• Surprisingly economical
• Tough running gear
• Three-year warranty

What are the running costs?

Less than you would expect given the performance. The Abarth 595 and 695 both do without hybrid assistance, but the brand says they’ll return between 39.2 and 42.2mpg on the WLTP cycle. That’s not too far off the mark, either – we managed high 30s in a 165hp model. CO2 emissions range from 151 to 170g/km, so the Abarth 595 won’t be desperately expensive to tax, either.

However, it might be worth factoring super unleaded fuel into your budget, especially if you opt for the faster 180hp model. We’ve found (along with some drivers in our owner’s reviews section) that the engine can get a little grumpy if it’s fed the cheaper fuel, especially in cold weather.

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Make sure you budget for insurance, too. Mid-range Turismo variants fall into insurance group 27, while the rip-snorting Competizione variant is in insurance group 32. Car thieves seem to like the little Abarth, which has hiked its premiums higher than its rivals. For comparison, the fastest Ford Fiesta ST falls into insurance group 28.

Servicing and warranty

Abarth offers a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty with every new 595 and 695. The company also offers a range of service plans to help spread to the cost of maintenance. Owners can get their cars covered for up to five years, covering servicing from new to the 45,000-mile mark.

Reliability

• Mechanicals have proved reliable
• Strong engines and tough gearboxes
• Some recall issues during lifetime

We’ve thoroughly tested the Abarth 595’s reliability – and we’re pleased to report there’s little to worry about. In September 2022, Abarth invited us down to Brand’s Hatch for a stunt driving day, during which we spent a solid six hours doing handbrake turns in three Abarth 595s. It was a punishing day for the cars that resulted in just one mechanical failure.

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Crucially, the failure wasn’t the car’s fault. It was down to brute force, ignorance and user error. One of the drivers (not from Parkers, we might add) forgot to dip the clutch when doing his handbrake turn. So, this poor little Abarth was in locked gear with its engine revving past 5,000rpm and the handbrake on. Naturally, that rough treatment sheared one of the car’s CV joints but, impressively, its engine and gearbox were completely fine.

Over the past 14 years, the Abarth 595 has been subject to a few recalls. These include issues with reduced brake performance and seats not performing as expected during a collision. Older Abarth 500s (which the 595 superseded) have also had issues with their front seatbelts not performing as intended and possible interior and exterior lighting failures. If you’re buying used, make sure these faults have been remedied before you hand over the cash.

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