Fiat turns back the clock with timeless 124 Spider

Millennials only know Fiats for cutesy little compacts that elicit fun more than exhilaration. Gen Xers remember a time when when the two were paired together in open-air form.

Welcome back, 124 Spider.

Fiat teamed with Mazda to revive the 124 and Pininfarina Spider nameplates after more than a three-decade absence and produce a rear-wheel drive roadster that all generations can appreciate. Sitting low to the ground with a prominent grille, smooth lines and rising rear end, the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider projects a true sports car image.

The only engine offered is a 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder. With 160 horsepower and 184 lbs.-ft. of torque, it is responsive enough and is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission for precise shifting. A 6-speed automatic transmission is an option.

There are three trims of the 124 Spider: Classico, the base format for $24,995; Lusso, which has pampering amenities and the automatic transmission for $27,495; and Abarth, which follows other Fiats with performance in mind at a price of $28,195.

Mazda’s contribution was providing the chassis, the same one it uses in its MX-5 Miata. Fiat took it from there, creating a car that is 5.5 inches longer than the Miata at just more than 13 feet. The anticipation of a road-hugging, crisp-handling ride is met with aplomb as the 124 Spider delivers what its image projects.

The two seats are cozy but supportive, which makes even long trips doable without having to peel yourself out of the cockpit. Interior materials are primarily plastic but don’t feel cheap. Lowering the soft top is quick and simple, even if it has to be done by hand as there is no power release. Perhaps the best part of the top being down is that the driver and passenger can still converse and don’t feel as if they are being windblown on the open road.

Don’t expect to haul much besides another passenger as there is only 4.9 cubic feet of space in the trunk.

If December seems like an odd time to write about a convertible in the Midwest, ask yourself — what would be a better holiday gift than a Fiat 124 Spider? Whatever your generation.

David Mikesell is a free-lance automotive reviewer based in Indianapolis.


2017 FIAT 124 SPIDER CLASSICA

  • Price/as-tested price………………… $24,995/$25,990
  • Mileage…………………………………… 26 mpg/city; 35 mpg/hwy
  • Engine……………………………………… 1.4-liter turbo 4-cylinder
  • Horsepower…………………………… 160 hp/184 lbs.-ft.
  • Transmission……………………………………… 6-speed manual
  • Drive wheels……………………………………… Rear-wheel drive
  • Final assembly point……………………………………… Hiroshima, Japan

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