Abarth 595 used cars for sale

Abarth 595 buying guide

There are a few different engine and trim options for the Abarth 595. This guide will explain each version so you can pick the best one for you.

What Abarth 595 trim levels are there?

Entry-level Abarth models are simply named 595 and get alloy wheels, fabric front sports seats, steel pedals, air conditioning, and a touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, DAB radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Pista trim adds a larger alloy wheels and a more powerful engine.

Next up is Turismo, which features the more powerful engine of Pista cars along with upgraded Koni suspension, leather upholstery, auto lights and wipers, rear parking sensors, and built-in sat nav for the infotainment system.

Range-topping Competizione cars gain an even more powerful engine, a louder quad-exit sports exhaust, racier-looking alloy wheels, Alcantara suede upholstery and a steel gear knob.

Abarth has also released several special editions of the 595 including models honouring its connection with Ferrari, Maserati and even the Yamaha MotoGP team. These cars often feature upgraded kit lists and are worth keeping an eye out for.

Abarth 595 interior and technology

There’s no mistaking that the Abarth 595 is built on the bones of a fairly affordable car and that shows with some cheaper plastics used in the cabin. However, like the regular 500, the Abarth manages to lift its cabin with some funky styling details that hark back to the ‘50s Fiat 500. Neat touches include a dashboard panel reminiscent of old-fashioned fridges, an illuminated boost gauge mounted in a pod, the snappy gear lever that’s mounted right next to the steering wheel, and a single circular instrument display.

The infotainment is shared with the regular 500 and other Fiat models and is reasonably easy to use. We’d prefer it if it was a little more responsive to the touch and the graphics aren’t as appealing as some rival systems, but all versions include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, granting you access to your preferred navigation and entertainment apps.

If you regularly need to use more than two seats, the Abarth 595 might prove to be too small for you. There’s very little space for rear seat passengers, and adults will only be happy back there for very short trips. However, if you treat the back row mainly as extra storage, with more available if you fold the seats down, the Abarth isn’t too tricky to live with.

Abarth 595 engine range explained

Abarth 595 145

The entry-level 145hp engine might not sound all that powerful but it’ll still get the 595 to 62mph from rest in less than eight seconds.

Abarth 595 165

Jumping up to the 165hp version drops the 0-62mph time down to 7.3 seconds. You won’t really notice the extra power if you’re cruising around, but it becomes more obvious when accelerating hard, with the 165 easily able to put you in licence-losing territory if you’re careless.

Abarth 595 180

Top-spec Competizione and certain special edition Abarths have their engines tuned all the way up to 180hp. In a car this small, that’s an awful lot of power, with the steering wheel squirming in your hands like an excited puppy when you floor it. The 0-62mph run is dispatched in 6.7 seconds, putting it neck and neck with several much more powerful hot hatches.