Abarth 500 (09 on) - Review Review by Simon Harris on 26 February 2009 The 500 has been a big success for Fiat, so a fiery version of the model from Abarth - a separate high-performance brand within Fiat - is no surprise. Wearing the distinctive scorpion badges, the Abarth 500 has been significantly re-engineered and is only available through the small network of Abarth dealerships. Thanks to a peppy turbocharged 1.4-litre engine, it performs as well as the striking looks suggest. Sharp steering and minimal roll in corners make it hugely fun to drive too. For those who want even more performance, there's an Esseesse version which increases engine power and adds stiffer suspension and better brakes. 4.5 out of 5 Other Abarth reviews Summary Facts & Figures Equipment Driving & Performance Comfort Costs Safety & Reliability Buying & Selling Also Consider Company Car Info Gallery 4.5 out of 5 Summary Tweet New price range: £14,467 View all new prices Used price range: £9,110 - £12,937 View all used prices Get an Abarth 500 (09 on) information pack Next steps Abarth 500 cars for sale Use our cars for sale search facility to find great deals on second hand cars. We have 56 models like this for sale, starting at £9,890. Find used Abarth 500s for sale Distinctive looks, appealing and fun high-performance small car, sharp handling More powerful Abarth Grande Punto is cheaper, firm ride The 500 has been a big success for Fiat, so a fiery version of the model from Abarth - a separate high-performance brand within Fiat - is no surprise. Wearing the distinctive scorpion badges, the Abarth 500 has been significantly re-engineered and is only available through the small network of Abarth dealerships. Thanks to a peppy turbocharged 1.4-litre engine, it performs as well as the striking looks suggest. Sharp steering and minimal roll in corners make it hugely fun to drive too. For those who want even more performance, there's an Esseesse version which increases engine power and adds stiffer suspension and better brakes. Driving & Performance Performance 4.5 out of 5"In standard specification the Abarth 500 will cover the 0-62mph sprint in less than eight seconds." Handling 4.5 out of 5"Driving the Abarth 500 hard isn't quite all wheelspin, although the ride is very firm and it can be..." Comfort Comfort 3 out of 5"The Abarth 500 is a small car and will feel a little cramped for taller passengers in the rear." Practicality 3 out of 5"With 185 litres of boot capacity, the same as the standard 500, the Abarth has a little more luggage..." Equipment 4 out of 5"All Abarth 500s come with alloy wheels, air conditioning, electric windows, a CD stereo, electric..." Behind the wheel 4.5 out of 5"There are plenty of feel-good features in the Abarth 500. Despite being based on a Fiat 500, there..." Costs Running costs 2.5 out of 5"We are disappointed that Abarth has chosen to pitch the 500 above the larger, more powerful Grande..." Green credentials 3 out of 5"A relatively small turbocharged engine in a small car bodes well for its environmental performance,..." Safety & Reliability Safety 4.5 out of 5"The Fiat 500, on which the Abarth 500 is based, has scored very highly in official European crash..." Reliability 4 out of 5"Although some people have had problems with reliability on small Fiats in the recent past,..." Buying & Selling Buying new 2.5 out of 5"Perhaps the biggest problem when buying new will be finding an Abarth outlet nearby - there's only..." Buying used 2.5 out of 5"Abarth 500 models will be relatively rare so tracking one down will be the main issue. Try Fiat or..." Selling 3.5 out of 5"There should be a good deal of demand among enthusiasts, making selling a used Abarth 500 relatively..." Gallery View full gallery Car Valuations Find used car prices with Parkers accurate car valuations. Find out more Abarth 500 cars for sale We have 56 models like this for sale. Find Abarth 500 cars for sale Next: Facts & Figures