- Doors and Seats
2 doors, 4 seats
- Engine
1.4T, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
118kW, 201Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 6.5L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, 150000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Fiat Abarth 500C EsseEsse quick spin review
Vitals: $38,990 (plus on-road and dealer costs); 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo; 118kW/230Nm; 5-speed auto; 6.5L/100km, front-wheel-drive
Why we’re driving it
I raced an Abarth in the Bathurst 12-Hour earlier this year and had a road-going version for a couple of months so we could get used to the size and how it drives.
What is it?
One of the smallest hot hatches on the market – and one loaded with personality. It starts life as Fiat’s retro-cute 500 hatch but with plenty of go-fast Abarth bits thrown in.
What isn't it?
A family car.
What does it say about me?
You don’t have kids. And you probably enjoy a good double-shot short skinny fuming mocha machiatto on a lazy weekend.
What doesn't it say about me?
That you’re into practical motoring. The back seats of the EsseEsse are fairly compact, as is the boot. That said, we did manage to load a mountain bike into it without removing the wheels – by lowering it in through the roof. Who said convertibles couldn’t carry big things?
Who else is buying it?
Jay Leno has one, although that doesn’t really count because he’s got one of just about everything. Back to the real world and expect to see fashionable types or those who appreciate good design. While there’s decades of history in the Abarth name, its size and demeanour means the EsseEsse appeals more to the younger brigade.
What colours does it come in?
There are four colours and with each the Italian theme shines through: nero (black), bianco (white), grigio (grey) and rosso (red). You can also get two-tone finishes, choose stripes and make the mirrors stand out more with a contrasting hue.
If it was a celebrity, who would it be?
Danny DeVito. Small but butch and oozing in-your-face personality. Oh, and it’s been around a while.
Why would I buy it?
It looks the business and has a clever folding soft-top roof that can be rolled back electronically on the move. The roof is a ripper and can be opened a little bit (like a sunroof) or opened all the way back, like a full convertible.
Best bits?
The styling; it definitely stands out and looks like nothing else on the road. It translates to the interior, too, which has a body-coloured dashboard and plenty of retro glam. The cross-drilled brakes also work well and the alloy pedals (complete with the Abarth scorpion logo ... something that pops up plenty of times on the EsseEsse) are also a big win.
Worst bits?
The “Competizione MTA automated manual gearbox”; there’s a push-button selector to get from Drive to Reverse and Neutral. Once you’ve pushed it and you’re on your way the shifts can be lurchy and ill-timed. Best to use the paddle shifts and take control.
Also, there’s nowhere to hide anything inside. Storage is tight generally and without a proper glovebox (there’s just a shelf) it’s a bit of a pain.
Two other minor quibbles: The flip key keeps opening in your pocket, and the orange-lit monochrome trip computer can’t be viewed with polarised sunglasses unless you tilt your head.
Will it let me down?
Italian cars don’t have the best reputation for reliability, but these days those stereotypes are largely unwarranted. There’s a three-year, 150,000km warranty with roadside assistance for extra peace of mind.
Does it cost too much?
It’s certainly not cheap, with a recommended retail price of $38,990 plus on-road and dealer costs. Considering there are Volkswagen Golf GTIs for only a couple of grand more it makes the justification for an EsseEsse harder.
Will I get a deal?
Yep, there are decent deals being done, with some 2013-plate cars selling for about $37,000 (and you could possibly haggle a fraction more off that). If you can live without the opening roof you should be able to save another few grand.
Will it get me noticed?
Definitely. Even though the current Fiat 500 went on sale back in 2008 the distinctive humpy shape is still a head turner. Throw in the good looking 17-inch alloy wheels, red brake calipers and some Abarth stripes and the little two-door is more than capable or drawing a stare or two. We even had a few people wanting to know more about the car.
Does it go?
It’s all about power to weight with the EsseEsse. The tiny 1.4-litre turbo makes a modest 118kW and a hearty enough 230Nm once you press the Sport button to activate the turbo’s overboost function. But it weighs less than 1.1 tonnes, so acceleration is perky enough – able to punch to 100km/h in 7.4 seconds. Mid-range response is particularly strong and you can have some great fun with it.
There’s also a great sound from the burbling quad exhausts (our car had an optional system), especially when changing up a gear with your foot flat on the accelerator, where there’s a whip-like crack.
Does it like corners?
There’s plenty of grip from the 17-inch Michelin tyres and the go-kart-like direct steering means it points faithfully. But the high seating position isn’t exactly tailored for more enthusiastic cornering, neither is the beam-axle rear suspension.
What about bumps?
You’ll definitely feel them in the 500C. Suspension travel isn’t too long and the short wheelbase means it can bounce around over speed humps. But hey, it’s all in tune with the character of the car!
How's the stereo system?
Not bad. It’s an Interscope system (we hadn’t heard of it either...) that uses some tricky sound processing designed to make the six-speaker system sound better. There’s decent clarity from the tweeters on the dash and the bass is helped with the subwoofer under the driver’s seat. You even get blasts of air on your feet as it’s pumped out of the subwoofer. But ultimately the bass will distort if you crank it up too far.
What about service stations?
It’s not particularly thirsty (claimed use is 6.5 litres per 100km but think closer to 9L/100km in daily duties) but the tank only holds 35 litres, so you’ll be lucky to get much more than 400km between refills.
Like most European cars it calls for premium unleaded. And for those living in NSW be careful not to use the now-common E10 blend (10 per cent ethanol, 90 per cent petrol) because the Abarth won’t like it.
Would you buy one?
It was a fantastic addition to our family for a couple of months, but with two kids it’s not exactly practical. If I suddenly stumbled across a big bag of money I’d certainly consider it as a second car. And a decade or more ago it might have been higher on my list of fun-mobiles.
What else should I consider?
Few cars will deliver the combination of character and performance as the EsseEsse. If you’re more interested in the former, then the Mini is a decent option. For those chasing the latter you could do a lot worse than a Ford Fiesta ST.
The spin
“Every single inch of it has been crafted to excite in a way that only the Italians can.”
The translation
We still know how to make cars that look good.