"Can the Abarth 595 change my mind?" | REVIEW
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- Опубліковано 24 лис 2022
- Nicola Hume is replacing her tired old Fiat 500 - should she step up to the Abarth 595?
Read more at Auto Express:
New 2022 Abarth 595 review: bit.ly/3H25yGD
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New 2023 Abarth 500e electric hot hatch: bit.ly/3EuXU4k
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Nicola Hume's Fiat 500 is a little long in the tooth. It's served her well for three years, but its lack of performance, cabin space and refinement is beginning to grate, and what was once a love affair with the dinky Italian icon has become a tiresome, drawn out relationship. It's time for Nicola to upgrade, and while she has her heart set on the brilliant new Kia Sportage, we wanted to find out if it was possible to rekindle her love for Fiat's supermini by lending her the altogether more serious Abarth 595. Can its racier design and peppy performance win her over?
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She buys the slowest one they offer and then complains it is slow and bad mouths the range. She screws up expecting a 68hp car should be quick and then wants us to value her opinion?
She also complains the standard car is noisy and uncomfortable - then steps into the Abarth version with its tuned exhausts and rocks for shocks. 😂
@@megsway Exactly👍😆 Didn't she test drive the car before buying it? She gets paid to do that, right?
We upgraded from a 500 Twin Air, after that was written off.
Went on to have 4 of them, great fun, fast enough.
The seat was fine for longer journeys
As others have said, the similarity between the two is overstated.
More fun than a ST, an Abarth will always put a smile on your face
Don't really understand why a KIA Sportage would be better, apart from size
what happened to the Scorpion button, a quick mention, that was it!
You need to go for something bonkers and loud for once.
I'd have Abarth No 5 if we didn't need a bigger car
This year we also swapped a 1.2S for a 595C turismo. I think what best describes it, is the smile on your face. Like from startup, all the way trough driving it. Because its fun to drive, and very powerful for its weight. And sounds crazy. Who cares about numbers, and what is faster or not, if you are enjoying it. It makes you happy. A Fiesta ST might be better in numbers, but it doesnt make you happy like this.
I love the Abarth, and it’s Italian good looks
My daughters just got out a 12S and into a Abarth 70 edition, i drove it home from the dealers, 85 miles on B roads, A roads and motorway. What a brilliant little car and she absolutely loves it. I think if your after comfort you wouldn't by a car like a 500 or 595, but if you want a small car for the cheaper insurance after passing your test then the 12 is ideal then after a few years get into the Abarth if you like small and quick with a huge following. Great little car i love it and i own a mazda cx5 and a Jaguar f type.
I have a 500 TwinAir, and the strange thing is it just works. It’s adequately fast, makes a good noise, the ride’s not rock hard nor does it wallow, 6 gears means I can travel at high speed relatively happily, I’ve never got out aching even after 5 hour stints behind the wheel, and the only thing it’s missing tech wise is CarPlay. I never really liked 500s, the only reason I bought mine was that it was remarkably cheap, but it’s excellent.
Would have loved to have experienced a TwinAir. I deliberated about switching my 1.2 for one over an Abarth but went for the Abarth in the end as I wanted a newer long-term car and they had discontinued the TwinAir.
Love the twinair, so much I have a Panda Cross 4x4 Twinair on order
The twinair is an Italian master piece of engineering,period.nor the Germans or the Japanese have been able to produced a system like the multiar from fiat.a mini abarth for the half of the price and like the abarth, it just puts a smile in your face.nothing closer to the original than the twinair.
Brilliant car. So comfortable nippy and does the job for us. Family of 4. I've owned a number of cars this is by far the best.
Still miss my 2010 Esseesse, was a bundle of fun
Awesome review! Informative and entertaining
Her enthusiasm is infectious 😊
This girl should be on Top Gear...shes great.
A Ideal person to replace Freddie Flintoff 😊
@@jamiep61 Andrew is fun but yeah I can see where you are coming from. I'm all over Nicola
Who wants to be on Top Gear…. that died a death ages ago
A new top gear esque show with all female presenters like vicki butler henderson and ginny buckley
100%%
Her and Matt Watson would be a PERFECT duo
I think Nicola and Matt Watson are the duo we all want!
