Outstanding condition throughout, excellent service history, new MoT, fully valeted, with huge specification including paddle-shift sequential semi-automatic transmission, air conditioning, electric windows and mirrors, 8-spoke 16” Abarth alloy wheels, Bluetooth infotainment unit, Sport mode and torque transfer control and much more! This is a fantastic opportunity to acquire one of the most-fun vehicles I’ve driven for some time, and in excellent condition!
In the details below, you’ll find full details of the specification, vehicle history, and a thoroughly detailed condition report.
Twenty-four large-format photos also below!
The Back Story
Everyone loves a small sporty Fiat – my very first car was a Fiat 127 Sport, which I just loved to drive. And Abarth are universally known for being bonkers – taking standard Fiat cars and turning them up to ‘11’. Just watch on You Tube Jeremy Clarkson’s assessment of Abarth (4th November 2024)…. I’m old enough to remember the original Abarth versions of the Fiat 600, so I’d always fancied trying out one of these newer Abarth 595s. I saw this one advertised for sale through the trade, so I snapped it up.
With just three former keepers, low mileage, full history, and in the best colour combination of black with black interior (just like my 127 Sport from the 1980s!), I wanted to give this a try!
Once I’d bought it, I wondered if I had made a mistake, buying a semi-automatic version. That was until I drove it… It is just a HOOT to drive! And the semi-automatic Tiptronic sequential gearbox, rather than being a hindrance, is a huge bonus!! Put it into Sport mode and drive the car on the paddle-shift, and the changes are almost instantaneous, without distracting you from the task of hammering the car into the next corner and whooping with fun! I love it. It even reminds me of the careless fun I used to have in my 127 Sport, forty years ago!
I’ve driven this car around for a little while, and every journey is an adventure. It sounds hugely purposeful, corners like it is on rails, handles like a go-cart, and accelerates like a bullet. My 92-year old mother learned to drive in an original Fiat 500, still owns a new-version 500, and even she insisted on being given a trip out in the Abarth, just to experience it!!
Although the ride is quite firm, it never feels harsh, and if you want to cruise around it is a comfortable place in which to do so. The seats are very supportive and comfy, there’s plenty of room in the cabin despite its small exterior size, there’s all the equipment that you could want, and the stereo is good too! Outside, the styling cues from the original Fiat 500 from the 1970s are still evocative, set-off by touches like the Abarth Scorpion logo on the wheel centres, the yellow-painted brake calipers, body kit, unique 16” alloy wheels and so on.
Abarth 595 Ownership in General
There aren’t many hot hatches left these days… but of those that are, the Abarth is a class-leader. It’s renowned for its driving style, road manners, and just sheer good fun. One reviewer online describes it as “a total funbox on wheels”… I couldn’t have put it better myself!
The Abarth 595 was introduced in 2012, following on from a sporty-version of the 500 which ran from 2008. This design was then facelifted several times (in 2013, 2015 and 2016) and so this version from 2017 is generally considered to be the “Series 4”. This brought revised styling to the lights, bumpers and to the interior with the upgraded infotainment unit.
As you might expect, motoring reviewers generally focus on the driving experience (and universally acknowledge it to be one of the best, most-fun things to do on four wheels), whilst grumbling about the hard ride (although I didn’t find it to be so) and small interior space. It’s all about the experience – and here you get to enjoy it without breaking the bank!
This example is the 595, which wrings 144bhp and 206NM torque out of its 1368cc four cylinder petrol injection turbo-charged engine. Handily, there is a boost gauge fixed to the dashboard so that you can see the effect of the turbo – it is limited to 0.8 bar in standard mode, but released up to 1.2 bar in Sport mode (when the exhaust is also opened up). In Sport mode, you can also call up the “G sensor” in the dashboard, and watch the effect of honing about on fast A-roads and back roads.
In practice, this means that the 0-60mph dash comes up in just over 7 secs, with a top speed of around 130mph. This is delivered through the 5-speed MTA gearbox (see “specification” below!), and whereas many cars feel like they aren’t as fast as the numbers suggest, in this case the reverse is true. The whole experience feels like you are flying along, even when you aren’t!
