Used Abarth 595 for sale: everything you need to know

The Abarth 595 is a hot take on the little Fiat 500 and is everything you’d expect from a compact hot hatch, with looks and performance to match.

It might have been around for a while now, but the Abarth 595 is still lots of fun and an appealing used car buy, whether you opt for a standard hatch or the convertible.

The little 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine provides plenty of excitement, especially if you plump for one of the beefier editions. Pick the cream of the crop, the Competizione or Esseesse versions and you’ll feel the difference with 180PS to play with offering a 0-60mph time of just 6.7 seconds.

Admittedly, this is tempered somewhat by the slightly rough and tumble ride and handling of the Abarth 595, but in many ways that’s what makes the package so appealing.

The Abarth 595 is also pretty limited on space, especially if you’re thinking of putting anything behind the front seats but if you can live with its shortcomings this is a dinky car that’s really got the fun factor packed in tight.

If you’re looking for an affordable used buy, there’s a huge amount of choice. Take a look at a Abarth 595 for sale on heycar to discover just what’s on offer. 

Should you buy a Abarth 595?

The Abarth 595 is small and, to many eyes, perfectly formed too, especially if you love compact sporty hatchbacks. It might not pack quite the same punch or driving appeal as something like the Volkswagen Up GTI, but for anyone with a penchant for Italian sports cars it certainly makes sense.

Don’t buy a used example of the Abarth 595 if you’re looking for a practical car though as space inside is limited, especially in the rear.

However, if you’re looking for some fun and maybe want a second car that provdes thrills where your daily driver doesn’t then a used model could well fit the bill. The Abarth 595 comes in various states of tune too, so there’s a version to suit all needs.

The Abarth 595 not for you? We've got 1000s of used cars for sale to suit all budgets and needs.

What’s the best used Abarth 595 model to buy?

Much as the sensible, rational decision here would be to opt for the least expensive model in the standard Abarth 595, we’re going to nail our colours to the mast and choose the all-out Abarth 595 Competizione. You'll have to find a used example, but there's normally plenty to choose from. 

This model is not quite as pricey as the Esseesse but it shares the same 180PS version of the 1.4-litre T-jet turbo petrol engine. As a result, you get all of the performance at a keener price and it also comes with the limited slip differential and superb sports front seats reserved for these two upper trims.

Choosing the Competizione also gains you improved rear suspension for better handling, bigger front brakes for sharper stopping power, and the Dual Mode Record Monza exhaust system with four tailpipes. In essence, this is the most outrageous version of the Abarth 595, so therefore the best.

Used Abarth 595 fuel economy and performance

The Abarth 595 is a lively little sports car, so to back it up there are some zesty engine variants that help provide it with plenty of get up and go. Most of this revolves around the 1.4-litre T-jet turbo petrol engine, of which there are three core variants.

• Abarth 595 1.4-litre T-jet turbo petrol: The most common option is this engine, which comes in three different tuning variants - 145PS, 165PS and 180PS mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. As an example, expect in the region of 42.8mpg official combined for the base edition with a figure of 43.5mpg for the 165PS.
• Abarth 595 1.4-litre T-jet turbo petrol: Get the Competizione and Esseesse models and the power is boosted to 180PS, which means 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds with a top speed of 135mph. Again, these feature a six-speed manual gearbox. The 1.8-litre should return around 42.2mpg.

What used Abarth 595 trim levels are available?

• The Abarth 595 base-level edition features 16-inch alloy wheels, satin chrome door handles, LED headlights, twin exhaust pipes and a honeycomb grille with Abarth logo.
• The Abarth 595 Convertible boasts rear parking sensors although you lose the hatchback while inside offers fabric upholstery and front sports seats. There’s a 5-inch Uconnect infotainment screen too.
• The Abarth 595 Pista variant adds 17-inch alloys, colour-coded door mirror caps, bumper inserts and brake calipers plus four exhaust pipes. Koni dampers for the rear suspension improve handling. Inside, there’s air conditioning, aluminium pedals and an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto mirroring for your smartphone.
• The Abarth 595 Turismo benefits from climate control, leather seats and rear parking sensors along with automatic lights and wipers.
• The Abarth 595 Competizione ramps things up a bit with special 17-inch alloy wheels, larger front disc brakes and a Record Monza exhaust system. Abarth Corsa racing front seats and Alcantara covering the instrument binnacle adds to the cockpit appeal.
• Top of the pile is the Abarth 595 Esseesse, which comes with white-painted 17-inch Supersport alloy wheels, Akrapovic performance exhaust, Abarth racing seats and carbon fibre detailing in the cabin.

Used Abarth 595 dimensions and boot size

The Abarth 595’s dimensions are:

• Length: 3657mm
• Width: 1893mm
• Height: 1485mm
• Ground clearance: 110mm

The Abarth 595’s boot size is:

• 185-litres

Used Abarth 595 road tax

Considering their sporty edge, all models of the Abarth 595 are taxed at not too bad £150 per year.

How much is it to insure a Abarth 595?

Anything with a sporty edge is likely to attract higher insurance premiums and the Abarth 595 falls into that scenario. Go for the basic model and you can make a little saving, bit it's still in group 29, much like the Ford Fiesta ST. The 165PS Pista and Turismo fall into the same group while likely most expeinsive options will be the 180PS Competizione and Esseesse variants, which sit in group 34.

Read our full Abarth 595 review