'Can the Abarth 595 change my mind?' | REVIEW

Nicola Hume is replacing her tired old Fiat 500 - should she step up to the Abarth 595?

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Nicola Hume's Fiat 500 is a little long in the tooth. It's served her well for three years, but its lack of performance, cabin space and refinement is beginning to grate, and what was once a love affair with the dinky Italian icon has become a tiresome, drawn out relationship. It's time for Nicola to upgrade, and while she has her heart set on the brilliant new Kia Sportage, we wanted to find out if it was possible to rekindle her love for Fiat's supermini by lending her the altogether more serious Abarth 595. Can its racier design and peppy performance win her over?

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[richardhargrave]

We upgraded from a 500 Twin Air, after that was written off.
Went on to have 4 of them, great fun, fast enough.
The seat was fine for longer journeys
As others have said, the similarity between the two is overstated.
More fun than a ST, an Abarth will always put a smile on your face
Don't really understand why a KIA Sportage would be better, apart from size
what happened to the Scorpion button, a quick mention, that was it!
You need to go for something bonkers and loud for once.
I'd have Abarth No 5 if we didn't need a bigger car

[LocutusH]

This year we also swapped a 1.2S for a 595C turismo. I think what best describes it, is the smile on your face. Like from startup, all the way trough driving it. Because its fun to drive, and very powerful for its weight. And sounds crazy. Who cares about numbers, and what is faster or not, if you are enjoying it. It makes you happy. A Fiesta ST might be better in numbers, but it doesnt make you happy like this.

[vonLuk]

She buys the slowest one they offer and then complains it is slow and bad mouths the range. She screws up expecting a 68hp car should be quick and then wants us to value her opinion?

[oliverstemp]

I love the Abarth, and it’s Italian good looks

[jonesy-rhfk]

I have a 500 TwinAir, and the strange thing is it just works. It’s adequately fast, makes a good noise, the ride’s not rock hard nor does it wallow, 6 gears means I can travel at high speed relatively happily, I’ve never got out aching even after 5 hour stints behind the wheel, and the only thing it’s missing tech wise is CarPlay. I never really liked 500s, the only reason I bought mine was that it was remarkably cheap, but it’s excellent.

[garyminion]

My daughters just got out a 12S and into a Abarth 70 edition, i drove it home from the dealers, 85 miles on B roads, A roads and motorway. What a brilliant little car and she absolutely loves it. I think if your after comfort you wouldn't by a car like a 500 or 595, but if you want a small car for the cheaper insurance after passing your test then the 12 is ideal then after a few years get into the Abarth if you like small and quick with a huge following. Great little car i love it and i own a mazda cx5 and a Jaguar f type.

[kash]

Blimey a proper whingy review!
Bought a tiny fiat 500 with a low powered engine and moans it's too small and slow.
Then drives the hot hatch version and moans the rides too firm.

[christoguichard]

This girl should be on Top Gear...shes great.

[sdkhx]

Brilliant car. So comfortable nippy and does the job for us. Family of 4. I've owned a number of cars this is by far the best.

[SethPinnock]

Your description of the Abarth vs the normal 500 is spot on.
'foaming' at the mouth. Brilliant!

[rg]

I think Nicola and Matt Watson are the duo we all want!

[Mouse]

Still miss my 2010 Esseesse, was a bundle of fun

[Jay-B]

Oh Nicola I love your videos, DO IT it could be the last hurrah before they all dissappear, I've had a 2015 Trofeo 140 for 7 years i bought it for a bit of fun, I traded my crappy 2007 Focus ST for it which had been rubbish from new with numerous issues and poor build quality, only had one issue with a sensor on the Abarth, I've met so many lovely people on the Fiat/Abarth groups as well. I certainly won't be getting rid of it any time soon!

[janeverrell]

If you're into comfort then you tested the wrong Abarth. I had a Fiat 500 for just 5 months before switching to the Abarth Turismo. My husband has the Competizione, which I find much harder. Even better would be the 695 Turismo, with the Monza exhaust and extra power. I drive mainly on country roads and love it. My 500 had 16" alloys so it was also a bumpy ride.

I never had a problem with 0-60 speeds in my 500, even on hills, but you really need to get the revs right, particularly in the lower range. Too many people moan about lack of power and hills when they are pootling along in 5th gear and not downshifting!

[Milnoc]

I'm 17 stone and I fit vert cozily in my North American 2015 Fiat 500 Abarth! 😁However, I did modify the suspension a bit by replacing the old stock shocks and struts with KYB Excel-G shocks and struts. It made the car much more comfortable. I had taken the car out for a 1, 650 mile road trip last summer without any issues.

I bought my Abarth used in 2020 with only 43, 000 miles for £7, 400 (never buy a new one). Only the battery, battery blanket, and door handle needed replacing, and the 17 inch alloy wheels needed some unbending after punishing them on potholes. Everything else was regular maintenance or mods. Also, I bought a set of winter tires on steelies. The summer Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 tires that came with the car were almost brand new!

I love my little car especially since it's now fully paid! It's become a very cheap ride around town!

[predragkardashian]

Its still one of most selling cars in Europe...

[DarthCoco]

*Damn, now I see why my father teases possibly getting one in his life.* Including the logo, this car really resonates with me, without comparing to other cars overall in the market, and it's model range.

[Boorock]

Love your reviews Nicole, not biased, funny & smart.
- Just keep on !

[lasse]

Awesome review! Informative and entertaining

[davidhayes]

Great fun but Nicola overstated the similarity between the two variants. The same applies to a regular Golf and a Golf R ….. or an Audi A3 and an RS3. The problem with the Abarth is that whilst it is a great little car it is at a price point where the competition is severe and it is a shrinking market.