The 2017 Fiat 124 Spider has a lot in common with the Mazda MX-5 Miata, but there’s enough differences between the two when it comes to style and driving dynamics to separate the two.
Transcript
(car engine starting) As we learned on the auto show circuit this year, the Fiat 124 Spider looks good on a stage. But the real question, with this car, as with any sports car is how it does on the road.
We finally had a chance to get behind the wheel of it here in sunny San Diego. One of the things that I first noticed about the 124 Spider, is that the driving definitely backs up the looks. It's pretty fun to be behind the wheel. However, this is not a high performance sports car. I spent most of my day in the base trim of the 124 Spider, which was called the Classica. Now under the hood of that car, you'll find a turbocharged 1.4 liter four-cylinder, that it shares with the Fiat 500 Abarth. This engine produces more torque and a bit more horsepower than the engine you'll find in the Mazda Miata. However, it matches this car better because it has about a 100 pounds more of curb weight. Even though it doesn't offer world beating performance, this engine matches this car very well in many ways. People have for years been asking Mazda to throw a turbocharger into the Miata, and this is a sort of similar version to that. The extra torque definitely comes in handy when you're doing things like climbing steep grades. Now Fiat says it gave the 124 Spider unique suspension, steering, and transmission tuning from the Miata, and that really translates to a different kind of driving experience. The transmission is a bit easier to live with, thanks to a more forgiving clutch pedal and fill short throws that are easy to maneuver. The suspension is definitely a little bit softer, which means you get more body roll in the corners. However, it doesn't feel loose by any stretch. The big result though, is that it's more comfortable in everyday situations, like on the highway or on a commute to work. Overall, the 124 Spider is one of the most approachable sports cars I've ever driven. But, that's no slight. It excels as an everyday driver while still being a willing and able participant when you want to push it and have a bit more fun behind the wheel. (trunk thudding closed)
