Abarth 595:Fast and entertaining compact cars were a fairly typical appearance on our roads even before Fiat introduced its retro-inspired Fiat 500 and cranked up the heat with the Abarth variants. The market had all by the time Abarth presented its first hotter-than-ever contemporary 500 in 2008. Still, it vanished even though most mainstream manufacturers had a lightweight pocket rocket ready to excite your everyday drive.
Of course, it’s no secret that the Abarth 595 is based on the well-liked Fiat 500. But this goes beyond a few minor adjustments. Fiat’s little city vehicle has been transformed into a proper hot hatch by Abarth. Read our Abarth 595 review to learn how.
It was first introduced in 2008 under the name Abarth 500, a nod to the vehicle it was based on. It was rebadged as the Abarth 595 four years later, in 2012, despite undergoing several upgrades and power increases.
The Abarth 595, also known as the Abarth 595C, is the entry-level model in the lineup. It comes in hatchback and convertible body styles. Any version you choose will have a turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine under the hood that generates 145PS. That’s a respectable number in a vehicle this size, and it will propel you from 0 to 62 mph in under 7.8 seconds.
The Abarth 595 has previously come in various unique edition variants with considerably more power. The Abarth 595 Pista is an example. This added 20 PS to its already 165 PS, allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in only 6.8 seconds and still taking too long. The Abarth 595 is available in Competizione or Esseesse trims; each has a massive 180PS under the hood and can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 6.7 seconds. They are no longer available to purchase new with the Abarth 595, but you can still order the more track-focused Abarth 695 with a 180PS engine. You’ll have to locate them on the secondhand market now.
The Abarth 595’s Turismo variant is now the only other trim option. The essential car’s power and performance are carried over into this variant, including more abundant equipment like leather seats, temperature control, and rear parking sensors.
So you can see, despite competition from hot hatchbacks like the Volkswagen Up GTI and Renault Twingo GT, the Abarth 595 provides consumers a vast selection of options despite its modest size.
There is no denying that both of these competitors are, in many ways, more advanced vehicles, yet the Abarth 595 has a unique attraction because of this. It’s a simple little vehicle, but it packs a powerful punch of pleasure and driving excitement. You can tell it’s unique and maybe a little pizza simply by the noise it makes when you turn the key to start the engine. After all, what good is having a little hot hatch if you can’t grin every time you get in it?
Of course, drawbacks include the Abarth 595’s handling and ride seeming reasonably old compared to more recent competitors. Even the entry-level model is hardly what you’d call inexpensive when you can get the far better Ford Fiesta ST for the same price. The inside is best characterized as being for two people with sporadic rear seats.
Is the Abarth 595 right for you?
The Abarth 595 is a vehicle that, if it requires explanation, is probably not for you, like many Italian sports cars. Given the claustrophobic interior, high operating expenses, and availability of more capable, sophisticated hot hatches for the same price or less, depending on the type, there is no point in purchasing this vehicle.
The Abarth 595 does, however, have its charms. The automobile that punches far beyond its weight in terms of fun, personality, and kudos is what attracts purchasers, not the mouse that roars. All of this boils down to the fact that the Abarth 595 is a car that makes you grin, so it’s understandable why many of its owners also keep several other, much more costly, exotic vehicles in their garages alongside the 595.
The Abarth 595 allows you to join a secret club, one of its joys. There are many more sporty hatchbacks, but that will be just as off-putting for some. Even though the Abarth 595 has flaws, such flaws shouldn’t take away from what makes the car so unique in the first place.
Which Abarth 595 model and engine should you select?
Although choosing the least-priced Abarth 595 model would be logical and pragmatic, we will stick to our guns and go for the Abarth 595 Competizione. You’ll need to locate a used example, although several are often available.
Although this model is not nearly as expensive as the Esseesse, it has the same 1.4-litre T-jet turbo petrol engine with 180 PS. Consequently, you get all the performance for a lower price. It also includes the limited-slip differential and excellent sports front seats exclusive to these top models.
By selecting the Competizione, you also get the Dual Mode Record Monza exhaust system with four tailpipes, larger front brakes for faster-stopping power, and enhanced rear suspension for more excellent handling. This is the Abarth 595 in its most extreme form, making it the greatest.
Which other vehicles compare well to the Abarth 595?
The MINI Cooper S is seldom criticized for being overly large, but when contrasted with the Abarth 595, it is. Therefore, the Volkswagen Up GTI is the Italian’s only significant competition. The eager engine and nimble handling of the Up make up for its slower speed without sacrificing enjoyment while cruising through rural roads.
The Suzuki Swift Sport and Renault Twingo GT are further hot hatch options. The Ford Fiesta ST is the only price-competitive option to equal the Abarth in speed and pleasure.
