Category: Hot Hatchbacks 
Price Range: £8,700 to £13,605
Storming turbo performance, muscular looks, added traction from electronic diff.
Not cheap, flawed driving position, throttle response poor when not in 'sport' mode.
The most appealing warm hatch money can buy.
The Abarth's ride isn't as firm as you might expect, especially if you've sampled the rest of the 500 range. The suspension is still stiff, but manages to avoid the crashiness that is usually associated with short-wheelbase cars.
As well as standard seven airbags, ESP and e-diff, the 500 Abarth gets sports seats, a chunky flat-bottomed steering wheel, bodykit, aluminium pedals and Bluetooth hands-free. The absence of climate control (a £260 option) seems a bit stingy.
Customising your 500 Abarth can get very expensive. The options aren't too pricey on their own, but with all those stickers available they soon add up. We'd be tempted by upgrading to the far more attractive 17" wheel option (£175) for starters.
