Used 2020 Fiat 124 Spider for sale 

The 2020 Fiat 124 Spider, comes in 3 trims and can be paired with either a 6 Speed Manual or a 6 Speed Automatic Transmission, by paying $1,450 over the manual version. Features wise, the 3 trims- Classica, Urbana, and Lusso, don’t differ by big margins but owing to the name, the Lusso comes with some added luxuries when compared to the other two.

*2019 Model Year figures used for reference purposes

Which trim should you go for?

The Lusso trim with the manual transmission, couples the fun of driving a sports coupe with a stick shifter and the luxuries of a conventional sedan. Hence, we would strongly recommend you to go for the same.

The Fiat 124 Spider comes with a 1.4L Multi-Air Turbo Dual Intercooler Engine delivering 160HP and 184lb ft of torque coupled to a 6 speed Manual with a Short Throw Shifter or 6 speed Aisin Sourced Automatic Transmission. This 1.4L Unit from Fiat, sees itself being paired to an RWD configuration for the very 1st time in its lifetime. The Engine has the typical turbo-lag that we expect from Turbocharged motors but gets past the 2500rpm and you will get the boost that you expect from turbocharged motors. Refinement levels are decent until you don’t floor the gas pedal too hard and make for a comfortable ride, out on the motorway or on the city.

*2019 Model Year prices used for reference purposes 

Speaking of rivals, the Mini offers the most power and torque in this comparison. The Mazda comes in second but not by a big margin and is then followed by the VW Beetle. Sadly, the Fiat is the least powerful of the lot but for the size of the Motor, it’s decently powerful and we aren’t complaining about the same.

How fast is the Fiat 124 Spider?

While the 1.4L Turbocharged Motor may be small in displacement and size, it certainly isn't small in punch and character. The Lightweight Body of the Fiat, combined with the Turbocharger fitted in the motor, allows the Fiat to do the 60MPH dash in under 7 seconds. That’s pretty impressive, considering the size of this Car and the displacement of the engine. Out on the road, the turbo lag may rob you of some of the fun initially but get past the 2500rpm and you will best enjoy the Fiat on both the city and on the highway.

The Mazda MX-5 makes the best use of its big 2.0L Naturally aspirated motor and it’s lightweight body to good use and comes out as the fastest of the lot, as far as acceleration figures go. The Beetle’s surprisingly, comes second here, owing to its big turbocharged motor. The Fiat marginally loses out to the VW in this respect but by the smallest of margins. The Heft of the Mini takes a toll on its performance and makes it, the slowest in terms of the acceleration figures.

How fun is it to ride?

The near 50-50 weight distribution offers great handling and performance around corners and in the straight line with good stability. Also, the car feels planted at speeds around 50mph with the Top-down on cities as well as Highways.

The Handling of the Fiat has a typical Italian flair and handles perfectly. The cornering dynamics of the Fiat is superb and maintains good composure in a straight line at all speeds. The Double wishbone suspension on the Front and Multilink on the Rear ensures good ride quality in smooth roads as well as bumpy roads.

The Steering offers great feel and feedback and offers great confidence while driving. The Suspension in the Classica and Lusso have been tuned a bit softly as compared to the Abarth version so as to give a better everyday riding experience and a bit more comfort without compromising on the agility.

What about the Braking performance?

The Fiat takes just 111ft to come to a dead stop from 60MPH and this is one of the testimonials to the Fiat’s dynamic abilities. Fiat claims that this has been made possible, courtesy of the high-quality brakes and the lightweight of the 124 Spider. The Pedals offer a lot of engagement and feel communicative on application.

There is very little brake fade under heavy braking on both the cities and on the motorway and the 124, maintains a linear track under the heavy application.

The Mazda MX-5, manages to edge out the Fiat in the braking performance by the smallest of margins and that is attributed to the lower curb weight of the same. The VW Beetle has to suffer in this respect here as well, owing to its heft and braking abilities. We expect the Mini to slot itself between the Beetle and the Fiat, in terms of braking performance.

The Fiat being a lightweight car and sharing its underpinnings with the Mazda delivers good fuel efficiency (Miles Per Gallon) figures against its competitors with the best overall in class mileage figures of 30MPG. Couple that, to a 12-gallon fuel tank and you can traverse a distance of at least 300 miles in the Fiat. However, compared to its rivals, we expected a slightly bigger fuel tank but fiat says that the compromise has been made, owing to improvement in performance and dynamics.

The VW Beetle aces the Mileage test by offering the most range among its adversaries. The Mini here fails miserably owing to its average MPG figures and a small 11.6 Gallon fuel tank capacity. The Mazda and the Fiat have no separation between them but the Mazda loses out, owing to it’s naturally aspirated motor.

The seats are well bolstered and have been ergonomically designed to ensure a comfortable fit. You get a glove box in between the 2 front seats which can be locked. The Classica model offers Premium Black Cloth Seats and the Lusso offers Premium heated leather trimmed seats.

You also get Leather wrapped Steering Wheel for added premium feel from the Steering Wheel which can be adjusted only for Rake and not for Reach.

The legroom offered in the front is the Best in Class while the headroom may be an issue for passengers above 6ft but fine for most others. The shoulder room is also decent with respect to the competition as well. You also get Push Button Start and Keyless entry standard on all variants but the Lusso gets an Auto Climate Control which the Classica misses out on.

How practical is it on the Cargo front?

