Abarth 595 vs 695 – which is best?

It's a manic, turbocharged thrill ride that does the almost nothing to isolate you from the raw sounds and sensations of driving. The 695 is what you get if you turn the 595 all the way up to 11 – an even more extreme experience with the price and performance to match.

We'll compare this pair of fast featherweights here, so you can pick the one that's best for you. Don't forget to check out the savings on used Abarth 595 cars and used Abarth 695 cars for sale at Motorpoint.

Abarth 595 vs 695 compared

Styling and design

Both the 595 and 695 have been offered in a dizzying array of trims and special editions over their long production run. The 595 comes as a standalone model, or in upgraded Turismo, Pista, Competizione and Esseesse forms – and that's before you consider special editions like the 70th Anniversary or Yamaha Monster Racing versions.

While the 695 became more of a standalone model late in the car's life, earlier 695s were all special-edition cars with very limited production runs. Examples include commemorative 695s to honour Ferrari and Maserati, and the ultra-rare Biposto with a proper racing gearbox and perspex side windows.

Unless you're an Abarth nerd, you'll probably struggle to tell the difference between 595 and 695 models. All versions get a racy makeover with an aggressive body kit and massive alloy wheels filling its blistered arches. Many 595 and 695 models also come with flashy graphics packages featuring chequered-flag and menacing scorpion designs. Drivers after something more subtle need not apply.

Interior and practicality

Another area where the Abarth feels refreshingly old-school is in the cabin. This is mainly thanks to the juxtaposition between the car's cheap-and-cheerful Fiat 500 roots, and the serious racing hardware fitted to the 595. You'll see and feel lots of harder plastic surfaces inside, but cute '50s-inspired details including the pod-like gauge cluster and fridge-style door handles help add charm. Meanwhile, the body-hugging bucket seats, plus the metal pedals and optional metal ball gear shifter feel like they came straight from a race car.

Those grippy seats help clamp you in place as you explore the Abarth's performance but, since they're squeezed into such a small car, some drivers might find it tricky to get a comfy driving position in either the 595 or 695. There's no steering-wheel reach adjustment and the upgraded Sabelt seats don't have height adjustment, so you might have to sit more upright or more reclined to get a good grip on the controls. This is just one of a handful of compromises you have to accept as part of the Abarth experience.

Both 595 and 695 are big on character but they're small in stature. At less than 3.7 metres long, neither car is going to be particularly good at carrying people or things. Front-seat passengers already have to work harder than usual to find a comfy position, but the two rear seats should really only be used as an occasional shelf – even small adults will feel very cramped sat back there for more than a few minutes. Boot space is just 185 litres, so you might as well just fold the rear row most of the time and make the Abarth into a fairly practical two-seater.

Size and dimensions

Unsurprisingly, there's basically no difference between the 595 and 695 in terms of size. The 695 is a negligible 3mm shorter, likely due to slight changes in body kit design, with the only meaningful change being a 20mm increase in width due to its wider, racier track.

Engines and performance

All versions of the 595 and 695 use the same 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. It's a riot to use, with enough low-down grunt for relaxed day-to-day driving, plus an energetic, muscular mid-range that begs you to lean hard on the accelerator. Abarth might as well have fitted a drain pipe to the exhaust for all the good the mufflers are doing – this is one of the loudest and most raucous hot hatches you can buy.

Entry-level 595 models first came with 140hp before this was boosted to 145hp later in the car's run. This version is quick enough to enjoy the car, but we reckon the 160 and 165hp versions are the sweet spot where the 595 starts to feel genuinely quick. Range-topping Competizione and Esseesse versions get the full 180hp treatment and feel so hilariously overpowered it's as though the engine wants to rip free from its mounts and shoot straight out the front bumper.

As the ultimate expression of Abarth, the 695 starts off with 180hp, giving it all the rabid performance of its lesser siblings. However, special edition 695s like the Ferrari and Biposto variants push this all the way to 190hp, upping the thrill factor by a few percent.

Driving

You might get the impression so far that the Abarth is a race car with numberplates. However, if you actually get the chance to throw a 595 at a proper race track, it doesn't really feel at home there. Extreme driving reveals the car is set up to safely understeer and won't flick the tail around if you lift off or brake hard into a corner.

As much as that'll disappoint The Stig, it's a much better setup for using the car on real roads. It means you always have loads of grip, and the car will gamely cling on if you fling it into a tight corner. The short wheelbase makes the car feel very agile, though the wide wheels make the turning circle a bit bigger than the standard 500's.

Based on our experience with various 595 models, we think it's well worth tracking down a version with the upgraded Koni suspension with frequency selective dampers. Found on upgraded models like Competizione and Esseesse versions, this setup is much more supple than the standard suspension and slightly softens the edges of this already extremely firm car.

Like the engine, the driving experience in the 695 isn't dramatically different to the standard 595. It's just a slightly more exaggerated version of it. Choice extra equipment like the 695's mechanical limited slip differential help the car scrabble for a corner apex with even more ferocity.

Value and reliability

There's a big difference in the price of 595 and 695 models. This is because the 595 is treated as a regular production car, while the 695 is really just a handful of limited-run special editions. As a result, 595s are readily available with a wide range of prices, while 695s are rare and usually command much higher figures.

Naturally, if you're just after the experience of a thrilling hot hatch, that means the 595 offers much better value for money. However, if you have a larger budget and want something more special, you could consider the 695. The 695's exclusivity means it's likely to hold onto its value better in the long run, so you'll lose a smaller percentage of the car's value as depreciation.

We don't anticipate much difference between these two cars' reliability, since both are using broadly the same engines and parts. Most reports indicate that these Abarths are fairly dependable if you keep on top of the scheduled maintenance. Any high-performance parts that fail might be a little pricey to replace, but any components shared with the base Fiat 500 will be cheaper than average to swap out.

Which is best?

For most people, the 595 is a better choice. It's much more available and affordable on the used market and, if you pick a higher-spec model, it'll have mostly the same power and performance upgrades as you'll find on the 695.

However, you can't argue with the rarity of 695 models. Plus, the wide choice of desirable special editions means they offer something a little more unique than the regular 595.

Big savings on used Abarth cars

Shop a huge range of used Abarth cars for sale at Motorpoint. For more inspiration, check out the best hot hatches on sale.

Read our review of the Abarth 595 to find out what it's like to live with.