mitigated in most test scenarios and speeds.

A seatbelt reminder is standard for the front and rear seats.  Tests of the autonomous emergency braking system at highway speeds demonstrated good performance.  The Arona has a driver-set speed limitation system as standard equipment but is not equipped with a lane assistance system.