2016 Fiat 500 Abarth drive review: All you need is the engine

Hot hatch banks on its unrefinement

How can anyone with a healthy sense of humor and hint of joy in their heart fail to appreciate the Fiat 500 Abarth? In the noble tradition of cheap peoples’ cars transformed by aggressive factory tuning, this is probably the cheapest and the most rabidly tuned of any still on the market.

In the U.S., at least, there’s just not much left with this sort of feel: The Subaru WRX is all grown up; the VW GTI has also likewise matured. Even the Fiesta ST is more refined, and strictly two-seat Miata isn’t quite really in the same corner of the market. This little Fiat has character, damn it, and that still counts for something in my book.

Especially when it’s priced right, which this particular tester isn’t — but more on that in a moment.

You could argue convincingly that the entire car has been built around its rowdy exhaust, but let’s start a little bit further up the powertrain. The 1.4-liter, which must surely be boosted to within millimeters of its life (shades of the Alfa Romeo 4C here), punches way above its weight. You’ve got to get on it hard to really make it scoot, but it doesn’t seem to mind the exercise. Rev it high enough in “sport” mode — that dumb little button actually does improve throttle response — and you’ll be rewarded with a satisfying snort when the transmission grabs an upshift. 

The turbocharged 1.4-liter MultiAir engine provides the Fiat 500 Abarth models with 157 horsepower and 183 lb.-ft. of torque. Photo by Fiat

Speaking of, it probably goes without saying that the six-speed auto isn’t how I’d option the car. The base five-speed manual, while not exactly life-changingly crisp, is still more engaging and costs a substantial $1,350 less. The auto is serviceable, though, provided you’re not afraid to get into the throttle.

All in all — and even as the car upon which it is based ages — the 500 Abarth is exactly as much stupid fun as I remember it being. Yes, even in the snow. It spends a second searching for traction when gunning it from a standstill on cold pavement, but if you’re having trouble wrestling 183 lb-ft of torque into compliance, you might want to look into some upper-body workouts. 

The biggest complaints you’re likely to have about this care are the ride and the price, especially when you start checking boxes for options.

Yes, the ride is stiff, but it’s about a half-step above totally obnoxious. While you’ll spill any coffee you try to sip while driving (something the Italians apparently frown on anyway), I could live with it on a daily basis. I’m still tolerant of bumps, though, so your mileage will vary here. You wouldn’t want to make the ride much more compliant in any case. This thing is as short and narrow as it is tall, and it rolled any more in corners, you’d feel like you were about to flip over. 

The turbocharged 1.4-liter MultiAir engine provides the Fiat 500 Abarth models with 157 horsepower and 183 lb.-ft. of torque. Photo by Fiat

Then there’s the price, which is more than a little disheartening at $28,595. You’d have to be insane, or a rabid Fiatisti (but I repeat myself) to shell out that much on this car, especially considering that that price still leaves you wanting leather seats, navigation, a backup camera…

My advice? Embrace the spirit of the cheap hot hatch. Ditch the Beats audio system; skip the fancy wheels, paint, trim, etc. Keep the comfort/convenience group if you must, but don’t expect the convenience of a backup camera or built-in nav system. Contemplate the five-speed manual. That will get you down to a more reasonable sticker.

The closer you can get to hitting that base price, the more tempting the 500 Abarth proposition gets — and if you can’t at least admit to having a good time after driving one (even if you don’t rush to the nearest Fiat dealership with checkbook in hand afterwards), then I’m not sure we’re on the same page where automotive fun is concerned.

— Graham Kozak, associate editor

The turbocharged 1.4-liter MultiAir engine provides the Fiat 500 Abarth models with 157 horsepower and 183 lb.-ft. of torque. Photo by Fiat

OTHER VOICES:

What’s not to love about the Fiat 500 Abarth? Well, with this particular car, there are a few things: the price, the automatic transmission and those silly white-capped side mirrors … but aside from all that, nothing.

As Graham pointed out, this Fiat falls into a place where cars like the Subaru WRX, VW GTI, and most hot hatches used to live — unrefined joy. However, as those cars became better, and more refined, a void was left, which this Fiat happily fills.

The cartoonishly large boost gauge is to the left of the speedo, which is also used to tell you if you’re in sport mode. You’ll see the analog needle dance happily across the gauge out of the corner of your eye.

Of course, if you don’t spring for the $1,300 option of an automatic transmission, you’ll have slightly more control over that needle. That’s not to say that the automatic did a poor job — it was fine in its duties (only requiring a less judicious right foot), but with a car like this, a stick shift is nearly mandatory.

The turbocharged I4 might be the perfect engine for the “slow car fast” thing. The whistling and whooshing of the turbocharger as its builds and dispels of its boost pressure, combined with the screaming exhaust make for a visceral feel of speed that even many fast cars can’t provide.

Aside from how fun this car feels, and sounds, is how well it actually handles. The steering is sports-car heavy, and feels perfectly direct. I got all the feedback I wanted for street use, and feel like this would be a great car to help get racetrack experience.

If you are on a budget, and want something that’ll make you giggle every time you hop in — do as Graham said and strip this to the essential fun parts, and smile all the way home.

— Wesley Wren, associate editor

The turbocharged 1.4-liter MultiAir engine provides the Fiat 500 Abarth models with 157 horsepower and 183 lb.-ft. of torque. Photo by Fiat

Options: Aisin heavy duty six-speed automatic transmission with leather-wrapped shift knob ($1,350); comfort and convenience group including SiriusXM satellite radio with one year radio subscription, one year SiriusXM radio service, auto temperature control air conditioning with micron filter, heated front seats and nero seats($975); beats audio package including beats premium audio system ($700); 16-inch x 6.5-inch aluminum wheels ($550); giallo moderna perla exterior paint ($500); bianco mirror cap with body side stripe ($450); nero trimmed lights ($250); rear park assist ($250)

Graham Kozak








– Graham Kozak drove a 1951 Packard 200 sedan in high school because he wanted something that would be easy to find in a parking lot. He thinks all the things they’re doing with fuel injection and seatbelts these days are pretty nifty too. Read more »





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2016 Fiat 500 Abarth drive review: All you need is the engine