Abarth 500 (09 on) - Review

Review by Simon Harris on
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

2.5 out of 5

Running costs

We are disappointed that Abarth has chosen to pitch the 500 above the larger, more powerful Grande Punto in terms of list price - it smacks of blatantly exploiting the current appetite for the 500. However, it should hold its value a little better than the Grande Punto and probably as well as a MINI Cooper S. Fuel economy of 40mpg plus should be easily attainable in gentle driving.

Summary Running Costs

Servicing period

Two years/18,000 miles.

Warranty

Three years/60,000 miles.

Road tax (12 months)

£170.00 - £170.00

Vehicle excise duty (VED) varies according to the CO2 emissions and the fuel type of the vehicle. For cars registered after March 1st 2001 VED or road tax is based on the car's CO2 emissions. For cars registered before March 1st 2001 it is based on engine size.

Full running costs data

3 out of 5

Green credentials

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    155
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CO2 emission figure (g/km)

Fuel economy rating

The arrows indicate the best and worst CO2 bands for this model.

Emissions summary

A relatively small turbocharged engine in a small car bodes well for its environmental performance, despite its racy attitude. Emissions of 155g/km of CO2 for both standard and Esseesse versions is good considering the performance.

Find the exact engine and CO2