Are you planning to purchase a Fiat 500 Abarth and do you want to learn more about the Fiat 500 Abarth reliability? Well, if that is the case, then you are at the right place because there will be a lot to cover on this topic and we will learn everything you need to know when it comes to this model and more.
- What Is Fiat 500?
- Why So Legendary?
- What Is The Abarth?
- Fiat 500 Abarth Specs
- Common Problems
- Reliability
- Best Year
- Worst Year
- Conclusion
- F.A.Q
Doing the proper research before you decide to spend a ton of money on a car like in this case with the Fiat 500 Abarth is the way to go. Why is this the case? Well, the Abarth is not your regular Fiat 500. These models tend to cost a bit more and also, they are a bit more expensive to fix.
So, learning more about the problems that you will possibly come across when purchasing this model is a good thing. You just don’t want to end up with a basket case full of problems. And honestly, these cars have their drawbacks. But more on that we will cover in a bit. What is important for you is to learn all the specs of this model and also a bit of the history of the model.
And this is why we are going to cover what is the Fiat 500 and why is such a legend. Then we will dive into the Fiat 500 Abarth and learn more about the specs of this model as well as the problems and also the years to avoid and the Fiat 500 Abarth reliability. So, if you want to learn more on this topic, follow along.
Fiat 500
Now before we dive into more complex topics like the Fiat 500 Abarth reliability, let’s first take a look at what is the Fiat 500 in general. We think that this is essential because not everybody who reads this knows the ins and outs of this cute hot hatch. So, if you are a beginner, this chapter is the one for you. If not, you can jump to one of the following chapters. So, let’s get into it.
So, what is the Fiat 500? Well, this model is a small city car produced by Fiat since 1957. Yes, the 500 is that old. It is probably one of the oldest models out there that are still in production.
But what is worth noting is that this model was on hiatus between 1975 when the production of the first generation of the 500 was stopped. And the reintroduction of this model to the market in 2007. So, it’s been like 32 years since we didn’t have a Fiat 500 model.
Nevertheless, the present model was reintroduced in 2007 and is still in production by Fiat. What is good with this model is that it is also available here in the USA and you can buy one for yourself. And frankly, the new model is a cute little car that looks really good. Quite bigger than the original version. But this was needed in order for the safety standards to be met.
But this model is still one of the smallest models out there that you can purchase. It is even smaller than the Mini Cooper. But enough on that, we still need to figure out why the 500 is such a legend of a car. What makes this model special? And more on that we will cover next. And after that, we will focus a bit more on the Fiat 500 Abarth reliability.
Why The Fiat 500 Is Such A Legend
Now before we start discussing more about the Fiat 500 Abarth reliability, let’s take a look at why the Fiat 500 is such a legend. What makes this model so legendary and a modern classic?
Well, the Fiat 500 appeared at a time in Europe when microcars were a thing. If in the US everything was focused on size and displacement. In Europe was completely the opposite situation.
Car companies have tried to create the smallest and most fuel-efficient vehicles possible. And the Fiat 500, the BMW Isetta, and other small models were really popular back then.
In addition to this, the styling of the Fiat 500 was and still is pretty much timeless. This model is probably one of the rare cars that haven’t aged a lot. Even though it is more than 70 years old.
Another cool feature of the 500 except for the styling was the implementation of suicide doors. Yes, the 500 was originally sold with suicide doors that opened from the front of the car. And which cheap automobile allowed this feature? I guess not many of them.
This is why the Fiat 500 has a large following globally and it is really popular among car enthusiasts. Luckily Fiat saw this attention from fans across the world and decided to revive the 500 in 2007.
And since then, there were a lot of special editions of this model. And I really mean a lot. We counted 16. But there could be more. And one of these special editions is the Abarth edition. Abarth is the high-performance division of Fiat. But more on that we will cover next and after that, we will discuss the Fiat 500 Abarth reliability.
