For Mini hot hatches don't come any more stylish than the 500 Abarth. It's fun to drive, too, and you get lots of luxury kit as standard

Against It's pricier than some rivals, and while it's fun to drive, it's not exactly polished. The ride is firm and the driving position feels awkward

Fiat 500 Hatchback

What Car? says

4 out of 5 stars

If you like a fun drive and retro styling, you'll love the 500 Abarth. If you're after a more polished and honed driving experience, though, the Renaultsport Twingo is better

What Car? readers say

4.457143

Fiat 500 Hatchback 1.4 T-Jet Abarth 3dr full review

  • Performance

    4 out of 5 stars

    The Abarth's turbocharged 1.4 can dish out 133bhp and 152lb ft of torque, so acceleration is very brisk indeed. It's not as quick off the line as it should be, though, because the front tyres scrabble for traction. Go for the optional Esseesse upgrade, and the engine's wick is turned up to 158bhp.

    Review-OnRoad

  • Ride & Handling

    3 out of 5 stars

    There's plenty of fun to be had in the Abarth. There's a good amount of grip, and although the body shimmies around a bit, it feels very stable. The steering ruins your fun slightly, though, because there's not enough feel for you to confidently push the car to its limits. The ride isn't great, because you get jostled around a fair bit in your seat at all speeds.

  • Refinement

    3 out of 5 stars

    As pocket rockets go, the Abarth is surprisingly quiet. The engine sounds good when you're giving it plenty, and settles down nicely on the motorway. There's a bit of wind- and road noise, but it won't annoy you. The gearshift will, though, because it's clumsy and inaccurate.

  • Buying & Owning

    3 out of 5 stars

    The Abarth is quite a bit pricier than some of it' main rivals, but the style and kit you get will be worth every penny to some. Residual values are strong, so it'll protect your investment well, and running costs aren't outrageous, either. The relatively high insurance grouping might put some younger buyers off, though.

    Review-Ownership

  • Quality & Reliability

    3 out of 5 stars

    The materials used to construct the 500's cabin aren't exactly dazzling, but they're good enough that they don't ruin the classy impression created by the interior flashy design. Everything seems solidly bolted together, too. However, Fiat's reliability is shaky at best, and dealers don't have the best reputation for customer service.

  • Safety & Security

    4 out of 5 stars

    The Abarth doesn't miss much in the safety stakes. To help you avoid getting yourself in a pickle, stability control and anti-skid brakes are provided. If a pickle is unavoidable, there are seven airbags to minimise the damage to you and your passengers. Deadlocks and an immobiliser should make life more awkward for thieves, too.

  • Behind The Wheel

    3 out of 5 stars

    You won't have any trouble finding or using any of the functions on the dashboard, because everything is clearly laid out and well marked. The design looks very flash, too. Unfortunately, the driving position might bother you. You sit up very high, which detracts from the car's sporty feel, and the footrest for your clutch foot feels uncomfortably high.

    Review-Cabin

  • Space & Practicality

    3 out of 5 stars

    It's still a Fiat 500, so the Abarth is never going to be the roomiest car in the world. Space up front is fine, but the two rear seats don't give passengers a lot of head- or legroom. The boot isn't huge, but it's bigger than you get in some of the Abarth's major rivals. You have to pay extra for a split-folding rear seat, too.

  • Equipment

    4 out of 5 stars

    The Abarth reflects its steep-looking price by providing piles of luxury kit. You get alloy wheels, front foglights, air-conditioning, electric front windows, remote locking, leather-covered controls and a Bluetooth phone connection. Options include sat-nav, climate control, leather upholstery and a range of different paint finishes and decals.