Drive with us: Abarth 595 Review

Join us as we take a look at the Abarth 595, the pocket-rocket hot hatch that closed the book on 17 years of Italian drama

What do you get when you take the Fiat 500 and turn up the power? The Abarth 595. That's what you get.

It was Abarth's spirited take on the Fiat 500 — small, characterful, and unapologetically loud for its size.

After 17 years on sale, the petrol-powered 595 (along with the Fiat 500 it was based on) was discontinued in August 2024 , making way for Abarth's electric-only line-up of the 500e and 600e.

This was the Cabriolet in Turismo trim, where the drop-top added a layer of theatre on top of the standard hatch's persona.

There were only ever a handful of true rivals given how closely the 595 was tied to the 500's platform — the Volkswagen up! GTI on size, and on price, it brushed up against the Ford Fiesta ST and MINI Cooper S.

This was a car that positioned itself on character over convenience, and buyers weren't cross-shopping for practicality.

Is the Abarth 595 worth seeking out on the second-hand market now the petrol version is gone?

What we drove

Model: Abarth 595C Turismo S-A

Body Style: Cabriolet

Power: Petrol, 1.4-litre (1368cc) turbocharged, 165hp

Transmission: Automatic

Colour: Grey

Big attitude in a small footprint

The 595 looked very similar to the Fiat 500 — there's no denying that. But looking at the history, that's exactly where the 595 came from.

It had a deeper bumper, side skirts, and a rear spoiler, all of which added deliberately aggressive addenda over the standard 500. Plus it came with a dual exhaust — this wasn't just for show, it was part of what made this the pocket rocket it was.

As a Cabriolet, the roof was the obvious talking point. It had an electrically operated soft top, and with it down, the 595's cheeky character came through even more.

Abarth badging and Scorpion motifs were dotted throughout, nodding to brand heritage rather than subtlety.

Sporty touches on a familiar Fiat base

Once you stepped  inside the sporty feel continued.

Sports seats, turbo boost gauge, Scorpion Sport button, flat-bottomed steering wheel — all of which were done well.

Some trims got leather or Alcantara, but base materials could feel a touch cheap in places.

Touchscreen size and spec varied by trim, and smartphone mirroring was often an add-on rather than standard.

And in the boot, there was just 185 litres of space. That wasn't a lot. But you weren't getting the 595 for space. You were getting it for sporty Italian flair.

Firm, fast, and full of character

First and foremost, the sound: The 595 Turismo sounded incredible.

The moment the engine turned on, you were met with a deep and rumbling roar.

Thanks to the dual exhausts, it sounded as good as it looked, and it got you instantly excited to get driving.

At slower speeds the gearbox was a little too eager, often intervening with some unnecessary shifts. However, the drive felt much more composed as speed picked up.

For such a small car, the steering was reassuringly weighty, remaining planted at all times with effortless handling.

With Sport mode activated, there was a huge difference in power, and the resulting soundtrack that accompanied the drive was thoroughly infectious.

Official WLTP combined fuel economy ranged from 35.3mpg on higher-output variants up to 48.7mpg on the lower-output 140hp setup.

Most drivers reported an average of 38 to 44mpg in mixed everyday use, with the 35-litre tank yielding a real-world range of roughly 270 to 370 miles between fill-ups.

Safety and warranties

The Fiat 500 platform underpinning the 595 was tested by Euro NCAP in 2017 (before assisted driving grading existed as a separate category), scoring three stars overall.

This applied to the standard 500 rather than the 595 specifically, as Euro NCAP did not test the Abarth version independently.

• Adult Occupant: 66%
• Child Occupant: 49%
• Vulnerable Road Users: 53%
• Safety Assist: 27%

The lower Safety Assist score reflects the standards of the era it was tested in, rather than a shortfall specific to this generation of car.

A new 595 came with a standard three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.

The first 24 months were covered by Abarth, including defective parts, labour, and consumables, with a further 12 months of UK retailer warranty completing the term.

Paint defects were covered for three years from registration, and rust perforation for eight years.

Independent garages could service the car without voiding the warranty, provided they followed the official schedule and used OE-quality parts.

What's good, and what's not

The good bits:

• Genuinely distinctive exhaust note — real character from the moment it started
• Reassuringly weighty steering for such a small car
• Planted, confident handling despite its size
• Sport mode transformed the power delivery and soundtrack
• Deliberately aggressive styling addenda over the standard 500 — stood out
• Electric soft top added an extra layer of theatre as a Cabriolet

The not-so-good bits:

• Gearbox a little too eager at slower speeds, with unnecessary shifts
• Firm ride — noticeable over rougher surfaces
• Small boot space limited practicality
• Cramped rear seats — better suited to occasional use than regular passengers
• Three-star Euro NCAP rating, reflecting its era rather than current safety standards

What's the verdict?

The Abarth 595 was never bought on spec sheets, and it never needed to be. What it offered instead was character — real, unfiltered, occasionally raucous character that few small hot hatches could match.

The exhaust note alone did a lot of heavy lifting, and paired with steering that felt reassuringly weighty for something this size, it was a car that was genuinely fun to drive, even where the gearbox could feel a little too keen to shift at slower speeds.

As a Cabriolet, it added a layer most rivals like the up! GTI and Swift Sport simply couldn't offer — that extra bit of drama with the roof down.

Yes, the boot was small and the rear seats were tight. But the 595 was never trying to be the practical choice.

It was a car built for drivers who wanted to feel something behind the wheel, and on that front, it delivered in spades. After 17 years, its departure marks the end of an era for affordable, characterful Italian hot hatches — and its spirit now lives on in Abarth's electric range instead.

Five reasons the Abarth 595 is missed:

1. That unmistakable Abarth exhaust note — pure theatre from the second it started
2. Reassuringly weighty steering and planted handling for a car this size
3. Genuine Italian character and heritage baked into every detail
4. The drama of open-top motoring with the Cabriolet's electric soft top
5. Stood out from the small hot hatch crowd with genuinely distinctive styling

Would we recommend leasing an Abarth 595?

You can't anymore — the petrol 595 is discontinued, with used examples now the only route to that Scorpion badge.

But if it's that same Italian character and buzzy, characterful driving experience you're after, Abarth's current range picks up where it left off.

The 500e and 600e carry that same spirited, unmistakably Abarth DNA into an electric future, and they're well worth a look if the 595 caught your eye too late.