Fiat 500 Abarth
Now let’s dig into Abarth and learn what is the Fiat 500 Abarth before we dive into the Fiat 500 reliability.
If you didn’t know, in the early beginnings, Abarth was an Italian tuner company that is producing and sold high-performance parts and accessories for Fiat and Lancia vehicles.
But in 1971, the Abarth company was purchased by Fiat and since then they focused on making high-performance models of the standard Fiat models. And one of these models was the Fiat 500.
So, Abarth created the Abarth 595 from the Fiat 500 which was a true hit. But this success was short-lived and in 1981, Abarth was disbanded. Fiat still used the name for their high-performance models.
But it was in 2007 when Abarth was re-established as Abarth & C. S.p.a. This division similar to the original Abarth division was 100% controlled by Fiat Automobiles. And nowadays by Stellantis.
The first model that they introduced was the Abarth Grande Punto. But soon after followed the Abarth models of the Fiat 500 as well as the Abarth model of the Fiat 124 Spider.
But the model that is important to us is only the Fiat 500. This model had more than a few special Abarth editions since its release. But we will primarily focus on the model that was released for the US market and learn more about its specs. This is why in the following chapters, we learn everything about it. Then we will dive into the Fiat 500 Abarth reliability as well as the problems that this model has. So, follow along.
Fiat Abarth 500 Specs
Since we learned what is the Fiat 500 Abarth model. Let’s move on and discuss a little bit about the specs of this model before we dive into the Fiat Abarth reliability.
What is really unfortunate is that you cannot purchase a new 500 Abarth model. The model was discontinued after 2019. But there are good models that are sold on the used car market and you can snatch one of these for a good deal.
The important thing about this model is that it is based on the Fiat 500. The 500 as we mentioned is a small 2-door city car based on the Fiat Mini Platform. This platform was introduced in 2007 and nowadays is getting pretty old.
Nevertheless, the wheelbase of the Fiat 500 is 90.6 inches and the overall length is 139.6 inches. The curb weight of the vehicle is between 2,363 and 2,533lbs depending on the model. It is easily one of the lightest cars that you can get here in the US.
The US models were produced in the Chrysler factory in Toluca, Mexico. And as we mentioned production of the model has stopped in 2019 because of a lack of sales in the US market. This was mainly owed due to the lack of popularity of smaller vehicles here in the states. But that is a talk for another article.
The important thing is that you can get yourself an Abarth on the used market only. There are a number of them listed on Edmunds and also on Autotrader. So, they are definitely worth checking out. But what about the Fiat 500 reliability? We will get to that in a moment. Let’s first learn more about the engines and transmissions used in this model.
Fiat 500 Engine & Transmission
Now let’s discuss another interesting topic before we dive into the Fiat 500 Abarth reliability and that is the engine that the Abarth is using.
The Abarth version of the Fiat 500 is using a 1.4L inline-4 turbocharged engine. This is a really peppy engine that has a strong performance. Especially in this small lightweight chassis.
The engine is producing 160hp and 170lb-ft of torque. Which is plenty for this engine.
In terms of transmissions, it is worth noting that this car comes with a 5-speed manual as a standard. But it can also come with a 6-speed Aisin automatic or with a 5-speed automated manual transmission. Since it is a small car, you will not need more than 5-speeds to drive it on the road and get the most out of it. But what about the Fiat Abarth reliability? More on that we will cover in a bit.
Fiat 500 Abarth Top Speed
So, what is the top speed of this hot hatch? The top speed is electronically limited to 127mph. You can go faster with this car. But you risk flying off in the air. Since it is really lightweight, it cannot get as fast as other cars can. It lacks a lot of downforce.
The F595 special edition Abarth can be pushed by 135mph. But this model is a heavily modified version that is designed to deliver a ton of downforce in the process.
But what is the 0 to 60 for this specific model? Well, for the US version, the 0 to 60 is 6.6 seconds. Not crazy fast. But fast enough.