That would be interesting
@@mrmawson2438 it sure would, i feel their personality will be a perfect match and great watch
She's no Rebecca Jackson...
@@b8tzim767 Rebecca Jackson is so boring
I like that idea, kinda like Jezza and Hamster, all we need is a Captain Slow lol
Blimey a proper whingy review!
Bought a tiny fiat 500 with a low powered engine and moans it's too small and slow.
Then drives the hot hatch version and moans the rides too firm.
Love your reviews Nicole, not biased, funny & smart.
- Just keep on !
A new Nicola video! My weekend is complete! ❤️☺️👍
Great reviews. I love the car.
Why doesn’t the Abarth version have cruise control in the UK like the normal 500 after 2016, even though those in Europe and the US had it?
Your description of the Abarth vs the normal 500 is spot on.
'foaming' at the mouth. Brilliant!
I think you can tweak the suspension for a better ride quality. 🤔
Agree with the steering wheel. So big. Big gripe of mine. Glad you mentioned it.
Does it get to 70 mph
Oh Nicola I love your videos, DO IT it could be the last hurrah before they all dissappear, I've had a 2015 Trofeo 140 for 7 years i bought it for a bit of fun, I traded my crappy 2007 Focus ST for it which had been rubbish from new with numerous issues and poor build quality, only had one issue with a sensor on the Abarth, I've met so many lovely people on the Fiat/Abarth groups as well. I certainly won't be getting rid of it any time soon!
Great fun but Nicola overstated the similarity between the two variants. The same applies to a regular Golf and a Golf R ….. or an Audi A3 and an RS3. The problem with the Abarth is that whilst it is a great little car it is at a price point where the competition is severe and it is a shrinking market.
Agreed. The good thing about used Abarth's though is that you can pick them up reasonably cheap. Not something that can be said for most used cars today.
Great review Nicola👌
I think the twinair is the best of the bunch
If you're into comfort then you tested the wrong Abarth. I had a Fiat 500 for just 5 months before switching to the Abarth Turismo. My husband has the Competizione, which I find much harder. Even better would be the 695 Turismo, with the Monza exhaust and extra power. I drive mainly on country roads and love it. My 500 had 16" alloys so it was also a bumpy ride.
I never had a problem with 0-60 speeds in my 500, even on hills, but you really need to get the revs right, particularly in the lower range. Too many people moan about lack of power and hills when they are pootling along in 5th gear and not downshifting!
Yey, you're right, maybe Nicola is not the right person to be doing car test reports, "STRUGGLING TO 40!" Someone should tell her, a normally aspirated engine needs to have the revs wound up, not sticking your foot down in top and expecting fire works.
Its still one of most selling cars in Europe...
I'm 17 stone and I fit vert cozily in my North American 2015 Fiat 500 Abarth! 😁However, I did modify the suspension a bit by replacing the old stock shocks and struts with KYB Excel-G shocks and struts. It made the car much more comfortable. I had taken the car out for a 1,650 mile road trip last summer without any issues.
I bought my Abarth used in 2020 with only 43,000 miles for £7,400 (never buy a new one). Only the battery, battery blanket, and door handle needed replacing, and the 17 inch alloy wheels needed some unbending after punishing them on potholes. Everything else was regular maintenance or mods. Also, I bought a set of winter tires on steelies. The summer Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 tires that came with the car were almost brand new!
I love my little car especially since it's now fully paid! It's become a very cheap ride around town!
When you say 'shocks and struts, do you mean you replaced both the shock absorbers and the springs? I'm thinking of getting an Abarth myself but the ride is a little too punishing. What would you say: by improving the comfort with the new parts did you miss out on the handling department? Thanks for you input!
@@varmastiko2908 No, I didn't replace the stock springs. Those were okay. I only changed the shocks, struts, front jounces and mounts, and the anti-sway bar linkages (the old ones had to be cut off). I also replaced the hardware since they were seriously affected by rust.
Performance-wise, I can't tell you what are the differences because I've never pushed this car to its limits. All I know is that with my driving style, taking turns feels the same, but going over railroad crossings no longer shakes my fillings out anymore! 😁 The ride is now at the same level as the 500 Sport with the 16 inch winter steelies (also slightly bouncy), and just a bit firmer than the Sport with the 17 inch summer alloys.