The Abarth treatment also brings the smart body-kit of side skirts, roof mounted spoiler, and sporty front and rear bumpers – all to complement the lowered suspension and wider wheels. It might look sporty and dynamic from the outside – but this car really has the ability to live up to that promise! That’s further enhanced by the Torque Transfer Control (TTC) button; this mimics a limited slip differential, transferring torque between the wheels in hard cornering and ensuring that the inner wheel doesn’t spin whilst adding more power to the outer wheel, preventing understeer. It just turns the fun factor up beyond 11, to maybe 12… or 13…
And when you’ve enjoyed all that sportiness, you can comfort yourself in the high equipment levels – cloth and alcantara seats, electric mirrors and windows, air conditioning, Bluetooth phone and audio, DAB radio, split-folding rear seats, front and rear foglamps, and glossy anthracite-painted 8-spoke alloy wheels.
A note of sense for a moment, so that you can convince everyone else who matters that this really is a sensible purchase:- it is Euro 6 compliant, ULEZ compliant, car tax is only £195 a year, and the combined fuel economy is 48.7mpg and a cold urban economy of 37.2mpg. There. All very sensible and justifiable.
Specification of this example
Let’s start with that gearbox. It’s a five-speed MTA box. Google AI is helpful here:- “MTA gearbox stands for Mechanical Transmission Automatized. The owner’s manual, somewhat amusingly, refers to it as “robotized sequential transmission”! It’s a type of automated manual transmission that uses electro-hydraulic actuators to control a standard manual gearbox and clutch, so the driver doesn’t need to operate the clutch pedal or shifter. This system provides either an automatic or a manual shift mode, often through paddle shifters, but is based on a traditional mechanical setup”
Ok – so what does that mean in practice? It’s essentially a five-speed manual gearbox, with an electrically operated clutch. You can put it in “automatic” mode, where it will change gears by itself, or you can leave it in “manual” mode and change them using the paddle shifters behind the steering wheel. These gearboxes are now commonplace, particularly in smaller cars. It’s a system that is particularly suited to smaller cars, as it is barely any physically bigger than a small manual box, only adds minimal additional weight, and can actually improve overall fuel consumption. That’s all a win-win. In this case, though, the biggest win is that changes become snap-sharp – no faffing about and taking hands off the steering wheel to change manually – and you’ll find yourself (as I did) changing up and down the box just for the fun of it. Let’s face it, all modern supercars use this sort of set-up these days, so to diss it as a “slushbox” is just not fair.
The downside is that this type of gearbox is not as smooth in automatic mode as a more traditional fluid-drive fully automatic box, particularly at slower speeds and when moving away from rest – in effect, the automation is having to lift off the acceleration, engage the clutch, change the gear, and re-apply the acceleration, just as you would have to in a manual car. Changes therefore become smoother once you understand this and work with it, lifting off a little when you feel the car is ready to change gear.
The paragraphs above tell you what to expect in terms of performance, roadholding and handling, so I won’t repeat them here. Best to come and experience it for yourself!
Equipment-wise, it’s got everything that you really need – electric front windows, electric mirrors, remote central locking, 16” alloy wheels, air conditioning, Torque Transfer Control, decent DAB stereo with Bluetooth and app compliance including Apple Car play and Android Auto, front and rear foglamps, trip computer, Sport driving mode, split folding rear seats, high-back front seats etc.
There’s also a whole host of safety features, including air bags all round, traction control, ISOFIX seat mounts to the outer two rear seats, seat belt pre-tensioners, ABS, electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), tyre-pressure monitoring system, immobilizer, locking wheel nuts etc.
This car’s condition
It’s immediately apparent that this Abarth has been well looked after. There’s plenty of stamps in the service book, and several receipts from specialist service providers to back them up. The paintwork is smooth and glossy, with no tree sap or bird lime damage, and there’s no kerbing scuffs to any of the wheels. There’s a tiny dent in the leading edge of the bonnet (might be caused by a stone or something that has been dropped onto it), and a few chips and light scratches as you would expect at this age and mileage, but there aren’t any scuffs, scrapes or dents. The whole car presents very well.
Inside is very smart throughout too – with no obvious wear to the seats. Everything works as it should.