Comfort and design
“Fiat’s in-house tuning division made several adjustments to the driving experience while converting the Fiat 500 into the Abarth 595. Thus, You will get sports pedals, a thinner, thicker-rim steering wheel, and an Abarth version of the 5-inch infotainment screen.
The highly bolstered sports front seats are another obvious sign that you are stepping into a hot hatch since they seem to be prepared for the racetrack rather than the grocery store run. However, the seats do not address the upright driving stance in other Fiat 500 versions.
Sitting atop the vehicle and almost bent over the wheel in a hot hatch seems strange. Despite this, the seats themselves are cosy and provide plenty of support while you’re taking advantage of Abarth’s impressive cornering prowess.
This is made worse by the confined foot well, which forces the driver to twist their left ankle to feel comfortable on longer trips when the clutch pedal isn’t always covered. Finding the ideal seating configuration is not assured for every driver due to the uncomfortable driving posture resulting from the steering wheel’s limited angle adjustment.
On the plus side, the Abarth is so small that it is easy to see out of it in all directions, and parking is more accessible than any of its competitors. Despite this, Abarth adds parking sensors to all versions.
Since the primary instrument pod’s layout is identical to the Fiat 500’s, information is presented in a crisp, bright digital display. Abarth places The gear lever high up in the middle of the centre console so that it is always only a flick of the wrist away. The infotainment screen is also simple to understand while driving.
Quality and finish
The fit, finish, and build of the Abarth 595 range’s cabin are if there is one area where it is truly starting to feel its age and fall behind its competitors. Although it seems attractive from a distance, the car’s excessive use of rough, cheap-feeling plastics detracts from the overall experience. It’s virtually excusable in the regular Fiat 500 but much more difficult to ignore in the Abarth variants of the exact vehicle.
Other features, like the absence of foot support for your left shoe while not using the clutch, make you wonder about the quality of the vehicle.
However, the leather on the more expensive Abarth 595s seats brings a welcome sense of elegance. The controls function similarly; the gear change has a respectable weight that suggests sporty ambition, and the steering wheel is exactly the proper thickness to alert you that this is a hot hatch before you ever start the engine.
Infotainment: Abarth 595
All Abarth 595 versions share the same 5-inch Uconnect infotainment screen, mounted high in the dashboard’s centre as in the Fiat 500. It is simple to see the information on the display since the screen’s resolution is clearly defined.
Connecting your smartphone to the system is simple since it has a USB connector, Bluetooth, and DAB digital radio. The entry-level model lacks mirroring technology, while the other models include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to link with smartphones and quickly provide access to respective applications.
If you choose the primary 595 or Pista models, you are without satellite navigation, but all versions, except the Pista, include the optional Hifi by Beats.
Every Abarth model has a responsive infotainment screen that responds quickly to finger touches. It contains logical menus and shortcut buttons that instantly direct you to the most crucial, often-used functionality.
Space and practicality: Abarth 595
Given that the Abarth 595’s external measurements are 3657mm long, 1893mm wide, and 1485mm high, it would never have the most interior space for passengers who weren’t seated in the front seats. Despite having remarkably decent headroom and enough room for their legs and shoulders, those in the back are not nearly as well taken care of.
There isn’t enough space for adults to stretch out in the rear of the Abarth 595 unless the individual in the front seat is deficient in size. Even older children will struggle to return there since the sporty front seats occupy too much space. It implies that the Abarth is best considered a two-seater that can accommodate a few more people for extremely brief trips.
This strategy will prevent you from forcing your friends and family to use Abarth’s rear seat access. The doors open wide, but there isn’t much space to pass through since the front seats don’t move forward far enough. Additionally, there is not much headroom for people once mounted in the rear. The back seat occupants will be blown about by the air when the fold-back canvas top is pushed open at any speed above town speeds, but choosing the convertible variants doesn’t make the rear headroom worse.
When compared to the Abarth 595’s boot, the Convertible seems worse. This is so that the back hatch may give way to a lid that opens to show a tiny opening due to the roof’s shape. Although the boot’s size isn’t smaller than the hatch’s, it will be difficult to place anything larger than a carry-on flight bag due to its limited opening.
The hatch’s completely openable tailgate makes it easy to get larger bags inside, but you’ll rapidly use up the 185 litres of accessible capacity. To make extra room, the back seats are split evenly and tilted forward, which is perhaps a better use of the available space. Even so, the 595 will not be your go-to vehicle for trips to the hardware store, and even the Volkswagen Up GTI is a more useful compact vehicle—let alone models like the Ford Fiesta ST.
Ride and handling quality: Abarth 595
A little hot hatch like the Abarth 595, which can better use the limited space, should be at home on narrow back roads with frequent direction changes. This is true since the Abarth has excellent grip in all of its variations, but because of its stiff ride, it’s not the most capable compact hot hatch.
