Abarth 124 Spider (2016 – 2019) Review

It may share a lot of its DNA with the Mazda MX-5, but the Abarth 124 Spider has a very distinct character. Much of this comes from its 170PS turbocharged 1.4-litre engine, which was a good bit more pokey than you could get in the Mazda MX-5 when the Abarth was launched. With a focus on a fun drive, the 124 Spider makes an intriguing alternative to the Audi TT Roadster or its German counterpart the BMW Z4. Read on for our full Abarth 124 Spider review.

The Abarth 124 Spider is the fastest and most extreme version of the Fiat 124 Spider. Great to drive, aggressively styled and supplied with a riotous soundtrack, it provides genuine open-top thrills.

Unfortunately, its appeal was dented somewhat by its lofty price when new, which makes it a rare sight compared to the range-topping 2.0-litre Mazda MX-5, with which it shares many of its components, but not its engine.

Power comes from the same 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine that’s used in the standard Fiat 124 Spider, but the output is increased to 170PS, while torque peaks at 250Nm.

0-62mph acceleration is swift, too, at 6.8 seconds, and there’s plenty of punch in the mid-range, which means the Abarth 124 Spider feels a lot quicker than its official figures suggest. 

The steering, transmission and pedals are beautifully weighted and positioned, so the car is a real joy to drive on a twisting road, with lots of feedback through the chassis.

It’s easy to place in a corner and has nimble, involving handling that makes it easy to judge grip levels. As a result, it’s huge fun, especially with the roof down.

Folding it is very quick and simple, but it is manually operated. The handbook recommends stopping and getting out of the car, but at very low speeds or when stopped at a set of lights it’s easy to undo the locking mechanism and fold the roof back in a matter of seconds – or vice-versa if it starts to rain.

Compared to the Fiat 124 Spider, the Abarth 124 Spider has a much louder exhaust system, and it’s arguably a bit too loud.

Expect some twitching curtains from your neighbours if you have to make an early start. And that noise, while fun on the right road, can get tiresome after a few hours cruising on the motorway.

Like the Fiat 124 Spider, there isn’t much space inside. It’s a two-seater, and taller drivers simply won’t be able to get comfortable.

There is very little in the way of storage, with no door pockets, and while boot space is the same whether the roof is up or down, it’s only really big enough for a small suitcase or a couple of shopping bags.

The Abarth 124 Spider won’t be for everyone, but if you appreciate aggressive styling and a thunderous soundtrack, then this angry, shouting soft-top will have lots of appeal.

As a driver’s car, it’s a great upgrade over the standard Fiat 124 Spider and a fine alternative to the 2.0-litre Mazda MX-5. However, finding one on the used market might prove to be the biggest challenge.

Fancy a second opinion? Read heycar’s Abarth 124 Spider review.

If you’re much taller than six feet, you simply won’t fit in the Abarth 124 Spider. Legroom and headroom are limited and the seats are not suited to those with broad shoulders, so getting comfortable can be quite tricky, even if you’re not that tall.

Fortunately, if you do fit, you’ll find the controls are very nicely placed, including those for infotainment and ventilation.

The roof is folded manually, and this takes just a few seconds – simply undo the single latch and push it back and down until it locks into place.

The user manual suggests getting out to do this, but realistically it can be raised or lowered in a matter of seconds from the driver’s seat.

Whether it’s up or down, boot space remains the same. But that’s not saying much – the capacity is just 140 litres and the opening is awkward, meaning it’s tricky to get anything bulky in or out.

Soft weekend bags or a top-up shop are fine, but anything bigger requires a different car.

Storage in the cabin is limited, too. There is a storage bin between the seats and a small cubby in the transmission tunnel, but that’s it.

If you want to carry a bottle of water, then you’ll just have to let it roll around the passenger footwell. This isn’t a practical car by any means.

It’s clear to see the similarities with the Mazda MX-5 on which the Abarth 124 Spider is based.

The layout is more or less the same and material quality is fine if not particularly plush. There are different upholstery choices, Alcantara inlays, Abarth logos and unique dials to set the Abarth 124 Spider apart from both the Fiat 124 Spider and Mazda MX-5.

Experience of the Mazda MX-5 shows the cabin will last well and still look fresh after several years and many miles of use.

The Abarth 124 Spider uses exactly the same seven-inch infotainment system from the Mazda MX-5.

This is no bad thing, as the screen is easy to read and navigate, helped by the rotary control positioned just behind the gear lever.