The recorded mileage of just over 55,000 is warranted to be correct, and this is evidenced by both the MoT mileages recorded, and the servicing records which align to those mileages. The first owner is shown as having kept the car until October 2020, by which time it had recorded just over 10,000 miles. The second owner then took it on to March 2022, when it was sold through specialists Alpha & Yapps Garages of Cardiff with a recorded mileage of 26,465 miles. The third owner has kept it since then, before trading it in to a Citroen main agent, who I bought it from.
There’s a comprehensive service history recorded in the service book. This shows six services, with my mechanics having completed the last one when I bought the car into stock in June this year, with 55,339 miles. At that time we also replaced the rear brake pads. The previous servicing invoices with the car also show that the cambelt was replaced in January 2024 at 43,500 miles. There is also a substantial receipt from July 2023 at 38,600 miles, when the steering rack arms, steering box, front discs and pads, shock absorber and a complete set of tyres were replaced.
There’s an MoT history printout with the car, of which the only item of note is those steering rack arms which were advised in January 2023 and replaced in the July of that year. The current MoT has just been completed, on the 27th October 2025 at 55,590 miles and is valid through to the 26th October 2026.
As you would expect given this attention to maintenance, the Abarth goes, performs, steers, stops etc, just as you would want and expect it to do.
The Abarth has also been fully valeted and Experian Data Checked (like HPI) and is clear. The owner’s handbook is present, along with the service book and reference cards for the audio system and for the International Security Register. Like all our cars, the Abarth also comes with a 100-pt mechanical and functional inspection report.
The Motoring Press view
Parker’s Car Guide praises its handling and entertainment factor, and further comments:-
“The Abarth 595 is one of the few remaining small hot hatchbacks on the market.
It’s been around since 2008 and, over the past 16 years, Abarth has steadily refined the car’s formula with a series of incremental performance, handling and equipment upgrades to keep it competitive in its class.
Like the Fiat 500 on which it’s based, the Abarth 595 is very small car. Headroom in the front is good, but elbow room is a bit neat. Just keep your arms tucked in when driving spiritedly – if you’re too exuberant, you’ll bash them on the door cards. If you’re an adult, you’ll be quite uncomfortable in the back. Headroom is tight and the bench is rather narrow, so you’d better be on good terms with whoever you’re sharing it with. However, there’s a surprising amount of legroom. With the rear seats in place, there’s 185 litres of boot space. So don’t buy an Abarth if you regularly need to transport wardrobes. You can liberate a little more space by folding the rear seats flat. That increases the amount of storage space to 550 litres, which is pretty good considering the Abarth’s dinky dimensions.
Every Abarth 595 comes with a circular digital gauge cluster and a 7.0-inch infotainment system perched atop the dashboard. That almost sounds disappointing – but we found the Abarth’s screen rather refreshing. It doesn’t occupy as much of your field of view, which leaves more space in your vision for the road ahead.
Look, you don’t buy an Abarth 595 to be comfortable. You buy one because you enjoy driving. So we think it’s a little pointless to complain that the cabin isn’t as well-equipped as a Maybach’s and the seats are less squishy than a Range Rover’s. It’s a pocket-sized race car. It’s supposed to be uncomfortable. if you consider the front seats in isolation, they’re actually quite comfortable. They have a good amount of lumbar and lateral support, but they’re accommodating enough to give your head and arms full range of movement.
Abarth’s 1.4-litre four-cylinder is an excitable little engine that’s great fun to work hard. It delivers its power in quite an old-fashioned way – the turbo lays dormant until around 3,000rpm, before cramming all its boost down the engine’s gullet in one go and launching you at the horizon. There’s a very satisfying parp from the exhaust as the turbo comes on song, too.
What’s it like to drive? Hilarious. It lacks the finesse of the Ford Fiesta ST and Hyundai i20 N, but there’s something intoxicating about its brutish attitude. The 595’s steering is sharp and transmits plenty of feedback from the road to the wheel. The suspension is well-judged, too, being firm enough to keep the car flat when cornering but just soft enough to not batter your kidneys on the motorway. Every Abarth feels nimble and darty on a B-road. However, the car is always a little unsettled. It’s more difficult to adjust your line mid corner than it is in the Fiesta or the i20, while fast mid-corner bumps can make the chassis hop.
