Fiat 124 Spider
MODEL TESTED: Fiat 124 Spider Lusso Plus PRICE: £23,295 ENGINE: 1.4-litre 4cyl, 138bhp
THE Fiat 124 Spider represents the Italian brand’s return to the affordable roadster market after an absence of more than a decade. It shares its underpinnings with the Mazda MX-5, so it features a traditional rear-wheel-drive layout, two-seater body and simple fabric roof. Currently there is only one engine available, a 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo, and here we test it in flagship £23, 295 Lusso Plus trim.
Styling 4.0/5
FIAT is keen to stress that the 124 Spider is much more than a rebadged Mazda MX-5. In fact, both brands had a say in the car’s development, while the styling of the Spider was under way at the same time as its Japanese cousin.
Even so, to many eyes the 124’s lines aren’t quite as successful as the eye-catching MX-5’S. For instance, the Fiat’s wider nose and gaping grille lack the delicacy of the Mazda’s treatment. Still, there are some neat touches, such as the twin power bulges in the bonnet that are a nod to the sixties original. At the rear, the rectangular tail-lights and twin exhausts help the Fiat stand out – although the large Fiat badge on the bootlid looks like an afterthought.
There’s even less to separate the two cars when you climb aboard. In fact, apart from a Fiat badge on the steering wheel and some trim variations, the cabins of the Fiat and Mazda are identical. But that’s no bad thing, as both are slickly designed and solidly built.
If anything, the Fiat’s interior has a slightly more upmarket feel, as it ditches the Mazda’s body-colour trim inserts for muted soft-touch plastics, while our car’s standard leather had a softer feel than the MX-5’S hide. Like its rival, the seat trim is available in two colours: black or the eye-catching Tobacco seen here.
Given our Lusso Plus model is the range-topper, it’s no surprise that it’s loaded with kit. You get 17-inch alloys and adaptive LED headlights, while inside there are heated seats, a Bose stereo, keyless entry and sat-nav. The latter is part of the standard seven-inch tabletstyle infotainment system that sits on top of the dash.
Driving 4.6/5
THERE are plenty of similarities between our two contenders, but Fiat has gone its own way with the 124 Spider’s engine. Instead of a large naturally aspirated unit under its long bonnet, the newcomer gets the brand’s tried-and-tested 1.4-litre Multiair four-cylinder turbo petrol. With 138bhp, it’s 20bhp down on the Mazda, but it has a meatier torque figure of 240Nm, which is 40Nm more than the MX-5. Crucially, this power is delivered at 2, 250rpm, whereas the Mazda makes peak muscle at a heady 4,600rpm.
As a result, the Fiat ruled our in-gear tests. For example, it completed the sixth gear 50-70mph sprint in just 6.7 seconds, which was an impressive 2.8 seconds faster than the MX-5. The tables were turned off the line, where the 124 was three-tenths slower than the Mazda from 0-60mph, taking 7.3 seconds, but in the real world it’s the Spider that feels faster.
On the open road, the Fiat’s throttle response isn’t as sharp as the MX-5’S and it can feel a little sluggish below 2,000rpm, but once the Spider’s turbo is blowing, it accelerates with real vigour. And while the 1.4-litre engine doesn’t have the Mazda’s sporty note, there’s just enough of a rasp to give it some character. It’s also linked to a six-speed gearbox that boasts a short and snappy action. The Spider feels distinctly different in corners, too. Under the skin is the same double-wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear axle as the Mazda, but Fiat’s engineers have altered the springs, dampers, anti-roll bars and steering software to give the car its own character.
Turn into a bend and the wheel has a weightier feel, but the Fiat isn’t quite as eager as the MX-5 to change direction. Even so, there’s plenty of grip, while fractionally more measured responses make the car feel more settled mid-corner.
Like the Mazda, there’s a lot of initial body movement, but the Fiat quickly finds its composure, allowing you to tackle twisting back roads with confidence. The combination of rear-wheel drive and a healthy torque output also adds to the fun, allowing you to alter the car’s line using the steering and throttle. However, unlike the Mazda there’s no limited-slip differential, so the 124 is more likely to spin an inside rear wheel out of slower corners.
The good news is that it blends this driving fun with decent comfort. There’s nothing between our duo for refinement, but the Fiat’s revised suspension copes with bumps better, and it takes imperfections that send shudders through the Mazda in its stride.
Ownership 3.1/5
EVEN against mainstream brands, Fiat’s performance in our Driver Power 2016 satisfaction survey was dire, as it finished dead last in our manufacturer chart. Yet the brand is clearly learning, as its franchises bagged sixth overall in the dealer poll. What’s more, the 124 should be solid and dependable, as it’s built alongside the MX-5 at Mazda’s plant in Hiroshima, Japan.
The Spider hasn’t been tested by Euro NCAP, but there’s no reason to think it won’t achieve the same four-star score as the structurally identical MX-5. All 124s get four airbags and stability control, while Lusso Plus trim adds adaptive LED headlights. Autonomous emergency braking isn’t an option on either, though.
Running costs 4.0/5
AT £23, 295, the Fiat undercuts the identically equipped Mazda by £400. The Spider’s financial advantage doesn’t end there, because its engine emits less CO2, with a figure of 148g/km. In combination with the lower price tag this means the 124 will save higher-rate earners around £300 a year in Benefit in Kind bills. Private buyers will pay £145 for a year’s road tax.
Our experts have also calculated that the Fiat will retain more of its value after three years, with a predicted figure of 49.9 per cent, while the insurance premium for our sample driver is lower, too. We also recorded a respectable 35.4mpg on test.
Practicality 2.9/5
THE Fiat’s interior feels cosy rather than cramped, particularly with the roof up. However, there’s decent shoulder and legroom, although taller drivers will find the lack of steering reach adjustment frustrating.
Lowering or raising the roof is a doddle and can be completed with one hand. Simply release the catch ahead of the rear-view mirror and fling the fabric back. It’s so simple that there’s no need for an electric top.
The boot is small at 140 litres, but it’s well shaped and will accommodate a couple of small suitcases. There’s no glovebox in the cabin, but you get a large lockable cubby between the seats, a couple of lidded storage boxes in the rear bulkhead and a pair of removable cup-holders, too.