Test drive: Fiat 124 Spider, a roadster with plenty of class

Among friends, in a bar or at any celebration where talking about cars is part of the fun, the same comment always comes up: nowadays all cars are pretty much alike. Driving a different car is always welcome, especially when it is a Fiat 124 Spider, which takes us to a way of driving and feeling that is far removed from what most others normally offer.

If you want a pure roadster, a different convertible that makes you feel every kilometre and is genuinely fun on the road, this Fiat 124 Spider that we tested today is an option worth considering. Under the bonnet it is available with the 1.4 Turbo petrol engine producing 140 CV, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox that lets us get the most out of a very performance-oriented engine.

Design: piccola macchina with an interior for two only

Outside, this 124 Spider does not go unnoticed. Its small roadster styling, with an imposing bonnet, draws attention wherever it goes. It shares many elements with the Mazda MX-5, although the Italian maker has wanted a differentiated front end, more elegant and traditional in style, as befits a good Italian car.

The black fabric soft top with manual opening, taking only seconds, completes the exterior look. If we feel like driving with the wind in our hair, we just have to stop for a minute, operate a small mechanism on the roof, push it back behind the seats and it locks into place in seconds.

Inside, we cannot say it is spacious, because it has only two seats and the room is rather tight, although this is part of its charm. The driving position is low, very low, with the central tunnel slightly raised, and the gear lever in a more than ideal position for enjoying yourself behind the wheel. The passenger seat is not notable for space either, and the central tunnel takes away some comfort (the gearbox sits right underneath).

And the luggage for a weekend away? This 124 Spider is not known for storage space. It has a huge glovebox between the two seats and a very small one in the central tunnel, while the boot is quite small, with a capacity of 140 litres, where a couple of hand luggage cases fit without problems (the kind that only fit on low-cost airlines or we would pay a fortune).

Engine and performance: 140 CV that go a long way

Another difference with its MX-5 sibling is the engine, running gear and gearbox. This Fiat 124 Spider hides under the bonnet a petrol unit well known to the Italian firm: the 1.4 Turbo producing 140 CV, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. It is a lively engine; you can feel the turbo when pushing from low revs.

The engine is not notable for smoothness but for punch, it climbs through the revs quickly and pulls almost without pause up to beyond 5,000 rpm, with 240 Nm of torque available from 2,200 rpm; even above 1,500 rpm the engine starts to wake up.

Thanks to the manual gearbox, with short throws and a correct feel with nothing more, we can cruise calmly at low revs or demand sportiness from the upper part of the rev counter, waking up each of the 140 CV, which at the wheel feel like more (the turbo adds to the sensation of forceful thrust). It is not smooth, but its strong point lies in the way it pushes, making us feel how we get the most out of every horse.

Handling: rear-wheel drive that is very fun but aims for comfort

The suspension of this 124 Spider does not aim to be excessively hard (that is what its Abarth version is for), but instead offers a good middle ground between comfort and efficiency. As soon as we get behind the wheel, the first thing we feel is simply everything, that is, the whole driving experience. Starting with its steering, with little assistance, through to the engine noise that filters in as we accelerate, or the feeling of the rear wheels pushing.

It is a car designed to be driven while enjoying the road, but without an excessively sporty feel, which shows on roads with bends, where although it is predictable, its rear-wheel drive and suspension make us keep a firm hand and be cautious.

On the road it is a comfortable car, which even on roads in poor condition or over speed bumps responds with comfort, while on the motorway it is not the best ally, since a lot of aerodynamic noise gets in.

Fuel consumption

On our usual route between Madrid > Nigrán > Madrid, the average consumption was 7.2 litres per 100 km, a figure that can drop if we drive on the road with some calm, reaching as low as 6.5 litres per 100 km. That said, the typical mixed consumption on the road is very close to 7 litres. In town consumption rises, as expected, to almost 10 litres per 100 km.

Equipment: few gimmicks and only what is necessary

In a car that aims to be enjoyed every metre behind the wheel, it does not need much technological equipment because that is not really what its driver is looking for, rather they want to enjoy driving. This 124 Spider Lusso has the essentials, with navigation system, cruise control, LED headlights with adaptive functions for all lighting functions, among other items.

That said, although the multimedia system fully fulfils its function, it is worth noting a speaker built into the driver’s seat, right where the headrest is, mainly used for Bluetooth calls, and with the audio system; this speaker system falls short for the 124 Spider’s segment.

Personal opinion and prices of the Fiat 124 Spider

Pure, fun and original. These are three adjectives that few cars meet, and fewer still if we are talking about a roadster under 30,000 euros, since the Fiat 124 Spider is available from 27,605 euros (excluding occasional discounts or promotions), and in the case of our test car with the Lusso trim it rises to 29,605 euros.

For those who want a fun car to feel the drive and offer something more than getting from one point to another, this 124 Spider is a very recommendable option. It is not as precise as some other sports cars, but it is very fun if you have a good hand on the wheel, and also very controllable thanks to its contained dimensions.

Photos | Diego G. Moreira