Every Abarth also comes with a clever cornering gadget called Torque Transfer Control (TTC). Basically, it’s a rudimentary torque vectoring system that brakes the inside wheel through corners to tighten the car’s line and help the driver carry more speed through turns. It works very well indeed but, like everything else about the Abarth driving experience, it’s rather thuggish in its delivery. If you’re a little too exuberant with the throttle, for example, you’ll spin both front wheels on your way out of a bend when the brakes release and allow all the engine’s torque to run rampant in the wheel arches. It’s enormous fun, but it’s also a sure-fire way to get your collar tugged by the local constabulary if you use it in the wrong place.
We’ve thoroughly tested the Abarth 595’s reliability – and we’re pleased to report there’s little to worry about.
Should you buy an Abarth 595?
If you want a hot hatchback that’ll set your pulse racing every time you get behind the wheel, then absolutely. The Ford Fiesta ST or Hyundai i20N offer a more composed driving experience, bigger boots, larger cabins and more comfortable driving positions. But we reckon it’s worth sacrificing those creature comforts for the excitement the Abarth 595 offers, especially if you’re only buying one as a weekend toy. It’s loud, brash and unsophisticated – and in today’s rapidly electrifying (and increasingly sterile) car market, the Abarth’s raw character is enough to give it an edge over its rivals. The Abarth 595 is a hoot to drive. It’s quick in a straight line, and entertaining in the corners. It also drips with character and is easily the most engaging car to drive in its class thanks to its complete lack of driver assistance technology and old-school mechanicals. You’ll struggle to get anything bigger than a weekend bag in the boot. But when it’s this fun to drive, who cares?!
In fact, if you’re a petrolhead looking for a more analogue experience, we think this is the best small hatch on sale for you.
Online reviewer Dedoimedo also summarized it well:-
A rowdy, sporty car with phenomenal handling, laser-sharp nose, precise steering, lively yet controllable read end, superb dynamics that go way beyond the pure technical data of acceleration and top speed, and finally, that sweet, sweet engine growl. Driving an Abarth isn’t about finesse. It’s about wild, illogical feelings.
Equipment and Features
> Finished in Carbon Black paintwork, with charcoal fabric and alcantara seats
> 1,368cc 4-cylinder turbocharged fuel-injection petrol engine, producing 144bhp and 206Nm torque
> 5-speed MTA Sequential Semi-automatic gearbox, with paddle-shift
> Electric power Assisted Steering (PAS)
> Manual air conditioning
> Fiat infotainment and multi-media system, DAB radio, full Bluetooth integration for phone and music, integrated apps, USB and aux input sockets, roof-mounted bee-sting aerial, steering-wheel mounted radio controls, and integrated anti-theft protection
> 8-spoke 16” alloy wheels, painted in anthracite gloss
> Switchable “Sport” driving mode including G-sensor display
> Electric front windows with one-touch operation to both windows
> Electrically adjustable door mirrors
> Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
> Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
> Electronic Stability Control (ESC) including switchable Torque Transfer Control (TTC)
> Tyre pressure monitoring system
> Remote control central locking, with one full remote key and one fixed-blade manual key
> Tinted windows
> Two rear seats, each fitted with 3-point seat belts and head restraints, and ISOFIX seat mountings
> 50/50 split rear seats
> Height adjustable steering wheel
> Driver’s, Front Passenger’s, and side airbags
> Front and rear fog lamps
> Daytime running lights
> Sport yellow-painted brake calipers
> Multifunction trip computer including mileage and time since reset, average mpg, current mpg, distance to empty, and average speed since reset
> Heated rear window
> Rear wash/wipe system
> Rear luggage cover
> Cigarette lighter
> Tailored front and rear floormats
> Twin cupholders
History and Documentation
> The current mileage is showing as 55,574 miles which is warranted as correct.
> The Abarth comes with its V5 registration document. It was first registered 30th June 2017 and transferred to its second keeper on the 21st October 2020. That owner then kept it until 30th March 2022 when it passed to its latest owner – so in total it has had three owners.
> The current MoT expires 26th October 2026. It was issued 25th October 2025 at 55,590 miles, with no advisory items. This MoT was completed earlier than it was due, to give a new MoT on sale of the car, rather than it being due in January 2026.
