Engines and transmissions
During its production, the Abarth 500 was only available with a petrol engine, front-wheel drive, and a manual or automatic gearbox.
Petrol
- 1.4-litre engine outputs 135bhp for a 0-60mph time of 7.6 seconds with a fuel economy rating of 47mpg.
- 140bhp variant also available that achieves 0-60mph in 7.8 seconds and a 48mpg rating.
- Essesse boosts power to 160bhp for a 0-60mph time that matches the higher-powered MINI Cooper S and has a rating of 43.4mpg.
- 180bhp variant available for maximum power.
Practicality
The Abarth 500 isn't a large car, but it is still accommodating in the front to taller passengers, making it great for city driving.
Interior space
- Adults fit comfortably in the front seats with plenty of adjustments available.
- Rear seat can be tight for adults, but children fit well.
- Electric windows and air conditioning were standard on newer models.
Boot space
- 185-litre boot matches that of the Fiat 500.
- Rear seats can fold down to increase the boot space in select models.
Bodystyles
- Original supermini hot-hatch bodystyle was the most readily available.
- Convertible with a soft top was also made available during its lifetime.
Safety
- Euro NCAP hasn't provided a specific crash testing on the Abarth 500, but the Fiat model on which it was based received three out of five stars.
- Standard kit includes seven airbags, hill start assist and electronic stability control.
Technology
- 7.0-inch TFT instrument cluster was available on select models.
- 7.0-inch touchscreen display was available in the later years.
- Connectivity was available through USB ports, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Generations
Fiat released the Abarth variant of the 500 in 2008 as a high-performance sub-brand. This model had similar styling to the Fiat 500, except it was more aerodynamic and had a sportier look. It has since made way for the Abarth 500e electric model, the hatchback did receive several upgrades to the technology, comfort features and styling. A soft-top convertible variant was also released during its lifetime.
