So, 2017 ushered in the remake of the Mazda MX-5 Miata with the FIAT 124 Spider thanks to a joint production agreement with Fiat and Mazda. Tagged “a true sports” car, the FIAT 124 Spiders pays homage to its European racing heritage with its attractive Italian styling highlighting its beautiful interior design.
The 124 Spider is fun to drive, as it is equipped with a 160-hp turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers enough power for this sporty ride. As soon as you place your foot on the gas, it’s easy to feel that this is the most powerful four-cylinder in its class. It gets great fuel economy with an estimated 29 MPG combined city and highway — an average of 25 city and 36 highway.
The 2017 FIAT is offered in three trims: the base Classica starting at $24,995, the upgraded Lusso starts at $27,495 and the powerful and sportiest Abarth starts at $28,195. Our tested model, the Lusso included the Customer Preferred Package 22S with heated seats, leather upholstery, rain-sensing wipers, automatic climate control and 9 Bose speakers including subwoofers. If you prefer the loud exhaust with the bad-boy stripes, the Abarth trim is the one for you. It includes a six-speed manual transmission, limited-slip differential, sport suspension, and quad-outlet exhaust.
Each trim includes the exterior paint options of the Bianco Gelato White, Grigio Argento Alumimun, Bianco Peral Tri-Coat White, Nero Cinema Jet Black, Grigio Moda Meteor Grey, Bronzo Magnetico Titanium, and the Rosso Red.
The exterior of the 124 Spider is a little longer than the Miata, but it is still one of the smallest cars on the highway. I found the manual soft-top extremely easy to stow, which made the drive more enjoyable.
Named the Best New Convertible of 2017 by cars.com, the 2017 FIAT 124 Spider should be at the top of your list if you are in the market for an affordable, good-looking sports car.
See pictures below.