While convertibles are famed for their low cargo capacities, the 2020 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth is no exception as well. The Fiat manages to offer just 4.9 cu. ft. of space, courtesy of the convertible roof taking up the boot space. However, there are a decent number of cubby holes in the cabin, to keep hold of small water bottles or your coffee cups.

While the Fiat and the Mazda have the same cargo space, the Mini and the VW offer a slightly better cargo capacity than both of these cars. The Mini takes the overall lead in this respect and the VW marginally loses out to the same.

Does the Infotainment system pack a punch?

With modern-day cars, you would expect a Hi-Fi stereo and Audio system along with a fancy touchscreen system inside them. The same goes with the Fiat as well. Fiat is bundling a 7" touchscreen infotainment system with the new 124 Spider Abarth and packs in modern features like Sirius XM Satellite Radio, USB, Aux connectivity and a lot more. The Infotainment system, though not the slickest in the category, manages to just about get the job done and plays everything without much hassle.

• Piano Black Instrument Panel accents
• Multimedia Control Knob
• 7.0” Touchscreen Infotainment System with Fiat Connect 7.0
• 4 Speaker Music System AM/FM/SiriusXM Radio
• Bluetooth Connectivity and Integrated Voice Command
• Steering Wheel Mounted Audio Controls
• Pandora, Aha, Stitcher Apps

Interior Features on offer?

The 2020 Fiat 124 Spider, comes with a long list of features on the inside. Some of the highlights include the following few features.

• Heated Seats with Headrests
• AC with Automatic Temperature Control 
• Power Windows with One-Touch-Down feature
• Push Button Start
• Sport Leather Shift Knob with Manual Transmission
• Tilt adjust Electric Power steering

One of the big differences between the 124 Spider and the Mazda MX-5 Miata, comes on the design front. The 124, manages to exude a typical Italian design and blends in the form with features, perfectly well. The Exteriors of the Fiat 124 Spider oodles with Style and can be easily identifiable as an Italian Car. It has nice body lines on the hood and on the sides which gives the car a nice look. The Car has a manual soft-top which is super easy to operate and striking to look at as well.

The Fiat 124 is a pretty lightweight car owing to the fact that the underpinnings are shared with MX-5 Miata. However, Fiat has ensured that the Weight doesn’t compromise performance. The Dimensions of the Car looks like a typical sports car with a Big Bonnet, Character lines on the sides and on the hood just to give it a more aerodynamic feel and advantage.

The overall length of the car is 159.6in which isn’t compact in proportions but lends an advantage while driving around corners. The car has good weight distribution and has a curb weight of 2436lbs which makes the car feel planted at 3 digit speeds. The Short wheelbase, aids the dynamics of the Fiat as well.

Features to expect on the Outside?

Like the Interiors, you can expect a lot of features on the inside of the 2020 Fiat 124 Spider. Some of those include the following few

• 17” Gun Metallic Aluminum Alloys
• Bi-Function Projector Headlamps with DRL’s
• LED Taillights with Side Repeater Lamps
• Intermittent Windshield Wipers
• Powered Mirrors
• Dual Exhaust with Bright tips
• Headlamps with Turn-Off time delay

With a unanimous concern regarding the safety of occupants, manufacturers are upping their Safety game and making their cars safer than ever. The Fiat 124 Spider, is a sports car at heart but with features like Electric Power Steering, Multiple Airbags, Electronic Stability Control and more, you will feel safe inside the 124 Spider.

Standard safety features on offer

• Dual Stage Front airbags
• Enhanced Accident Response System
• ParkView Rear Backup Camera
• Supplemental Front Seat Side Airbags
• Tire Pressure Warning Lamp
• Rear Cross Path Detection
• Blind-Spot Monitoring System
• Electronic Stability Control
• Front Passenger Seat Belt Alert

Fiat 124 Spider vs Volkswagen Beetle

The Volkswagen Beetle, has been around for a while now and has aged well. The Beetle has been very well put together and now, offers a lot more value in terms of features and practicality than ever before. However, the Beetle feels more of a city hatch rather than an outright sports car. The Fiat on the other hand, is a proper Front engine, Rear wheel Drive car that wants to spice up your daily commutes. It may not be as practical as the VW but for what it offers, the Fiat is a goo purchase. If a practical convertible is what you desire, the VW will suit you best. However, if a convertible affordable sports car is what you are after, you sure can vest your money into the Fiat.

Fiat 124 Spider vs Mazda MX-5

The Mazda MX-5, is the world’s most selling sports car of all time and there are a multitude of reasons behind the same. The Mazda comes with a naturally aspirated motor, unlike the Fiat’s turbocharged unit and hence, feels slightly more engaging to drive. In terms of features and pricing, both are equally matched and have little to no differences between them. Choosing between the 2, again comes down to your preferences. If you want an Sports Car with an Italian Flair and grab eyeballs wherever you go, the 124 Spider is your vehicle. However, if a classic non nonsense sports car with the flair of a no nonsense motor is what you desire, just go for the Mazda.

In this hotly contested segment of Affordable Convertibles, very few cars have been able to make a mark on the segment. The Fiat 124 Spider, is one of those cars. In its short time of existence, this affordable roadster from the Italian Giant, has proven to be a good alternative to segment favorites like the Mazda MX-5 and the Mini Convertible. The Fiat feels peppy to drive, has a good set of features and is a reliable workhorse as well. So, if you are tired of seeing compact hatchbacks and crossovers in your neighborhood and want a convertible that will bring a smile to your face every time you take it for a drive, the 2020 Fiat 124 Spider is one such car that will solve this purpose of yours.