Fiat 500 Hatchback 1.4 T-Jet Abarth Esseesse 3dr

For There's no faulting the ultimate performance or the amount of standard kit you get

Against The suspension is too stiff for UK roads, and because the engine's power delivery is too peaky, the Esseesse is not as much fun as the regular Abarth

What Car? says

3 out of 5 stars

The regular Abarth is a cracking little hot hatch, but this Esseesse model is just too extreme for the UK. Save your money and buy the standard car

Key facts

0–60mph: 7.4 secs
Top speed: 131 mph
Average mpg: 43.5
Tank range: 335 miles

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Features

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Size

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View the whole Fiat 500 Hatchback range

Cheaper

Hatchback 1.2 Pop S/S 3dr
£9,960
Hatchback 0.9 Twinair Pop S/S 3dr
£11,160
Hatchback 1.2 Lounge S/S 3dr
£11,360
Hatchback 0.9 Twinair S/S 3dr
£11,660
Hatchback 1.3 Multijet Pop 3dr
£12,360
Hatchback 0.9 Twinair Lounge S/S 3dr
£12,560
Hatchback 0.9 Twinair Plus S/S 3dr
£12,760
Hatchback 1.4 Lounge S/S 3dr
£12,765
Hatchback 1.3 Multijet Lounge 3dr
£13,760
Hatchback 1.4 T-Jet Abarth 3dr
£14,462
Hatchback 1.2 byGucci S/S 3dr
£14,860
Hatchback 0.9 Twinair byGucci S/S 3dr
£16,060
Hatchback 1.4 T-Jet Abarth Esseesse 3dr
£17,207

More expensive

Hatchback 1.2 Pop S/S 3dr
£9,960
Hatchback 0.9 Twinair Pop S/S 3dr
£11,160
Hatchback 1.2 Lounge S/S 3dr
£11,360
Hatchback 0.9 Twinair S/S 3dr
£11,660
Hatchback 1.3 Multijet Pop 3dr
£12,360
Hatchback 0.9 Twinair Lounge S/S 3dr
£12,560
Hatchback 0.9 Twinair Plus S/S 3dr
£12,760
Hatchback 1.4 Lounge S/S 3dr
£12,765
Hatchback 1.3 Multijet Lounge 3dr
£13,760
Hatchback 1.4 T-Jet Abarth 3dr
£14,462
Hatchback 1.2 byGucci S/S 3dr
£14,860
Hatchback 0.9 Twinair byGucci S/S 3dr
£16,060
Hatchback 1.4 T-Jet Abarth Esseesse 3dr
£17,207

The Fiat 500 Hatchback 1.4 T-Jet Abarth Esseesse full review Read in full

Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Engines are lively but not especially quick
Ride & Handling
3 out of 5 stars
Light steering makes city driving a doddle
Refinement
3 out of 5 stars
Not the most refined, but not unbearable
Buying & Owning
4 out of 5 stars
Cheaper than rivals and desirable too
Quality & Reliability
3 out of 5 stars
Chic interior has quality feel
Safety & Security
5 out of 5 stars
One of the safest superminis around
Behind The Wheel
3 out of 5 stars
Retro design, cheap ordinary switchgear
Space & Practicality
3 out of 5 stars
Bigger than a Mini, but not much
Equipment
3 out of 5 stars
Air-con not standard on entry models

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Buyer's notes

Target Price team says:

You have the choice of five different engines in the 500, including the one in the hot Abarth version that sits at the top of the range. Although it’s brisk rather than stupidly fast, this is the most exciting car in the range to drive, thanks to its lower, stiffer suspension and weightier steering.

That’s in direct contrast to the cheaper versions, which are not so great on the road, thanks to their jittery ride and disappointing handling. Given that, we think the best versions are the cheaper ones, and the pick of the range is the cheapest, the 1.2 Pop.

It may not come with alloys or air-conditioning, but you can add those as options without reaching the overall price of the next-cheapest model in the range. It also has the added reassurance – as does every model in the range – of a maximum five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating.