Fiat 124 Spider — Open-air thrills for under 30-grand

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

There's more roadster fun available at an affordable price than at any time in the last two-decades. You can still pay great gobs of cash for open-air nameplates from BMW, Mercedes and Nissan. But now, with the introduction of the Fiat 124 Spider to go head-to-head with the Mazda MX-5, those with budget limitations have another choice — a choice with pleasing Italian style — in picking an open-air thrill machine.


Fiat is not new to the roadster game in the United States having sold the original Pininfarina-styled Spider from 1968 through 1983. By the time it was discontinued, more than 170,000 had been sold — and there are still 8,000 registered today. That 124 Spider was a front-engine, rear-drive two-seater that was as charming and lovable as Italian flair can get. Designers of the new 124 Spider went to great lengths to re-establish that classic Italian look, feel and thrilling driving experience.

To accomplish this feat, Fiat used the newest iteration of the iconic Mazda Miata MX-5 underpinnings and wrapped it in a modern interpretation of the original Fiat 124 design. The flowing curvaceous lines mask the Italian car's close ties to the MX-5 as does the engine and transmission, which are also of Fiat origin.

Fiat has put its popular 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine — used in such vehicles as the Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500X — pumping out 160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque under the long hood. A special Abarth edition gets an extra four ponies.

We found that despite some turbolag, we like the performance of the Fiat with its 0-to-60 time falling in the mid 6-second range and quarter mile time just north of 15 seconds.  The six-speed manual transmission is a pleasure to drive with quick, short throws. We feel that's the way to go to get a true roadster experience. But for those people who prefer an automatic, for no other reason than a more comfortable experience in day-to-day commuting, a six-speed automatic is available. Gas mileage is excellent with either transmission measured at 26-mpg city, 35-highway and 30 combined with the manual and 25/36/29 with the automatic. Premium gas is recommended.

The Fiat offers a true roadster driving experience on the winding roads exhibiting precise steering and exceptional cornering prowess. At the same time, the suspension is compliant enough to do a credible job of soaking up road imperfections. Also noteworthy is the relative quiet cabin at highway speeds thanks to the use of sound-dampening materials.

The Fiat 124 body is slightly larger than the Miata getting an extra three inches in front to accommodate the engine and two inches in the rear to give the car its stylish proportions. The wheelbase, however, is unchanged from the MX-5 which means cabin space is the same. This is unfortunate because the MX-5 has one of the tightest passenger compartments in the industry. Likewise, it has a rather small trunk even for a roadster with only 4.9 cubic feet of space. Be prepared to travel light.

Inside, the interior looks as though it was lifted intact from the Miata, but we give the nod to Fiat for upgraded leathers and materials. Seat trim is available in either black or saddle. We especially like the speakers in the headrests. Opening and closing the convertible top is one of the best features, and can be easily handled with one hand from either front seat.

The three air-conditioning dials are simple and easy to use. Audio and navigation controls are managed through the Mazda-sourced touchscreen that sits in the center of the dashboard. One thing that bothered us with the MX-5 was the nearly unusable removable cupholders secured in slots at the rear of the center console. The same is true for the Fiat 124.

The Fiat 124, which is offered in three trim levels — Classica, Lusso and Abarth — starts at $25,990 for a manual-equipped Classica including $995 destination charge. Adding the automatic transmission raises the bottom line to $27,340.

Standard equipment across the lineup includes 16-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, push-button ignition, tilt steering wheel, power accessories, cruise control, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, and a six-speaker sound system. Standard safety includes antilock disc brakes, side airbags, and stability and traction control. A rearview camera is an option on all trims, and a blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert can be had for $1,495 in a Safety and Comfort package.

Our Lusso trim test car came with a base price of $28,490 and an as-tested price of $31,930 with the aforementioned safety package and an automatic transmission.

Essentials
Base price: $25,990; as driven, $31,930
Engine: 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 160 @ 5,500 rpm
Torque: 184 foot-pounds @ 2,500 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Drive: rear wheel
Seating: 2
Wheelbase: 90.9 inches
Length: 159.6 inches
Curb weight: 2,436 pounds
Turning circle: 30.8 feet
Luggage capacity: 4.9 cubic feet
Fuel capacity: 11.9 gallons (premium recommended)
EPA rating: 25 city, 36 highway, 29 combined
Also consider: Mazda MX-5, Mini Cooper convertible

The Good
• Affordable price
• Great driving entertainment
• Gorgeous Italian styling
• Easy operating soft top

The Bad
• Perceptible turbolag

The Ugly
• Tight quarters