The Abarth 595 may rapidly become jiggly on any surface other than one that is as smooth as Italian gelato. When you meet these impediments mid-corner, you do not want the vehicle to be pinballing from one bump to the next caused by the short wheelbase, fat tires, and stiff suspension.
This may be resolved with a little more flex in the suspension, and we’d also like more input from the steering, which seems a touch lifeless compared to the Ford Fiesta ST’s sensory joys. The Abarth’s front-end bite will also vary depending on your chosen model.
If you choose the Competizione or Esseesse models, you’ll receive a limited-slip differential and more robust suspension dampers to properly transfer power and maximize the car’s abilities in curves. The front end may become choppy and wild when the power peaks on the less powerful models.
The Abarth 595 indeed shows its age in terms of riding comfort. The Abarth’s suspension is constantly firm and busy over the bumps, allowing every undulation and wrinkle in the road’s surface to make itself known in the cabin, unlike a Ford Fiesta ST or Volkswagen Up GTI, which may provide a decent bit of comfort. For some people, it will be the experience of a sports vehicle, but we’d instead have a hot hatch with a more varied set of capabilities.
What Abarth 595 engine and transmission options are there?
The Abarth 595’s 1.4-litre T-jet turbo petrol engine is available in three different tuning levels, with 145 PS, 165 PS, and 180 PS. For the 595, 145PS seems like a manageable amount without ever overpowering the grip and traction of the front tires. The chassis appears to be under strain when you upgrade to the 165PS Pista and Turismo variants.
The 180PS Competizione and Esseesse are quick and reach 62 mph in 6.7 seconds, but they push the dynamic capability 595.
Every iteration of the 1.4-litre engine seems more extensive and more powerful than its size would imply, allowing you to pass slower traffic easily. The turbocharger has little effect on how rapidly it revs up, and it can cruise with plenty of power and elegance.
Additionally, even though the speedier models have significant power outputs, the 1.4-litre engine is never unreliable or peaky while driving in a city. The six-speed manual gearbox also has a solid feel that we find appealing. There is an automatic version of this gearbox that is controlled by buttons on the centre console, but we advise against using it since it is slow to react and detracts from the enjoyment of driving an Abarth.
Refinement and noise levels
When you drive an Abarth 595, you can forget about slipping out of your driveway in the early morning without awakening the neighbours. Although the 595’s exhaust noise more closely resembles that of an Italian supercar than a little hot hatch, this is part of the pleasure of the vehicle. The Competizione’s Record Monza exhaust and the Esseesse’s bolt-on Akrapovic system make it even louder.
The 595, however, manages to be passably quiet inside the cabin, either idling through town or going down the freeway. But when you use the engine’s power to its fullest, the turbocharger’s whooshes make the engine come to life.
At the national speed limit, you’ll hear wind noise and rumbling from the wide tires as they grip the pavement. Although less overt in the Convertible, this is more clear.
What safety features does the Abarth 595 have?
Similar to the Fiat 500 from which it was derived, the Abarth 595 has a wide range of standard safety features. This includes a knee airbag for the driver as well as dual front, side, and curtain airbags. There are also ESP traction and stability control and anti-whiplash headrests.
The Fiat 500 and the Abarth 595, by association, did not get any better than a three-star rating in crash testing despite this. Since there isn’t even the option of autonomous emergency braking or a lane maintenance assistance system, this was caused mainly by the inadequate supply of crash-avoiding technology.
All four passengers have three-point seatbelts, and the more powerful Competizione and Esseesse variants have stronger front brakes to control their speed.
Trim levels and standard equipment
The entry-level Abarth 595 has dual exhaust pipes, LED headlights, satin chrome door handles, honeycomb grilles with the Abarth logo, and 16-inch alloy wheels. Rear parking sensors are included on the Abarth 595 Convertible, but not the hatch. Interior features include a 5-inch Uconnect infotainment screen, front sports seats, and fabric upholstery.
The Abarth 595 Pista has 17-inch alloy wheels, coloured bumper inserts, brake callipers, door mirror covers, and four exhaust pipes. The interior features include air conditioning, aluminium pedals, and smartphone mirroring for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Upgraded Koni dampers have been added to the rear suspension to enhance handling.
If you choose the Abarth 595 Turismo, you can access features like leather seats, temperature control, rear parking sensors, and automatic lights and wipers.
Unique 17-inch alloy wheels, bigger front disc brakes, and the Record Monza exhaust system are all included on the Abarth 595 Competizione. The instrument binnacle is covered in Alcantara, and the front seats are Abarth Corsa racing seats.
The Abarth 595 Esseesse edition has 17-inch Supersport alloy wheels with white paint, an Akrapovic performance exhaust, Abarth racing seats, and carbon fibre accents within the interior.
