Abarth 124 Spider Convertible running costs and reliability

2016 - 2019 (change model)

Running costs rating: 4 out of 54.0

Written by Parkers Published: 6 June 2019 Updated: 12 September 2022

Miles per pound (mpp)

Reliable fuel consumption data for comparison purposes is not available for this model.

What is miles per pound?

Fuel economy

A more stringent standard for fuel economy (WLTP) was introduced from September 2017, and this model was not required to undergo that test. Its fuel economy measured under the previous test system was 42 - 44 mpg. However these figures are less likely to be achievable in real world driving and so should never be compared to another car's mpg which was measured under the newer, more realistic WLTP system.

View mpg & specs for any version

Good claimed fuel economy for a sports car
Relatively low insurance group
Three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty from new

There’s just the one engine available in the Abarth 124 Spider, meaning running costs are relatively similar whether you opt for the six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. When paired with the former, the 1.4-litre turbocharged engine returns 44.1mpg, compared to 42.8mpg with the latter.

Service intervals for the Abarth 124 Spider are every 9,000 miles or one year (whichever comes first) while the standard manufacturer warranty from new is three years and unlimited miles. Insurance for all versions is group 29E, a slight increase on the maximum of 26E given to the Fiat 124 Spider.

It might not have been built to save the planet – there’s no stop-start system or hybrid/EV models on the way – but the Abarth 124 Spider is hardly a big polluter. CO2 emissions are a respectable 148g/km for the manual version, raising to 153g/km in automatic guise.

Sufficed to say, we reckon there’s very little chance of Abarth bringing out a hybrid or pure electric version of the 124 Spider in its current guise.

Generous three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty
Based on Mazda MX-5 convertible
That boasts excellent reliability in its current guise

Abarth 124 Spider reliability is a tricky one to call. It’s based heavily on a Fiat (a brand that has a debatable reputation for reliability), yet in this particular case the Fiat in question is based on a Mazda MX-5. Confused? Essentially, the Abarth 124 Spider is a super-reliable Mazda underneath.

Team this with the Abarth’s three-year unlimited-mile warranty and the 124 Spider should, in theory, make a solid proposition. Indeed, this reviewer took the car on a near 1,000-mile drive and had no trouble whatsoever, with all trim pieces and fixings staying resolutely solid throughout the trip.