I also swapped the strut mount hats for Corsa Forza hats. The stock hats have a nasty habit of wearing out prematurely.
I'm really happy with the results! I drove 2,666 km during my vacation last summer without any physical issues! My body would have been wrecked with the stock shocks and struts!
Lovely review.
Back in the day I had a citreon saxo vts it was like a little rocket
Had a 1.2 for 7 years, got a 695 - and kept the 1.2 for what it’s good for. Both have their place and the 1.2 makes 160 if need is.
I owned my Abarth for 11 years now. Still love it. Such a fun car.
Fiat NZ are currently selling off the 595 for less than the vanilla 500 used to cost... I am so tempted...
I mean, why ask a middle aged woman to review an Abarth ? What's the relevance there ? She don't even know what the original Abarth was all about .....
Thank you lady, I was wondering about the abarth and the standard edition and now it's clear to me. I'm going to buy abarth
Change down gear & guarantee you'd get over 40....daughter has 1.2 pop & is a great wee car...
Fantastic and honest review. Has it changed my mind about buying one? No. I have a feeling they're amazing and special deep down
Personally you need to try the competizone
Missed you since you left Heart, nice to find you again - I agree the 595 is much better than a 500.
*Damn, now I see why my father teases possibly getting one in his life.* Including the logo, this car really resonates with me, without comparing to other cars overall in the market, and it's model range.
I love my 500 anti-abarth. When I want a blast of acceleration I down shift two gears then floor it and she flies. As far as the seat, sure it needs arch support so I added that and it’s great for the long drive.
Too many people poo-pooing the original.
I loved the first bmw Mini Cooper s and this fiat abarth seems to be a modern equivalent
I had one an 07 Mini Cooper S and now have the Abarth. The Mini felt more planted but I prefer the character and sound of the Abarth.
I go 90 in my fiat 500 easily. Albeit not often since that’s way of the speed limit.
I drove the Abarth for 8,5 years, both the 500 and 595. The build quality was so low. Both cars spent more time in the dealers garage than with me. I would have really loved those Abarths, but all those quality issues made it impossible for me. -.-
Our neighbour has one and we hear him start it up in the morning, and we hear him when he comes home. If someone parks on the street opposite his drive, he can't turn right, he has to go to the left .
Impossible do drive on bumpy roads. It's horrible... but for track it's funny.
99% of your driving will be on road if it’s your daily
Whats happened to your KIA Sportage?
you created the index first *right*
An electric one?
0:14 fiat 500 exhaust pipe smoke 😍😍💨💨
Gosh I don't know what version of the Fiat 500 you have over there I have 101 horsepower in my 500 in America and I put it in sport mode and it's loads of fun I'm 6 ft tall and I have no complaints about the room inside the Fiat 500 plenty of room.
I adored my 500 abarth it was so much fun, try the competition it's faster and much closer to the fiesta st also the seats/driving positon are way better. I'm going to order the electric one next year
Looks like the old mini at the back a bit
wow this is nice
Best Clarkson impression I’ve ever heard.
This week Abarth revealed the New 500e that will launch In 2023. I also enjoyed watching the Video Review as well 😊
A disgrace to the Abarth name unfortunately, it has betrayed everything the name once stood for. Only marketing for a subpar (and overpriced) electric vehicle. Not a real Abarth. Best to purchase one of the last generation combustion engine versions before they disappear.
Felicity was with you through thick and thin, give her some words of encouragement as you send her away.
It put smile on your face, takes breath away, thats what its all about
It is not slow, it "literally does not move"
😆🤣😵
Abarth? It made her laugh. Having owned both a 595 and a Fiesta ST Mountune - the latter is a superior car but doesn't make you smile and laugh like the former.
The thing is my 595 was 220 a month to lease. You couldn't even get close to that for a ST......
You have a very infectious giggle but at the same time your experience with the car is really well communicated and you deliver excellent consumer advice. Very entertaining to watch!
Looks great but that suspension on uk roads is going to be no good
I think I might like this as modern companion to my Classic Mini Cooper... feels more like a modern mini cooper than the new MINIs are.