And trust me, in this lightweight chassis you will feel like you are flying in 6.6 seconds. You will be extremely sensitive to speed when you drive something this lightweight. But what about the Fiat 500 Abarth reliability? More on that we will cover in a bit.
Fiat 500 MPG
When it comes to the fuel economy of the Abarth, we can say that it is rather good. The Abarth model gets 28 mpg in the city, 34 mpg on the highway, and 31 mpg combined.
This good fuel economy is owed to the fact that the Abarth is really lightweight and has a powerful engine under the hood. So, besides the fun factor, we are sure that you will love the fuel economy of this vehicle as well.
Less frequent stops at the gas station equal less money spent and more money in your budget for other more productive things. But what about the Fiat 500 Abarth reliability? We will get to that in a moment after we finish the rest of the specs that this model comes with.
Fiat 500 Safety
When it comes to the safety aspect, we can say that the Fiat 500 safety is pretty average. The 2016 model year was tested by the NHTSA and it got an overall 4/5 stars.
The weakest spots of this model are the frontal passenger and the side pole driver where it only got 3 stars. But this is understandable since the model was 8 years old when it was tested. And another thing to note is that this is a small chassis that cannot be as safe as something bigger.
Ont the IIHS tests, the Fiat 500 performed well on most of the tests. But it got a poor score on the small overlap frontal offset test.
Overall, not the safest vehicle on the roads. But also, not as bad as would people would think a car of this size would perform. But what about the Fiat 500 Abarth reliability? More on that we will cover in a bit.
Fiat 500 Abarth Price
Another important aspect that we would like to cover is the price. As you probably know, you cannot get a new Abarth here in the US. Production has stopped in 2019.
So, the only way to get one would be to buy it on the used market. And when it comes to this model, we can say that it holds the price pretty well.
The lowest price on the spectrum is about $12,000. These cars are relatively high mileage vehicles. If you want something better, you will have to pay about $16,000 to $19,000. But what about the Fiat 500 Abarth reliability? More on that we will cover in a moment after we finish the common problems that this model has.
Fiat 500 Common Problems
Now before we start discussing the Fiat 500 Abarth reliability, let’s take a look at the common problems that this model has.
What is worth noting before we start is the problems that this model has are nothing really serious. Still, there are some problems here and there that will pop out, that’s for sure.
The most common issues in these models are suspension-related problems. More precisely, the front suspension of this model is rather fragile. As in most Fiat products. So, you will more often have to replace some components like ball joints and strut tower top mounts. Also, a lot of owners reported that the rear brakes squeal a lot on these cars.
In addition to this, you will also deal with some electrical issues here and there. The exhaust also tends to rot out and start to create bangs. So, if you live in a very humid environment, like the North East, make sure that you check the exhaust and see if it’s solid.
Less common issues that people reported are the noisy air conditioning system, widow regulator went bad all of a sudden, window rubber seals starting to fail and cause leaks, and broken door handle.
And a small but really annoying thing that a ton of Fiat 500 owners bother is the washer jet on the windshield. This washer jet tends to pop out quite often and fail.
Overall, these are the most common problems with this vehicle. Luckily there are no problems with the engine itself. It is rock solid. And also, these cars are not driven very much, so almost every engine out there is in relatively good condition. But what about the Fiat 500 Abarth reliability? More on that next.
Fiat 500 Abarth Reliability
Now let’s get into the main topic of this article and that is the Fiat 500 Abarth reliability. Is this model reliable and worth your attention?
Well, we can say that this model is rock solid. As with every other used car, you will have some problems with the suspension and other minor things. But overall, the car is really good and definitely worth your attention.
What is important is that these cars are not driven much. So, you can get one with relatively low miles on the odometer.
Also, another important thing is that these cars hold their value really well. So, even in 2022, they are sold for $16,000 on average on the used market. And that tells a lot about the Fiat 500 Abarth reliability. So, don’t think twice and go for one of them. But which is the best year? More on that we will cover next.
