After having owned a 1.2 Sport for four years, then trading it in for an Abarth this year I thought it might be interesting to compare the two cars.
The Cars
i) A 58 plate 1.2 Sport in orange with leather, passenger seat memory and side bump strips.
ii) A 62 plate Abarth in red with leather, rear privacy glass and white stripes and mirrors.
The Styling
I like the 500 in all the various variants which have been released, but there are a few distinct looks (IMO). The Pop/Lounge/Colour Therapy all look nice and retro, the Sport/Street have a slightly more sporty look, the 500C is really classy and the Abarth looks like it's hit the steroids.
With regards to my two, I really like them both. I think the Abarth wins by a whisker though. The extended front, the styling kit and the twin pipes really finish it off nicely.
I guess this one is down to personal taste though.
The Interiors
Sport:
Abarth:
Both cars came with optional leather. At first glance there is little difference, other than the seats and the boost dial on the Abarth. But there are a few small things that make the cars' interiors feel worlds apart.
The Sport's seats are actually firmer, which I really like, and settling into it was always like being welcomed home. The Abarth's thicker steering wheel, leather gear knob and handbrake covers combined with the dark roof lining make the it feel like a larger car. The larger metal pedals do make things a little cramped for your feet though.
Both are very nice places to be, and these two models have the best dash fonts of the various range options.
Equipment
My Sport: (over Pop) Fog lights, 15inch alloys, aircon, Blue and Me, heated mirrors, leather interior, rear head rests, split rear seats, chrome tailpipe, kick plates and privacy glass.
My Abarth: (over Sport): Sports seats, 16 inch alloys, parking sensors, boot light, automatically dimming mirror, leather dash cover, hill hold, stability control, TTC, rear discs and boost dial/shift indicator. No kick plates though.
The Abarth is better equipped.
Driving
The Sport is easier around town. It is easier to drive smoothly, and has a great steering lock which makes u-turns a piece of cake. The 1.2 is a fun engine, characterful and eager. The car handles just how a small town car should, and it grips well. The sport was always comfortable too, and it happily completed 400+ mile trips in a day when I was using it for work.
The Abarth is faster, obviously. In sport mode, much, much faster. The steering is lighter in non-sport mode than the Sport's is without the girly button pressed (when it gets very light). In sport mode it is heavier. It has less lock on the steering, but this gives it nice precise steering at speed. It corners flatly, and rides better than the Sport. It sounds awesome!
Both cars a great fun, and actually the 500 is a car which doesn't need huge power to be enjoyed. The Abarth makes me laugh out loud though. Its sport/non-sport modes give it a real split personality.
Costs
The Sport cost me £10.5k, and I got the Abarth down to £15.1K. Tax on the Sport was £30 per year, the Abarth is £170.
I shopped around, and I managed to insure the Abarth for £40 less than the Sport cost me last year, and servicing costs at a main dealer appear similar.
The Abarth seems to have the potential to be within 10mpg of the Sport, but in reality I doubt it will be.
The Sport retained about 57% of its value over four years when I part exchanged it.
Verdit
Both are very good cars. There might more sensible, cost efficient options out there, or better performing cars, but the 500 is fun. It's a feel good car. There was really very little on the radar when I looked to change, and the only car which came close to sitting on my drive was a Mito.
Ultimately, I do prefer the Abarth. But, I wouldn't have been unhappy if I had kept the Sport either.
The Cars
i) A 58 plate 1.2 Sport in orange with leather, passenger seat memory and side bump strips.
ii) A 62 plate Abarth in red with leather, rear privacy glass and white stripes and mirrors.
The Styling
I like the 500 in all the various variants which have been released, but there are a few distinct looks (IMO). The Pop/Lounge/Colour Therapy all look nice and retro, the Sport/Street have a slightly more sporty look, the 500C is really classy and the Abarth looks like it's hit the steroids.
With regards to my two, I really like them both. I think the Abarth wins by a whisker though. The extended front, the styling kit and the twin pipes really finish it off nicely.
I guess this one is down to personal taste though.
The Interiors
Sport:
Abarth:
Both cars came with optional leather. At first glance there is little difference, other than the seats and the boost dial on the Abarth. But there are a few small things that make the cars' interiors feel worlds apart.
The Sport's seats are actually firmer, which I really like, and settling into it was always like being welcomed home. The Abarth's thicker steering wheel, leather gear knob and handbrake covers combined with the dark roof lining make the it feel like a larger car. The larger metal pedals do make things a little cramped for your feet though.
Both are very nice places to be, and these two models have the best dash fonts of the various range options.
Equipment
My Sport: (over Pop) Fog lights, 15inch alloys, aircon, Blue and Me, heated mirrors, leather interior, rear head rests, split rear seats, chrome tailpipe, kick plates and privacy glass.
My Abarth: (over Sport): Sports seats, 16 inch alloys, parking sensors, boot light, automatically dimming mirror, leather dash cover, hill hold, stability control, TTC, rear discs and boost dial/shift indicator. No kick plates though.
The Abarth is better equipped.
Driving
The Sport is easier around town. It is easier to drive smoothly, and has a great steering lock which makes u-turns a piece of cake. The 1.2 is a fun engine, characterful and eager. The car handles just how a small town car should, and it grips well. The sport was always comfortable too, and it happily completed 400+ mile trips in a day when I was using it for work.
The Abarth is faster, obviously. In sport mode, much, much faster. The steering is lighter in non-sport mode than the Sport's is without the girly button pressed (when it gets very light). In sport mode it is heavier. It has less lock on the steering, but this gives it nice precise steering at speed. It corners flatly, and rides better than the Sport. It sounds awesome!
Both cars a great fun, and actually the 500 is a car which doesn't need huge power to be enjoyed. The Abarth makes me laugh out loud though. Its sport/non-sport modes give it a real split personality.
Costs
The Sport cost me £10.5k, and I got the Abarth down to £15.1K. Tax on the Sport was £30 per year, the Abarth is £170.
I shopped around, and I managed to insure the Abarth for £40 less than the Sport cost me last year, and servicing costs at a main dealer appear similar.
The Abarth seems to have the potential to be within 10mpg of the Sport, but in reality I doubt it will be.
The Sport retained about 57% of its value over four years when I part exchanged it.
Verdit
Both are very good cars. There might more sensible, cost efficient options out there, or better performing cars, but the 500 is fun. It's a feel good car. There was really very little on the radar when I looked to change, and the only car which came close to sitting on my drive was a Mito.
Ultimately, I do prefer the Abarth. But, I wouldn't have been unhappy if I had kept the Sport either.