It’s not a touchscreen, but that’s not a problem, as this set-up is quick and easy to use. You can also hook up via Bluetooth, while a Bose stereo with nine speakers was a desirable option for new buyers.

When new, the Abarth 124 Spider was quite a bit more expensive than a 2.0-litre Mazda MX-5.

Fortunately for those who bought new, the Abarth 124 Spider has held on to its value well, but it does mean you'll pay around £5000 more for the Italian car than you will for a version of the Japanese model of similar age and mileage.

Around £16,000 is starting money for an eight-year-old Abarth 124 Spider with 50,000 miles on the clock.

For something newer, you'll need to save up £19,000 for a five-year-old model with 30,000 miles to its name.

It may have a turbocharged 1.4-litre engine with 170PS, but the Abarth 124 Spider still delivers official fuel economy of 44.1mpg.

That’s for the model with the six-speed manual gearbox. If you’d prefer the six-speeder auto, this drops to a claimed 42.8mpg.

Carbon dioxide emissions of 148g/km were decent when new for a sporty car and mean you’ll pay the flat rate for road tax now, which is £180 at the time of writing.

Insurance shouldn’t be a worry for anyone choosing the Abarth 124 Spider, as its sits in group 27, so it’s not prohibitively high, nor is it significantly different from its direct rivals.

Servicing and looking after the Abarth 124 Spider won’t be difficult, as any Fiat dealer will be familiar with its engine. 

The Abarth 124 Spider is based on the Fiat 124 Spider, which itself is based on the Mazda MX-5. That’s great news if you enjoy driving, because it’s fantastic fun and works really well on twisting UK roads.

The steering, pedals and transmission are perfectly weighted and give the car real poise, while providing loads of feedback to the driver.

There’s nothing to separate the cars in corners though. The Abarth 124 Spider handles beautifully thanks in part to a standard limited-slip differential, with superb steering and a suspension set-up which, while slightly unsettled at low speeds, feels just right on a B-road, providing excellent control and feedback.

Compared to a similarly priced hot hatch it might not have the outright pace, but the driving experience is so delightfully involving you won’t care that you’re slower than some other road users.

On your favourite road, with the roof down, the Abarth 124 Spider is absolutely wonderful, as are its Fiat 124 Spider and Mazda MX-5 equivalents.

Abarth took the same engine used in the standard Fiat 124 Spider – a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol – and cranked up the power from 140PS to 170PS.

Torque went up by 10Nm, too, so performance is good – 0-62mph takes 6.8 seconds. On the road, there’s plenty of get up and go for passing slow traffic, and acceleration is accompanied by a meaty exhaust note.

That exhaust note is pretty loud, though. In fact, it’s so loud it might attract the wrong kind of attention, both from other road users and your neighbours on a quiet Sunday morning.

But get it going on the right road and it sounds great, with the odd pop and burble here and there giving it some extra character.

As standard, the Abarth 124 Spider comes with a six-speed manual gearbox that has a nice short throw and a really slick feel.

But if you want an auto, a six-speed is available and, while it does remove some of the driver involvement when on the right road, it is much easier around town or when stuck in a motorway jam.

If you’re considering the Mazda MX-5, too, be sure to test the 2.0-litre. It isn’t turbocharged and so revs much more cleanly, soaring up to the red line in a way that’s more exciting and involving than the turbocharged 1.4 used in the Abarth 124 Spider, despite its more modest power and torque output.

The Abarth 124 Spider was never tested by Euro NCAP, but when the near identical Mazda MX-5 was, it scored well for occupant and pedestrian safety.

However, it only gained a four-star score as no autonomous emergency braking system was offered when the cars were launched in 2016.

Still, the Abarth 124 Spider comes with twin front and side airbags, ESP traction control and even an Isofix child seat with airbag cut-off for the passenger side seat.

The Abarth 124 Spider is not rated for towing any trailer.

When it was launched, the Abarth 124 Spider came with climate control, cruise control, a keyless start button, electric windows, leather and fabric upholstery, infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity, and a seven-inch infotainment screen.

The stereo provided four speakers as standard, or there was the option of a Bose set-up with nine speakers.

An Abarth 124 Spider GT model was added in 2018 with a lightweight carbon-fibre hard-top roof, along with 17-inch OZ alloy wheels.

It also used the matt black bonnet from the competition-spec Rally version, as well as colour-coded door mirror caps and front spoiler.

This model was limited to only 50 cars in the UK.