I have a soft spot for the Fiat 500. I reviewed the Abarth 500 earlier in the year and I am now reviewing its topless variety, the Abarth 500C. The Abarth suffers the prejudice of being labelled expensive, but is it really? This is a label I wish to dispel. The Abarth ranges from R250 000 to R270 000, which is not cheap for a car as big as a Jelly-Tot. But the Abarth comes with a 45 year legacy, steeped in a racing pedigree.

Where ever the tiny Italian racer went, it was met with admiring glances that caused either a smile or wink. The 500 has the ability to be more than just a car, It evokes emotion from those who see it, but more so for those who own and drive it, which the convertible version heightens.

 

Looks aside, what’s it like to drive? The Abarth has a firmer suspension than the standard Fiat 500, which gives the car a surefooted feeling.  The compact pocket-rocket evokes a boy racer sensation and is very capable of cornering like it is on rails. The 1.4 Turbo engine propels the car from point-to-point with excitable ease, and the note emitted from the two broad chromo tail pipes is a tune you will want to play on repeat, repeatedly. The Recaro leather sports seats perfectly hold and cushion their driver. The actual seating position feels like you are sitting on, rather than in the cabin (a sensation which would improve if the height adjustment allowed for an even lower setting). The 5-speed gearbox ratios from gear to gear are well balanced, but the shift action is soft and better suited to the nature of a Fiat 500, rather than the muscly Abarth.

 


The interior of the car is loaded with interesting details and though form is king in the Abarth, function is not lost. 500C comes standard with a host of features: climate control, hill assist control (which prevents a car rolling back on a hill when releasing the foot break at launches), seven airbags including one for the drivers knees (class-leading), TTC (Torque Transfer Control) which offers dynamic behaviour on more demanding roads, “Sport” mode which increases the cars power and stiffens and sharpens up the steering setting, Blue&Me hands-free system with voice activation, a three stage electric folding roof and a quirky turbo pressure gauge which flashes “Shift” to prompt the driver to change to the next gear to aid fuel consumption.

 

The 500C range features original bi-colour and single-colour body configurations, with a choice of sports fabric and a variety of leather trimmed interiors, plus contrasting hood and spoiler combinations (which means you are able to create a unique specimen).

The Facts

Pros

  • Head turning uniqueness
  • Cute
  • Quick
  • Fun to drive
  • Convertible version makes it even more fun
  • 5 stars in the EuroNCAP safety test
  • Many features

 

 

Cons

  • Tiny rear seats best suited for kids
  • Tight cabin
  • Firm ride
  • Needs cruise control

 

 

The figures

 

The extra stuff

The Abarth range is covered by a 3 year/100 000km maintenance plan.

 

The verdict

I have driven a lot of cars with none creating the same positive stir of attention as the Abarth 500C. Why? People either love it for being unique or ridiculously little. The car has a cute factor, making it almost human in nature. Either way, onlookers and vocal commentators give this mobile Italian Kiss the thumbs up!

The DS3 from Citroën is a great car, quick, slick and bigger than the Abarth. The MINI is a huge success with global sales in the millions and with good reason: It too is a great car. With superior handling and BMW underpinnings, all of which make it hard to beat. The Cooper S is a better measure of competition in terms of performance but not price. But neither of these two competitors have the ability to stimulate such emotion. The Abarth range in my mind does a better job of attracting male clients too.

An anecdotal story while driving the car: A teenager of approximately 18 years of age, saw the car in the parking lot. He hailed me down to chat as I approached him with the car. Hiss eyes moved like a roll on deodorant stick over the cars body, ogling at the purr of the exhaust note. He pleaded for a racer style pull off, which was highly inappropriate in a hotel parking lot. So unfortunately for him, my dossier of good behaviour prevented such an incident. But left me with the cult type status the Abarth potentially has.   

The 500C is the pick of the Abarth range and cheaper than its two competitors. So who’s up for an Italian Kiss?   

 

    

 

 

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