Volkswagen Group offers some of the best cars on the market. That’s why choosing between some of its outstanding subcompact SUVs like the Skoda Kamiq, VW T-Cross, and Seat Arona is never easy. But which VW subcompact SUV stands out?
The VW T-Cross is the most elegant of the three SUVs, but is it the best-performing subcompact SUV? On the other hand, the Skoda Kamiq is the most spacious, but how much does it cost? And finally, the Seat Arona is the smallest SUV in the lineup, but does it offer the best value for money?
Exterior
While these three subcompact SUVs are from the Volkswagen Group and based on the same platform (Volkswagen Group MQB A0), they differ a lot in how they look. The SUV with the best exterior is the VW T-Cross, followed by the Skoda Kamiq, and finally the Seat Arona.
VW T-Cross’s design is more modern and spectacular with a galvanized body, body-colored bumpers, reflectors in all doors, and a radiator grille with chrome trim and a chrome bezel front fog lamp. The Kamiq is not far off with a nice chrome grille surround, body-colored bumpers, and LED lights.
When it comes to size, the Skoda Kamiq is the longest and widest of the three. It comes with a wheelbase of 104.4 inches, a length of 167.0 inches, a width of 70.6 inches, and a height of 61.1 inches. It is followed by the VW T-Cross with a wheelbase of 104.3 inches, a length of 166.1 inches, a width of 69.3 inches, and a height of 62.6 inches.
The Seat Arona is the smallest in the group with a wheelbase of 101.0 inches, a length of 162.9 inches, a width of 70.1 inches, and a height of 61.1 inches.
Interior & cargo space
Since Skoda Kamiq is the longest and widest, it also offers the most cabin space. However, this doesn’t mean that the other two SUVs are not comfortable. Nonetheless, the Kamiq still offers the most comfort as it provides more legroom. It is followed by the VW T-Cross, while the Seat Arona is the least comfortable in the lineup.
Regrettably, many people might think that the VW T-Cross comes with a slightly higher-end interior than the Arona and Kamiq due to its price, but it’s the opposite. Even though all these subcompact SUVs are cheaply made, the Kamiq comes with the best interior. It has more supportive seats and soft plastic in some areas, which aren’t present in the VW T-Cross.
Like the Kamiq, Seat Arona also features some soft plastic that makes its interior look spectacular. Nonetheless, all the cars feature a leather-wrapped steering wheel. On the contrary, the VW T-Cross comes with LED headlights and extensive safety assistance features that are options in the Arona and Kamiq.
In terms of cargo space, the Skoda Kamiq offers the most space. It has a total of 400 liters and it can be extended up to 1,395 with rear seats folded. While the Seat Arona has 400 liters and it can go up to 823 liters with the rear seats folded. And the VW T-Cross has a total of 385 liters, which can be increased to 1,281 liters with rear seats folded.
Performance
As expected, all these subcompact SUVs come with the same base engine, the 1.0-liter 95 TSI inline-3 petrol engine. However, unlike the Skoda Kamiq and Seat Arona that only feature two petrol engines, the Volkswagen T-Cross comes with five petrol engine options.
On the contrary, they also offer a similar diesel engine, which is the 1.6-liter TDI inline-4 engine. in terms of performance, the Kamiq still carries the day as it accelerates slightly faster, and it is easier to handle than the rest. But when it comes to road noise, the VW T-Cross has less wind and road noise.
Skoda Kamiq is the fastest in the group with a top speed of 134 mph and it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 7.9 seconds. While the Seat Arona has a top speed of 130 mph and it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.9 seconds. And the VW T-Cross has a top speed of 124 mph and it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.1 seconds.
Fuel efficiency
All these compact SUVs are very efficient compared to their bigger siblings. With that said, the most efficient SUV is the Skoda Kamiq with an efficiency rating of between 47 and 53 mpg, followed by Seat Arona with a rating of 46 to 53 mpg, and the VW T-Cross with 44 to 50 mpg.
Safety
Since all these cars are under the Volkswagen Group, expect to get a safe and reliable car. All the cars received a 5-star EURO NCAP rating, which is great. What’s more, they also come with a 3-year warranty, which is expectational.
Price
Despite offering the best features and the most space, the Skoda Kamiq is not the most expensive car. The most expensive car is the VW T-Cross with a base price of $30,173, followed by the Skoda Kamiq with $29,286, and the Seat Arona is the cheapest with a base price of $27,891.
Skoda Kamiq weaknesses and issues.
FAQ
What is the most reliable car – VW T-Cross, Skoda Kamiq, or Seat Arona?
The reliability of the car will depend on how the owner takes care of it. However, if all cars are well-maintained, then the Skoda Kamiq will be the most reliable as it registers the fewest issues. Furthermore, its spare parts are slightly cheaper than those of its rivals.
Which is the fastest car – VW T-Cross, Skoda Kamiq, or Seat Arona?
It depends on what speed you’re looking for. If it’s top speed, then the Skoda Kamiq is the fastest of the three with a top speed of up to 134 mph. On the contrary, if you’re looking at acceleration from 0 to 60 mph, the VW T-Cross tops the others with 6.1 seconds.
Which car came before the others – Skoda Kamiq, VW T-Cross, or Seat Arona?
These three cars may be based on the same platform and share a lot of features, but they were not made at the same time. Seat Arona is the oldest of the three as it was introduced in 2017, followed by the VW T-Cross in 2018, and Skoda Kamiq in 2019.
Summary
Whether you pick the VW T-Cross or the Skoda Kamiq or the Seat Arona, you will get a reliable and practical car. Nonetheless, the Skoda Kamiq is the best overall car, while the Seat Arona is the best for city driving. The VW T-Cross is best suited for those who desire excellent performance and a technologically advanced subcompact SUV.
