New 2017
FIAT 124 Spider Convertible

Among cars, weight is the enemy of performance and fun; and yet, despite weighing roughly 100 pounds more than the svelte Mazda Miata on which it’s based, the Fiat 124 Spider remains utterly fulfilling to drive. Light steering efforts give the Fiat Spider a relaxed feel well-suited for enchanting jaunts over the hills and past the sea. Quicken the pace and Fiat’s roadster reveals itself as a playful dance partner. Integral to the Spider’s distinctive character is a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine that produces more power than the Mazda Miata’s naturally aspirated engine. Extra power is great but the turbo’s lag-and-surge power delivery makes us pine for the precise throttle of the Miata. With the Spider’s top down, airflow around the cabin is well-controlled, ever so slightly tousling the driver’s hair. Raise the top and interior noise is hushed enough for comfortable conversations and commutes.

Nab a basic 124 Spider Classica and you’ll enjoy push-button engine start, cloth seats, 16-inch wheels, air conditioning, a 4-speaker audio system with Bluetooth, and four airbags. The Lusso trim adds 17-inch wheels, heated leather-trimmed seats, Leatherette dash trim, automatic climate control and keyless vehicle access. Despite being the raciest Spider in the lineup the Abarth trim only produces four horsepower more than the Classica and Lusso but it does include a sport suspension, limited-slip differential and charmingly aggressive exterior tweaks. Missing from all trims is a spare tire. The included tire-repair kit helps maximize trunk space.

Optional on the least expensive Classica trim is a $1,295 “Technology Collection” that adds the 7-inch infotainment screen, rearview camera and keyless vehicle access included as standard equipment on higher Spider trims. Go with the more expensive Lusso or Abarth trims and you’re free to select handy add-ons like rear parking sensors, navigation, adaptive headlights, rear cross-path detection, blind-spot warning, and a 9-speaker Bose audio system with a sub-woofer and speakers in the headrests. Reserved for Abarth buyers are optional Recaro seats shod in leather and Alcantara or high-performance Brembo brakes.

Helping differentiate the Fiat 124 Spider from its Mazda Miata sibling is its engine, a Fiat-built 1.4-liter turbocharged MultiAir 4-cylinder. Famous for making the Fiat 500 Abarth sound so darn angry, this is the engine’s first rear-wheel-drive application. In this context the 1.4-liter gives the Fiat a slight horsepower advantage versus the Miata but a major advantage where torque is concerned. Ushering power from the engine to the rear wheels in all trims is a standard 6-speed manual transmission or an optional $1,350 6-speed automatic. With a wonderfully short shifter and the ability to slip the clutch, enabling much quicker off-the-line acceleration than the automatic, we definitely prefer the manual gearbox.

1.4-liter turbocharged inline-4
160 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm (164 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm in Abarth)
184 lb-ft of torque @ 3,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 26/35 mpg (manual), 25/36 mpg (automatic)