Based on the fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata, the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider differs from its Japanese counterpart in three ways: the badge, the engine, and the price. Especially the price, if I’m honest.
In Italy, the MX-5 with the 1.5-liter engine starts at €25,300. The 2.0 SkyActiv-G model, on the other hand, goes for €28,600. The all-new Fiat 124 Spider starts at €27,500. Indeed, the two-seater roadster is not cheap, but it’s definitely cheerful. If money is no object, then the 2017 Abarth 124 Spider is the sports car for you, starting at a mind-boggling €40,000.
To put that price into perspective, the Ford Mustang Fastback with the EcoBoost engine is €38,000 in Italy. When all is said and done, I say to each their own. In terms of get-up-and-go, the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider is powered by a 1.4-liter turbo with 138 HP (140 PS) and 177 (240 Nm) on tap. The Abarth 124 Spider ups the ante to 167 HP (170 PS) and 184 lb-ft (250 Nm) of torque, sufficient grunt for a car that tips the scales at 2,337 lbs (1,060 kg). By comparison, the Fiat variant of the Italian roadster weighs 2,315 lbs (1,050 kg).
Despite the fact that the exterior is heavily inspired by the 1966 Fiat 124 Spider, the cabin is unmistakably Mazda MX-5 Miata. That’s not a bad thing, though, because Mazda has a knack for great interiors. Available in eight different exterior colors (three-coat Ghiaccio White, Gelato White Passione Red, Vesuvio Black, Moda Grey, Magnetico Bronze, Argento Grey, Italia Blue), the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider doesn’t come with a touchscreen infotainment as standard. Even if you opt for the Lusso trim level, the seven-inch unit is still an option. If you want a rearview parking camera and 3D navigation, the Lusso is the one to go for.
The order books for either the Fiat or Abarth open later this month, with first deliveries slated to be made in the fourth quarter of the year. If it were your hard-earned cash on the line, would you spend it on the force-fed 124 Spider or the naturally aspirated MX-5 Miata? Tell us in the comments section below which of the two is your weapon of mass distraction and why would you choose it over the other two-seater roadster.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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