The relationship between Fiat and Abarth is very similar to that of Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG. Abarth is an independent company that creates more performance-oriented vehicles from mostly existing Fiat products. The changes aren't just cosmetic, as the Italian firm also improves areas such as the engine and suspension.
As can be expected, these enhancements do come at a premium. In fact, at the time of writing this article, the price difference between the most expensive Fiat 500 and the most affordable Abarth 595 was just over R 70 000. Is it worth that much more? In terms of practicality, no. But in terms of performance, exclusivity and just pure fun, very much yes. But before you get an Instant Offer on your current vehicle and start searching for new or used Abarth models on AutoTrader, here is the most affordable Abarth you can buy.
Related: Everything you need to know about the Abarth 595
Pricing
Herewith is the pricing of all the models currently available in the Abarth range. As can be seen here, the Abarth 595 Turismo is the most affordable of the bunch, however, still offer a lot of value for money.
| Abarth 500 595 Turismo 1.4T | from R 409 900 |
| Abarth 500 595 Competizione 1.4T | from R 491 900 |
| Abarth 500 595 Monster Energy Yamaha cabriolet | from R 509 900 |
*Pricing indicated in this table was correct at the time of writing this article, however, can change at any time and without notice.
Abarth 595 Turismo
The 595 Turismo is the entry point to the Abarth range locally. As for performance, the Italian marque built the 1.4-litre, turbocharged, 4-cylinder petrol motor to be capable of 121 kW and 230 Nm of torque. If the driver manages to shift through the gears of the 5-speed manual transmission quickly enough, the little hatch should sprint from 0-100 km/h in 7.3 seconds and continue on to a top speed of 218 km/h.
Further mechanical enhancements come in the form of Koni FSD shock absorbers on the rear of the model which improves the handling. The wheels, which are 17-inch Grantursimo light alloy units, also incorporate an increased ventilation surface which assists in better heat dissipation around the brakes. This results in better braking performance for longer.
As for safety, the Abarth 595 comes as standard with ABS brakes and stability and traction control systems. The Urban Pack which can be specified for the 595 also adds parking sensors as well as rain and dusk sensors to trigger the wiper blades and lights. Occupants are kept safe by no less than 7 airbags and parents will be happy to know that ISOFIX anchors do feature at the rear.
Creature comfort items for the occupants include a 5.0-inch Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system compatible with Apple CarPlay as well as Android Auto. The system is connected to a BeatsAudio system with an eight-channel amplifier for a total output of 480 watts.
As for styling, the interior has premium finishes with leather upholstery. The same colour of leather from the seats also features on the door cards. On the exterior, the 595 has a much more aggressive front bumper and rear diffuser as found on the Fiat 500. On the Turismo variant, items such as mirror caps and trim pieces are finished in a satin chrome finish.
