The facelifted Seat Arona has been spied testing for the very first time ahead of an expected debut in 2021 as a 2022 model.

It has been three years since the Arona was launched and while it still looks relatively fresh, the car manufacturer has clearly decided now is the time to give it some minor updates. This prototype was snapped while testing in the European Alps and had its front and rear covered in black and white camouflage.

While there is camouflage covering the headlights, we can see the overall shape of them as well as the triangular shape of the turn signals and daytime running lights. Curiously, the headlights appear identical to those of the current Arona but it is possible the finished car will have new lighting technologies, even if the overall shape of the headlights doesn’t change.

Elsewhere, the size and shape of the upper front grille appears unchanged although there is now a new mesh design. The most obvious change at the SUV’s front fascia is a significantly smaller lower front grille.

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The rear of the prototype looks largely the same as the current model, even down to the shape of the tailpipes and the positioning of the reflectors. The taillights also appear to have gone unchanged but we expect them to probably have new LED graphics.

It remains to be seen if any changes will be made to the available range of powertrains. As it stands, the current Arona is available with three petrol and two diesel engines in Europe. The petrol range starts with a tiny 1.0-liter TSI three-cylinder producing just 94 hp and paired to a five-speed manual transmission. This same engine is also offered in 113 hp form with a six-speed. The petrol family is topped out by a 1.5-liter TSI Evo engine delivering 148 hp. Completing the current engine line-up is a 1.6-liter TDI offered in 94 hp and 113 hp variants.

Photo Credits: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien for CarScoops