Daily Times

Digital displays are increasingly common in high-end vehicles like Range Rovers, BMWs and high-specification Mercedes models, and they’ve started finding their way into more modest models too. Volkswagen Group is at the forefront of bringing the technology to the masses in cars like the VW Golf GTI and Golf R, and now it’s extending its Digital Cockpit to its SEAT brand’s more affordable models.

The SEAT Arona will be the first car in its class to have a digital display, as will the Ibiza supermini. The new system replaces the traditional analog dials such as the speedometer and rev counter with a 10.25-inch color screen. As well as doing away with real dials, the display is also customizable, and can display a range of navigation, driving and infotainment information and functions.

The Digital Cockpit technology has been available in the larger SEAT Ateca and Leon models since the start of the year, but the Arona will be the first subcompact SUV to offer this type of technology. It’s not the first subcompact vehicle in general to feature the tech, though, as the Volkswagen Polo supermini is already available with the similar Active Info Display system.

It’s always only a matter of time before features first seen in expensive upscale vehicles start to filter into the mainstream. Of late, Ford has usually been the company bringing the latest tech to the masses, but before long, though, digital dashboard displays will be standard in all but the cheapest cars out there.

Although prices and specifications for the system are yet to be announced, for VW’s Leon the system is offered as a …450 (£400) option with certain models. That may sting if you recently bought a more prestigious VW Group model such as an Audi A5. Unless you got a high-spec S5, getting the Digital Cockpit option in other A5 versions will cost you around an extra …1,400 for the Tech Pack.

Published in Daily Times, August 3^rd 2018.