Abarth 595 review (2012 - 2025)
Abarth 595 cars for sale
2.0
Expert review
Pros
Strong performance
Direct, involving handling
Soft-top option for wind-in-hair driving
Cons
Unforgiving ride
Cramped rear seats and boot
Jerky automatic gearbox
The CarGurus verdict
The Abarth 500, the 595 and the 695 are surprisingly robust ways to combine fun and fashion in one cute package. But they aren’t the most well-rounded hot hatches out there, and can prove tiresome if you have to use them day-to-day, have young children, or lots of luggage to transport.
If any of these things cause concern, a Suzuki Swift Sport is a superior alternative, not to mention more involving to drive and better value. A used Ford Fiesta ST, however, is even better on all counts.
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.
- A lot of manufacturers have scaled back on individual options and moved to trim levels and a handful of bundled packs to simplify the buying process. The Abarth 595 went on sale before this trend was commonplace, so used examples can be found with weird and wonderful specification combos, including carbon, red, and mahogany finishes, and different coloured brake calipers.
- Some Abarth 500s were made available with Fiat’s MTA (Manual Transmission Automated) automatic gearbox, but this is best avoided. As its name suggests, this is an automated manual gearbox, which means it’s slow and jerky. If you want an automatic hot hatch, a MINI Cooper is a better bet.
- In addition to the hatchback, you can also buy a convertible version of almost every 500-based Abarth. The 500C, the 595C and the 695C are just as much fun to drive as their hatchback counterparts, though they are even stiffer. Keep in mind, too, that the folding fabric roof means the boot and rear seats are even more cramped.
- The best all-rounder: It might not be the most powerful or the flashiest version, but for the most rounded appeal we’d go for the Abarth 595.
- If you want a convertible: The Abarth 500C doesn’t have a full convertible hood in the style of the MINI, but its fabric roof is a pretty good second best. The body loses some rigidity compared with the standard car and, with the roof open, the 500C is pretty draughty, but for stylish open air thrills on a small budget, the little Abarth is hard to beat.
- If you want the ultimate 500: If you can find a used Abarth 695 Rivale and don’t mind spending a premium for some extra chic (including a wood panel on the dash and blue leather on the seats) you’ll have a truly exclusive little car.
- If you want an automatic: If you must have an automatic gearbox then go for the Abarth 595 MTA. Just be aware that you’ll need to adjust your driving style to keep things smooth as the car goes up and down the gears.
