Abarth 595 Review (2012-present)

What do you do if you want a fashionable little car, but one that’s also exciting to drive? Or, to put it another way: what if you want a hot hatch that’s smart and stylish, rather than one that makes you look like a boy racer?

The Abarth 595 is the obvious answer, as it takes the cute, funky looks of the immensely popular Fiat 500, beefs them up a little, and adds a more potent engine.

Just how much more potent depends on which one you go for. Lots of different versions have come and gone in what is now more than a decade on sale, but the range has now been slimmed down to the 595 and the 695. Both are powered by a 1.4-litre turbocharged engine and pump out 163- and 178bhp, respectively.

The 595 is fun and funky, but it isn’t very functional. The rear seats offer less room than you’ll find in a Ford Fiesta ST or Suzuki Swift Sport, so if you need space for a child seat or regularly carry rear-seat passengers, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere.

The boot isn’t much to write home about, either. It has a capacity of just 185 litres, which is pretty paltry next to the 265 litres you get with the Swift Sport and the Fiesta ST’s 311 litres.

Whichever Abarth you choose, you’ll get a nimble car with a gutsy engine that just loves to be thrashed. It isn’t quite as fluent, as flexible or as involving as a Ford Fiesta ST, but grabbed by the scruff of its neck it can still be immense fun. The standard 595 with a manual gearbox will hit 62mph in 7.3 seconds, and the 695 shaves that down to 6.7, so it’s certainly no slouch.

That said, ride quality is an issue: even the tamest versions are bumpy, while quicker variants can be downright uncomfortable. All 595s are quite noisy, too. For that reason, other hot hatches are far easier to live with on a daily basis.

If you really want one of these Abarth pocket rockets to use every day, then, the safest bet is to stick to the less powerful models: the old Abarth 500 and the current basic 595, which also happen to be the most affordable.

The Abarth isn’t exactly dripping with kit in its most basic form. Standard equipment includes alloy wheels, rear parking sensors automatic lights and wipers, a leather steering wheel, and a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system (earlier versions had a five-inch screen) with Bluetooth, a DAB radio, and a USB socket. Go for the convertible, and you also get and an electrically operated roof.

Turismo is a bit more like it and, along with various styling features, adds climate control, leather seats, uprated suspension, and a Beats Audio system. Competizione has a basket of Alcantara and carbon aesthetic touches, bigger brakes and a quad-exit exhaust.

It might be small, but the Abarth isn’t as economical as you might think. Even the entry-level version probably won’t get much more than 40mpg out on the road, while more potent models will likely drop even lower than that. The Ford Fiesta ST and MINI Cooper will likely achieve similar, or even better fuel consumption figures, depending on which model you choose, despite being larger and heavier.

Most models need to have their oil changed every year or 9,000 miles, whichever comes first. However, keep in mind that for some models – the old Esseesse and the 695 in particular – that interval is reduced to every year or 6,000 miles. All models need a full service every 18,000 miles, and those intervals are slightly more frequent than those of many other brands. While Abarth’s servicing costs aren’t as pricey as MINI’s, they’re more expensive than Ford’s, so you might find yourself forking out more than you’d think on maintenance.

Abarth 500 and 595s are equipped with a timing belt rather than a chain, and this will need to be replaced every five years or 75,000 miles. Expect to pay between £250 and £300, which includes replacement of the water pump.

Contrary to the brand's rather brittle reputation, the Abarth 595/695 is actually a pretty robust little car, with relatively few mechanical issues. However, it’s worth keeping in mind that quite a lot of them will have been modified, with varying degrees of expertise. For that reason, it’s worth seeking out a standard car.

Of the few problems that do exist, most are easy to fix: suspension joints and bushes can fail, which will cause knocks over bumps, plastic body parts like the door handles can come loose, and the chrome-effect plastics on the outside of the car can chip and peel.

One other area to which you should pay attention is the electrics: make sure central infotainment screens all work, check the other electrical components are free from glitches, and ensure no dashboard lights come on or stay on throughout your test drive.