Abarth 500 (09 on) - Review

The Abarth 500 is a small car and will feel a little cramped for taller passengers in the rear. However, front seat space is fine for most adults and despite the firm ride, it's pretty comfortable for a high-performance small car. Air conditioning and electric windows are standard plus engine noise manages to remain subdued while the rasp of the exhaust can be heard. Tyre noise can be an issue on larger wheels, particularly on the 17-inch alloys which are optional on the standard version and standard on the Esseesse.

With 185 litres of boot capacity, the same as the standard 500, the Abarth has a little more luggage space than a MINI hatchback. The rear seats can also fold down to improve carrying space - as long as you remember to select this from the options list. Although the Abarth 500 is generally easy to manoeuvre, the large wheels and direct steering make it feel a little less nimble in tight spaces than the Fiat 500.

There are plenty of feel-good features in the Abarth 500. Despite being based on a Fiat 500, there are no Fiat badges in sight - you find the Abarth scorpion in the centre of the steering wheel and elsewhere on the car. The gearstick is mounted on the dashboard making it ideally placed without cluttering up the floor of the car and there is a gearshift alert/turbo boost gauge on the dashboard. Build quality and finish are impressive while visibility is good thanks to the large glass area and decent-sized door mirrors.