Fiat Abarth 595 2014 Review
The Abarth badge is unfamiliar to many, but most will recognize the car as a sort of Fiat.
The big difference between this car and any of the previous special Abarth 695 models is not the amount of power they produce.
Rather, it's the fact that this Abarth can have a manual transmission, a feature that makes a huge difference to the overall driving experience.
Even though the Abarth 595 Turismo has less power, it's still the best choice, and the fact that it's cheaper is the icing on the cake.
Design
Our test car was stunning with two-tone gray paint over red, two large exhaust pipes and black wheels with red brake calipers lined in red leather.
The vehicle is equipped as standard with xenon headlights with low beam and high beam functions for improved light output and excellent performance in all weather conditions.
ENGINE
Performance is a factor of power versus weight. The more power the car has and the less it weighs, the faster it will come out of the blocks.
A perfect example is the tiny Abarth with a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. The engine delivers 118kW and 230Nm, impressive numbers for a car of this size.
This is comparable to the 695, which develops 132kW and 250Nm from the same engine but in slightly higher condition.
In the end, however, there is absolutely no difference in performance as both sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds.
TRANSMISSION
As attractive as the Ferrari Tributo or Edizione Maserati are, the MTA robotic manual transmission they come with is a deal breaker.
Gear shifts are jerky and the car is prone to nose diving, although shifts can be smoothed out with a little practice.
But why bother when you can instead have a five-speed manual, a transmission that everyone is familiar with and that makes driving a car more fun?
CHASSIS
17-inch Koni-damped alloy wheels with lowered front and rear springs make the Abarth more of a kart than a Mini.
The ride is firm, bordering on harsh at times, and the car can get choppy when pushed hard on bumpy back roads, but you won't find any complaints here about how it handles corners.
Standard torque control increases traction without getting in the way.
Fuel economy is rated at 5.4L/100km, however we got 8.1 after about 350km.
DRIVING
The 596 would be more fun to ride if it wasn't so damn uncomfortable.
The seating position is awkward with small, short seat cushions and a steering wheel that doesn't have reach adjustment. Combined with high floor-mounted pedals, the rider always seems to be either too close or too far from the steering wheel, and the prone position can lead to cramps after a while.
The answer may lie in leaning back and stretching your legs, but unfortunately there is no cruise control in the car.
The pedals themselves are slightly shifted to the right and it is possible to get stuck in the footboard when the clutch is engaged (this is not the first Italian car with such a problem).
The rear-view mirror is large, fits snugly in the middle of the windshield and at times obscures the view.
Considering the car is so small, it's no surprise that the back seat is tiny and only suitable for small children.
The engine has amazing torque, but fifth gear is purely for highway driving.
Accompanying this is a Monza baffled exhaust system that opens at about 3000 rpm to make the sound louder. It hums like a little Ferrari.
