Skip advert
Advertisement

Fiat 124 Spider review – The MX-5’s classier cousin? - Engine and gearbox

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

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

Engine and gearbox

At low revs the engine can feel sluggish, and there’s no reward for wringing it out as there is in the MX-5. It’s obvious that this is a turbocharged car – there’s notable turbo lag, and power swells at different points in the rev range.

Get it above 2500rpm and into the boost zone, and the engine happily buzzes away keeping the Spider going at a decent pace. The turbo whistles and chirps and makes the 124 sounds like it's auditioning for a part in a Fast and Furious film. That might sounds hugely out of place, but it adds a degree of charm that most modern turbocharged four-cylinders are severely lacking.

Throttle response is also good, and the engine is free-revving enough to help make the most of the tightly-packed pedals when heel-and-toeing down the gears.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The transmission is the same great ‘box found in the MX-5, only it’s been beefed up slightly to cope with the extra torque the Fiat has to offer. It’s still one of the absolute best in the business, with its short throw and precise shift, but it doesn’t quite suit the 124 Spider’s laid-back character like it does the more energetic MX-5.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

The Nissan GT-R has been updated yet again for 2025
Nissan GT-R 2025 – front
News

The Nissan GT-R has been updated yet again for 2025

The R35 Nissan GT-R refuses to die – this latest version gets engine enhancements and subtle cosmetic tweaks
15 Mar 2024
MST Mk1 2024 review – £174,000 Ford Escort recreation driven
MST Mk1 Ford Escort
Reviews

MST Mk1 2024 review – £174,000 Ford Escort recreation driven

The MST Mk1 is a brand new, 50-year-old, road-going rally car. It looks the business, but does it deliver? Strap yourself in…
15 Mar 2024
Used car deals of the week
Main used car deals
Advice

Used car deals of the week

In this week's used car deals, we've sourced everything from the TVR Tuscan to the CLS63 Shooting Brake
15 Mar 2024