FIAT 124 Spider 1.4-litre MultiAir Lusso. 5-Star fun.
Before we tell you just how brilliant the FIAT 124 Spider is, we need to mention America. Over the pond, the Mazda MX-5 is sold locally as the MX-5 Miata. With an excellent turn of hilarity, they now call the FIAT 124 Spider – a roadster that’s based on the MX-5 - the FIATA. It’s another piece of droll humour from our American cousins. A FIAT based on the world’s best, two-seat roadster. Well, we’re sorry America you have got it completely wrong.
After spending a week driving and living with the FIAT 124 Spider we think it's the FIAT that's the new benchmark for roadsters. Now before we get too carried away there are a number of things that the Mazda does better. Subjectively, the Mazda does look better than the FIAT and the 1.5-litre engine is normally aspirated. The FIAT 124 Spider uses a 1.4-litre turbo MultiAir engine with 140hp. And the aforementioned Turbo perpetuates a problem even in a car this small – turbo lag. It may be for a split second, but accelerate hard and there is a delay in getting the small 1.4-litre turbo engine to spool up.
There’s also the suspension settings. In the Mazda, the suspension is firmer and set up for oversteering slides at even the very lowest of speeds. Like when exiting a roundabout. The FIAT’s front suspension with double wishbone, stabiliser bar and rear multilink differs and is softer than the Mazda. It’s something that might disappoint MX-5 owners but there’s good news - everywhere else the FIAT 124 Spider is utterly fantastic. With prices starting at €31,495 it’s simply the best two seat roadster you can buy.
We drove the top spec 124 Spider 1.4-litre MultiAir Lusso Plus at €36,695 (priced from €35,795) which included equipment like 17” alloy wheels, keyless-go, leather and heated seats, Bose 9-speaker system, navigation with 3D maps, keyless entry, rear parking camera parking sensors, touchscreen radio with DAB and LED headlights. The price walk of €5,200 on our car may seem steep over the entry 124 Spider model but we think it’s well worth it.
At 139mm longer and 5mm wider, the FIAT imperceptibly banishes the feeling of the MX-5 being too small when slugging it out in urban traffic against towering SUV’s, busses and trucks. While the front design of the 124 Spider does hark back to the original car from the 1960s, the rear looks strangely like a Maserati GranCabrio. Odd, that.
The performance figures of 0-100 km/h are 7.5 seconds with a top speed of 215 km/h do not relay the real magic behind the 124 Spider’s engine – it’s sound. A torque figure of 240Nm makes the FIAT a less frantic car than the MX-5 allowing you to ride third gear acceleration in town without having to change up. Although muted and crying out for a sports exhaust upgrade, it betters the Mazda’s less tuneful induction and character. You sense that adding a more vocal exhaust to the FIAT would transform the car into a brilliant roadster terrier. But even in the standard configuration, it’s subtly tuneful with an Italian character that suits the car well. The six-speed gearbox is from FIAT and betters the MX5 for positive feel – again, it’s excellent. CO2 emissions are 148 g/km.
As the interior is, by and large, coming from the Mazda things are well placed and ideal for every type of driving position. It does add some chrome bits - and better seats than the Japanese rival - making it a nicer place to spend time. Like the Mazda, the canvas roof operation is exceptionally good. You can lower and raise the roof in three seconds. It’s still a lightweight car at 1,050km but has a build quality both externally and inside that betters some premium German coupes. Everything thuds, shuts and clicks with a reassuring quality that betters any FIAT Sportster – the Barchetta included – of old.
As the week came to an end we knew our time in the charming FIAT would end too and that we’d miss it. €36,696 may appear to be a steep entry price for a roadster. A two-seat car with a tiny boot but we’d still make serious lifestyle changes if we had an opportunity to own one. It is impossible to convey just how happy the 124 Spider made us feel over the week and the way the little roadster cheered us up during sunny days and summer biblical downpours. It’s easily the best car that FIAT makes. The fact that it betters the Mazda MX-5 makes it certainly the world’s best roadster that you can buy today.
So, here is our hearty recommendation. If you’re young and affluent enough, make compromises and just go and buy one. You will never forget the times you and your little FIAT will have. If you’re older and want to recapture your youth, make similar compromises and buy one. You will hang onto it for as long as your knees and back will allow. We’re giving the FIAT 124 Spider the highest award we can - 5 Stars. Bravo FIAT!
https://www.fiat.ie/124-spider