I have a 1995 Mini Cooper and I've just bought a 2017 Abarth 595 competizione for my everyday car. In some ways they are very similar. They're both fun to drive and put a smile on my face more so than the Focus ST I had previously 😁
Have a go of one that's 300bhp you'll love it 😀
I don't know how a 19 plate car can be "tired and old". Try persevering with a 59 plate ford focus now with me for 12 unremarkable but reliable years.
I thought the same - what a stupid way to describe the review but I guess it reflects the throw away society we live in
I have a 67 plate focus st-3 I wouldn’t mind getting my wife one of these fiat 500 abarth look fun 😮
The weird thing is i just bought a 2013 1.4 Fiat 500 in Yellow and its not slow 0-60 is 9 seconds and i got 125mph out of it with my reg numbers removed officer lol the 1.2 is slowest of the lot and the one to avoid , the Abarth i would not buy as its turbo is prone to exploding , a guy i know has one and he just paid £2 grand to Fiat for a new turbo not good at only 50 thousand miles
Can't believe they dropping the petrol version of all Fiat Arbarths massive mistake for me ..New electric won't be the same especially with the sound the fossil fuel Arbarth sounds
Abarth❤❤
Great presenter, she really good
Maybe the new electric Abarth is where it’s all at
Nicola is great
Inaccurate review of the little 1.2. 500 and has a top speed of 99mph so it does move, and I have a arbarth and I don’t feel cramp’d I’m 6ft 1
You dismiss 134mph top speed like its not enough, get caught doing that and you will probably be going to jail.
Wait, didn't she order a new Kia Sportage?
Crikey… It’s Loose Women do car reviews !
- this has buttons on the climate, this has a bigger screen... Whos' fault that you didn't spent extra on that options for your white fiat? ) it's a wonderful car. Slap on the additional sound deadening under the floow in inside the doors and its as silent as a new rav4 that i have on the highway.
You've got good taste in cars!
It’s not that slow, change down gear then. Not true facts from the little 500
True, I had a Fiat 500 1000cc mild hybrid hire car, I'm 21 stone (that's 294lb or 133kg) and it did 70mph uphill on the motorway without issue.
Yeah, it's a bit buzzy but it was fine.
Even a proper old school 40 bhp 850cc Mini will do 70mph.
Why are Fiat 500’s often stolen?
Thought you bought a Kia sportage? :-)
Sound good for a fiat 500
Felicity Interesting 🙂
Nicola is great -
Slightly larger engine with more torque... foaming at the mouth haha, tell you what, if I was doing over 100mph in that I'd be s41ttin6 myself
She is very entertaining
Doesn't strike as she can drive properly one handed😮 also wrenches gear change
Try using gearbox
Lovely bit of ooomph 😂👍
She is amazing
She has to be on top Gear on grand tour on everything
How is a 3 year old car OLD?
'Weeeeee' That wasn't very girly at all.
I do wish she would stop complaining about her little fiat 500,it's not ment to be a pocket rocket, its ment for city driving mainly,as for the abarth 595 to rubbish that cute little pocket rocket i found it offensive to say it's even worse and hasn't chamged her mind on these 2 cars,you just can't please the pom's😢
I agree, with you. Yes its nice, but at a price. Takes away the retro, economic, side to the Fiat 500. I have a Fiat Pop, i love it❤
@sallywalton5375 that's nice Sally what a cute little car to own especially on a nice sunny day ,enjoy.kind regards. Gazz
where are those ; your emblem is XXL
Drive the Comp .
The one thing you can't keep saying is fiat 500 when your talking about the abarth 500 the purists don't like it🤔 I've had a abarth 500 and it was an absolute hoot to drive (brilliant) we have a fiat 500x sport now and its again brilliant and I drive a 2020 Ford focus st and the 500x sport leaves it for dust and its only a 1.4😯
Kia Sportage??? Boring! I'll have the abarth please.
No.
Thought you bought a Sportage? Anyway if to get an Abarth, Abarth 500e ✌😊 it's a lot cheaper to run at least
Elettric shi...povero karl abarth
She's defo a Scorpio!