> An MoT history printout shows the following MoTs:-
11,651 miles; 21/10/2020 – no advisory items
26,490 miles; 22/01/2022 – no advisory items
34,010 miles; 13/01/2023 – advisory items for steering rack joints and a tyre defect
43,522 miles; 11/01/2024 – advisory for a cracked fog lamp, a chip to the windscreen and an excessively tinted window
52,899 miles; 10/01/2025 – no advisory items
> The car has been Experian Data Checked (similar to HPI), and the buyer will receive a copy of the report – which shows no problems
> The car has been serviced six times, recorded in the service book, and some additional servicing receipts as follows:-
5,648 miles; 01/04/2019 – Independent garage, service book stamp
10,947 miles; 20/09/2020 – Independent garage, service book stamp
26,490 miles; 20/03/2022 – Independent garage, service book stamp
34,010 miles; 13/01/2023 – Independent garage, service book stamp and receipt
38,674 miles; 14/07/2023 – Independent garage – steering rack arms; brake discs and pads; shock absorber, tyres – receipt
43,522 miles; 12/01/2024 – Independent garage – service and cambelt replacement, and spark plug replacement – service book stamp and receipt
44,577 miles; 15/02/2024 – Independent garage – wheel bearing replacement – receipt
55,339 miles; 12/06/2025 – Independent garage (my mechanics), service book stamp
> The owners handbook and service book are both present
Bodywork and Interior Condition
> As you can see from the photos, the bodywork is in excellent condition. The Carbon Black paintwork is smooth and glossy. There are no nasty scuffs, dents or rusty patches. There are just a few touched-in stone chips and some light scratches to evidence the mileage. There is a small mark to the leading edge of the bonnet – could be a stone chip or where something has been dropped onto it. The whole car presents very smartly.
> There is some minor deterioration to the Abarth badges
> The interior is equally in excellent condition, with no damage or wear to the seats
> Good condition floormats are fitted throughout.
Mechanical Condition and Wheels/Tyres
> The car has covered just over 55,000 miles. It goes very well indeed – and runs, steers, stops and goes round corners just as you would expect
> All the interior warning lights come on and go off as they should.
> The road wheels are eight-spoke 16” alloys. None has any kerbing damage. They are painted in high-gloss anthracite grey paintwork.
> The road tyres are all budget brand tyres, in 195/45 x16 size. The front tyres are a pair of ThunderUO9 tyres with between 5mm/6mm. The rear tyres are a pair of Rapid Eco819 tyres with between 4mm/5mm tread. There is no spare wheel as a tyre inflation kit is provided.
> The locking wheel nut key is present
Summary
Just wow – what a fabulous opportunity. I’ve been a car dealer for many many years now, and there are only a small handful of cars that I have really enjoyed driving to the extent that I wanted to go back out and drive them again – and this is one of them. It’s so evocative of the fun that I used to have 40-years ago in my 127 Sport – except that this is a whole lot faster! Yes, you have to make do without some creature comforts like cruise control, heated seats or parking sensors – but that’s not what this car is about. It’s all about the fun driving experience, and it delivers that in bucket-fulls.
It’s in the best colour combination, looks superb, it’s in great condition throughout, it has been serviced, had the cambelt replaced, low mileage, spotless Experian data check, and has a new MoT. What’s not to like?
If you have any questions, please mail me or call me on 07917-234897. Any inspection or accompanied test drive is welcomed by appointment.
A note about Warranties
We go to exceptional lengths to assure the mechanical condition of any car that we sell. Cars are generally much more reliable than was the case in the past – but they are ever increasing in complexity and should the unthinkable happen, repair costs can be high. Many buyers prefer us to keep the price of our cars low, so we do not include a mechanical breakdown warranty as standard. However, we are agents for the industry-leading warranty provider – Warranty Wise (Warranty Provider of the Year 2024 for the fourth year running!).
If you wish to do so, you can optionally purchase a comprehensive WarrantyWise top-spec Gold vehicle warranty for this Abarth 595, covering 100% of the repair cost on all major components, at labour rates of up to £75ph, at a cost of £275 for 6-months, £399 for 12-months, or £699 for 24-months. It will cover repair costs up to £3000 for any individual claim, and up to a combined maximum of the purchase cost of the vehicle.
Lower levels of warranty cover are available at lower cost if preferred.
Please click on “our services” above for more details.
