Fiat 124 Spider Abarth
IT’S A BEST BUY BECAUSE:

Like the Mazda MX-5 Miata on which it is based, the Fiat 124 Spider delivers unfiltered driving pleasure for a very reasonable price. Additionally, thanks to the 124’s modest curb weight, it’s quite fuel-efficient for its class.

BUT…

The interior is cramped for anyone over 6’0” tall, and the tiny trunk means you’ll have to pack light.

WORTH NOTING:

The 124 Spider shares its name and some body styling cues with Fiat’s original 124 Spider, which debuted for 1966.

WHAT IS IT?

The Fiat 124 Spider is a 2-seat convertible sports car. Unlike the 124 Spider sold by Fiat from 1966-1985, the 2017 Spider was co-developed with Mazda, and is built alongside the MX-5 Miata in Mazda’s Hiroshima assembly plant in Japan. The Spider differs from the Miata in styling, chassis tuning, pricing, and powerplant offerings. Base Classica, mid-line Lusso, and top-line Abarth models are available. All come with Fiat’s “MultiAir” turbocharged 1.4-liter engine, which produces 160 horsepower in the Classica and Lusso and 164 hp in the sportier Abarth, which also gets a sport-tuned suspension, a limited-slip rear differential, and other performance-oriented elements. The 124 Spider is sold at select Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) retailers franchised to handle the Fiat brand.

WHAT’S NEW?

After its debut for 2017, the Fiat 124 Spider gets minor alterations to option-package content, new exterior colors, and a Red Top Edition for Lusso models.

FUEL ECONOMY

The EPA rates the 124 Spider at 26 mpg city/35 highway with the 6-speed manual transmission and 25/36 with the 6-speed automatic. In Consumer Guide® testing, a manual-transmission Lusso model averaged 29.7 mpg in an even mix of city and highway driving.

VALUE IN CLASS

It is ironic that the first Mazda Miata was designed to emulate the small European sports cars that preceded it, and now a heritage model of that same European lineage owes its architecture to the Miata. The Fiat 124 Spider is a delight to drive and easy to afford. Plus, its retro Italian styling cues and slightly peppier engine help it stand out from its Mazda counterpart. Though it’s somewhat less practical and less powerful than many of the cars in its class, the 124 Spider delivers a wonderfully connected and rewarding driving experience. For many consumers, the 124 will only make sense as a third car, but at these prices, keeping one for sunny weekend drives is not an overreaching indulgence.

BASE PRICE RANGE $24,995 – $28,295
BODY STYLES 2-Door Convertible
AVAILABLE ENGINES 160/164-HP, 1.4-Liter Turbocharged 4-Cyl.
DRIVE WHEELS Rear-Wheel Drive
BUILT IN Japan
EPA FUEL-ECONOMY RANGE 25-36 MPG

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