Test Drive – Abarth 595 Turismo: Small Car for Big Thrills

To mark the 70th anniversary of the creation of Abarth&C, our editorial team was invited to Nice for a day of testing on the mountainous roads of the hinterland around Nice. In the morning, we had this Abarth 595 Turismo in our hands. A small but appreciable car for climbing the Col de Turini, while taking part of the route of the Monte Carlo Rally (12 of the 18 km of the ES13-15) between Bollène-Vésubie and the col. Without further ado, let’s talk about this little scorpion.

Five hundred ninety-five

The magic that Abarth performs involves transforming something small and cute into something small, cute, and muscular. In a word, turning a sweet FIAT 500 into a fierce Abarth 595. At first glance, you can tell the 500 is no longer there.

The previously round design of the front shield has been replaced with an enlarged, mesh “Abarth” air intake, complemented by two additional air vents that integrate the fog lights. For improved efficiency, the traditional mustache also becomes an air intake to further cool the engine compartment. Ahead of the wheels, designers have integrated air extractors that help channel some of the airflow along the car’s sides. Beneath the central air intake, a body-colored blade (with a carbon option available) accentuates the overall design.

On these sides, the charm is less visible. Besides the standard 17-inch GranTurismo rims that give it more character, you can extend your wheel customization with two color choices for the wheel centers and three color options for the brake calipers. Personal note, the matte black finish of our test version doesn’t pair well with the body color Bleu Podio. Opt for a Titanium or alloy finish that would complement the chrome elements.

They number two, starting with the door handles and the satin chrome mirror caps, which are not available on the basic 595. On the lower part, the new design of the side skirts is simple and effective, and near the door handles, you’ll find the Abarth 595 logo’s reminder.

The hormone treatment returns to the rear section with the insertion of a large diffuser that incorporates the separate dual exhaust outlets. Like at the front, there is a body-colored blade integrated into the diffuser. The fog lights have been raised to make room for two discreet vertical vents. A spoiler above the rear window stabilizes the small sports car, with the distinctive 595 Turismo sign affixed to the right part of the tailgate.

Once on board

In the cabin, more elements from the FIAT 500 are found. Dashboard, instrumentation, the difference is initially in the steering wheel, which now has a floor and a chrome zero point at the top. Behind the steering wheel, there’s also a turbo pressure gauge mounted to the left of the main instrumentation. The center console includes an onboard computer with a 7-inch touchscreen, below which is the “Sport” button that, as its name suggests, allows you to toggle between normal driving mode and sport (more torque, better acceleration response, stiffer suspension, and steering).

The Abarth leather seats are comfortable and provide good longitudinal and lateral support, though be cautious if you’re tall or have a larger build as you may quickly outgrow the fit. On the sides, the design of the door trims is somewhat lacking, being simple and dull, only embellished with a chrome door handle. At the driver’s feet, there’s more cheerfulness with an alutex pedal set that offers a very appealing chrome carbon finish.

The choice of tradition in terms of engine options

At Abarth, everything is about lightness and performance, there’s no question of putting a large engine in a small car. The 1.2L engine of the FIAT 500 is swapped for a 1.4L with 1368cm3. This four-cylinder is assisted by a Garrett turbo (Turismo and Competizione versions) which allows it to develop 165hp. It may not compare to a GTI in terms of power, but the weight is also kept in check. The 1090kg (including a full tank) results in a weight-to-power ratio of 6.6kg/hp, which is always lower than a GTI, but the goal isn’t to reach those performance levels. The 595 Turismo goes from 0-100km/h in 7.3 seconds. In driving, this engine doesn’t lack resources and is eager to be pushed.

He climbs the pass in an Abarth 595 Turismo.

Once settled behind the wheel, deep in the leather seat, it’s time to start the little firecracker. A tip: leave the door open because the show begins as soon as you turn the key. With Abarth’s historical know-how, the work on the exhaust provides a raucous and aggressive sound that urges you to play with the accelerator again and again to make the Italian sing. But enough digression, it’s time to get going. Be careful when looking for the handbrake not to activate the seat adjustment control, as it falls more naturally under your hand.

In the city and traffic, the 595 Turismo adapts to driving conditions but doesn’t appreciate speed bumps. The firmness of the chassis and suspension isn’t overly bothersome, but if you forgot to disable the sport mode, your back will remind you very, very quickly. Of course, the better responsiveness of the accelerator, the firmness of the suspension, and the improved precision of the steering are addictive; however, save them for country roads.

It is on these sequences of tight curves and straight lines that the 595 expresses itself best. You downshift, enter the curve with ease and precision, and the generous torque of 230Nm (sport mode) propels you to the next turn. A rather frustrating detail if you decelerate too much, the engine shows little willingness once below 1800rpm.

In the ascent of the Col de Turini, the curves follow one after another and the little 1.4L seems to always want more when pushed to the limits. Remember to shift to fourth gear to give it a break. Unfortunately, the top of the pass comes too quickly and the fun session must end. It’s a shame, we would have loved to go all the way to Peïra Cava to continue enjoying this little city car in go-kart style.

Want to adopt it?

If you decide to acquire an Abarth 595 Turismo in 2019, it will be adorned on the side with a special 70th anniversary logo, normally reserved for the 595 badge. At the dealership, the entry price for the 595 Turismo is €23,190 with a manual transmission (+€1,500 for automatic) and the convertible version (BVM5) costs €25,190. The main options include the Pack+ (sunroof, rear parking sensors, rain and light sensors, hidden radio antenna) for €900, Xenon headlights with washer for €750, and for music lovers, the BeatsAudio System option with 480Watts speakers. Customization options are also available: paint, wheels, wheel center caps, brake calipers, Carbon Pack, Abarth Aesthetic Kit.

Available since 2017, this second generation of the 595 Turismo has already found its place in the used car market. Prices start around €18,000 with a notable presence of the automatic version (automated gearbox with paddle shifters). A large portion of the vehicles offered have low mileage, with some models even showing less than 1000 km on the odometer.