Abarth 595 used cars for sale

There are two versions of the Abarth 595 and both are strictly four seaters only. The regular 595 is a three door with a hatchback boot lid, while the 595C is a two-door convertible with a smaller boot lid hinged below the rear window. The 595C’s fabric roof folds behind the rear headrests when open, but leaves the side roof rails in place – similar to a big sunroof – for better protection from the elements.

If you’re shopping for nearly new or used Abarth 595 cars, you might want to compare it to models such as the Suzuki Swift Sport, Ford Fiesta ST or Hyundai i20N. The Abarth is slightly smaller than those cars but, in most cases, is either cheaper or more powerful when compared like-for-like.

The Abarth 595 is less than 3.7 metres long, making it one of the smallest hot hatches you can buy, and noticeably smaller than the Fiesta ST, Swift Sport and i20N. Its short length plus rear parking sensors on mid-range Turismo cars and up means it’ll fit into most parking spaces – although the turning circle isn’t quite as tight as some rivals thanks to the Abarth’s wide alloy wheels.

Its small size means there isn’t a lot of passenger space in the Abarth. Front occupants have just about enough room to get comfortable, but the two rear seat passengers will struggle with very limited leg and elbow room. The front sports seats are really nice to sit in but also quite bulky, making access to the back harder than a standard 500. Unsurprisingly, the boot is also fairly small but, if you fold the rear seats down, there’s room for around two large suitcases and several soft bags.

All Abarth 595s use the same 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine available with either 145, 165 or 180hp. For most buyers, the least powerful car is more than quick enough, with a raucous engine sound and an aggressive edge when you floor it. However, if you stretch to the more powerful versions, the car feels even more bonkers when the turbo kicks in, making for a hilarious driving experience.

Considering Fiat hasn't always enjoyed the best reputation for reliability, there are no widespread reports of dependability issues with the Abarth 595.

Some Abarth owners use their cars for track driving and racing. If you plan on indulging in this little car's performance, be aware you'll probably wear through consumable parts such as tyres and brakes quite a lot faster than a regular road car.

As a bonus, most of the 595's parts beyond the engine and gearbox are shared with the regular Fiat 500. That means replacements are generally available and affordable, and labour shouldn't be too expensive.

You can always specify an extended warranty that kicks in once the manufacturer's coverage ends. This will protect you if your car has an unexpected mechanical or electrical failure.