Skip advert
Advertisement

Fiat 124 Spider review – The MX-5’s classier cousin? - MPG and running costs

The drop-top Italian posses a distinctly calmer persona than the Mazda that it shares its underpinnings with

Evo rating
RRP
from £21,050
  • A characterful cruiser
  • Lacks finesse when driven enthusiastically

MPG and running costs

While the engine itself is a Fiat unit, the remaining components are all Mazda, and built in the same factory as the MX-5 – so there’s no need to worry about stereotypical Italian reliability plaguing the 124 Spider – and servicing and repair costs should be reasonable too.

The Fiat returns a claimed 44.1mpg – again, a number that sits neatly in between the 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre models of the Mazda MX-5. The former returns 47.1mpg while the larger-engined car manages 40.9mpg. The slightly higher weight of the 124 Spider means you may spend a little more on consumables like tyres and brake pads over the MX-5, but the difference will be minimal.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The 124 Spider’s 148g/km will attract a first-year road tax bill of £200, followed thereafter by the standard rate of £140 a year.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

TVR: Why we think it’s all over
TVR Griffith
Opinion

TVR: Why we think it’s all over

There’s barely a flicker of life when it comes to TVR and the ‘new’ Griffith. We can only fear the worst
17 Jul 2025
Save £30k on a new Range Rover and buy a Renault 5 with the savings!
Range Rover
News

Save £30k on a new Range Rover and buy a Renault 5 with the savings!

Discounts on new Range Rovers are so big you could buy a new Renault 5 with the money you save…
15 Jul 2025
​Best hot hatchbacks 2025 – affordable new performance cars
Best hot hatchbacks 2025
Best cars

​Best hot hatchbacks 2025 – affordable new performance cars

Contracted though the hot hatch market may be, there are still some great models out there, from the electric Alpine A290 to the five-cylinder Audi RS…
14 Jul 2025