Fiat 500 Best Year
So, what is the best year for the Fiat 500 Abarth? When it comes to this aspect, it is worth noting that the newer the model the better the Fiat 500 Abarth reliability will be.
So, when it comes to the best year, we would advise you to go after the 2016 model year or possibly newer. This way you will be sure that you get the best vehicle for your hard-earned money. Go for a newer model year if you don’t want to deal with many issues in the long run.
Fiat 500 Years To Avoid
When it comes to the years to avoid for the Fiat 500 Abarth, we would advise you to avoid the model years 2012 and 2013 as well as 2015. Based on carcomplaints.com, these model years have the most complaints. Especially the 2012 model year which is most problematic with a ton of electrical problems. Now let’s conclude this article.
Facts about the Fiat 500 Abarth:
- The price of used Fiat 500 Abarths has dropped significantly, with some models selling for less than $10,000.
- When shopping for a used Fiat 500 Abarth, it’s important to look for reliability ratings that show a significant drop after a few years of use.
- The Fiat 500 Abarth is a powerful city commuter with a user-friendly infotainment system, but has a low-quality cabin and tight seating.
- The Fiat 500 Abarth seats up to four passengers and gets from 24 to 28 miles per gallon in the city and 32 to 33 mpg on the highways.
- The Fiat 500 Abarth has a 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine associated with a 6-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission, and weighs from 2,366 to 2,512 pounds.
- The MSRP for the Fiat 500 Abarth is $17,750, including $1,495 for the destination charge.
- According to J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study, the Fiat 500 received the lowest reliability score of two out of five among subcompact vehicles.
- J.D. Power’s Dependability Study evaluates four main variables: quality and reliability, driving experience, resale, and dealership experience.
- The RepairPal reliability score for the Fiat 500 Abarth is 3.5 out of five, but is still one of the worst among subcompact vehicles in the same class.
- Recalls are important to consider when it comes to vehicle reliability, and certain Fiat 500 Abarth vehicles manufactured between 2011 and 2019 were recalled due to issues with the shifter shaft that could cause crashes.
Conclusion To Fiat 500 Abarth Reliability
In this article, we cover a lot about the Fiat 500 Abarth. First, we learn what is the Fiat 500 all about. Then we learn more about its popularity and what is most important the specs that the Abarth comes in. We learn about the horsepower numbers, the 0 to 60 times, and also the MPG that you will get.
Then we covered the problems that this model has as well as the Fiat 500 Abarth reliability. We also discussed a bit about the years to avoid when it comes to this model and also what are the best years of the model.
F.A.Qs On Fiat 500 Abarth Reliability
Now let’s answer some frequently asked questions.
What Is Abarth
Abarth is the performance division of Fiat Automobiles. This division is tuning the standard Fiat models with high-performance parts and produces really neat sports cars.
What Does Abarth Mean
The word Abarth is derived from the last name of its founder. The founder of Abarth was the Austro-Italian Carlo Abarth. He formed the company in 1949 and in 1971 this company was purchased by Fiat Automobili.
Who Makes Abarth Cars
Abarth cars are produced by Fiat. These vehicles are then modified with performance parts that boost the performance of the vehicles and make them really fun and enjoyable to drive.
Are Fiat 500 Reliable
Yes, they are reliable. But still, they suffer from electrical issues. Especially the 2012 model, make sure that you avoid this year since the problems are too many. But overall, the model is fairly good mechanically.
Should I Buy A Used Fiat 500
Yes, you should buy one. Just make sure that this is a good example. And note that electrical problems can occur from time to time as well as the front suspension on these cars is not the strongest. So, it will require a little bit more maintenance.
How Long Do Fiats Last
Fiat models will easily last about 150,000 miles. Some of them even last a lot more. So, it really depends on the maintenance. If you maintain the properly, they would last for a lifetime.
