The Fiat 124 Spider is a glorious anomaly—a short-lived collaboration between Fiat and Mazda that gave us a fun-to-drive roadster that blended Italian design with Japanese engineering. And all for a fraction of the price of most sports cars.
Sold new between 2016 and 2020, the Fiat 124 Spider wasn’t around for long, so you may not be familiar with it. But you’re sure to know of—and maybe even have driven—a Mazda MX-5 Miata. Legendary for its simplicity, value, and pure driving appeal, it’s been one of the most popular affordable sports cars since it was launched back in 1989. Not everyone’s a fan of the Mazda’s cutesy looks, though, or its rather weedy engines. And that’s where the Fiat 124 Spider comes in, because it’s essentially a Miata with an Italian makeover and a bit more power.
How so? Well, when developing the fourth-generation MX-5 that was introduced in 2015, Mazda partnered with Fiat to share some of the cost. The two cars come from the same factory in Hiroshima, Japan, and share a large percentage of parts. Externally, the two cars use the same roof, windscreen, door mirrors, door handles, roll bars, and side repeaters. That’s all, though, and they even have different-shaped fuel filler flaps. Inside, they look more or less identical (no bad thing), and the Fiat shares the Mazda’s simple cloth roof with its manual folding mechanism. Unlike the Miata, the 124 Spider isn’t available with a folding metal roof (such as you get with the Miata RF).
While the rear-wheel-drive layout, wheelbase and basic chassis is the same for the two cars, the steering and suspension tuning are distinct to each model. The drivetrain is the biggest mechanical difference, though, because the 124 Spider has a Fiat ‘Multiair’ turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that gives more power and torque than the naturally aspirated engine in the Miata.
Introduced to the US in summer 2016 for the 2017 model year, the 124 Spider’s design was influenced by the model of the same name that was sold between 1966 and 1985. To most eyes, it’s a very successful blend of modern and retro elements that skillfully avoids looking like a Miata with some bits stuck on it. It’s about five inches longer than a Miata, and most of that is ahead of the front wheels but there’s also a bulkier rear end that means the 124 has more trunk space than its Japanese relative, along with a honeycomb grille.
As you might expect, the 124 Spider lineup didn’t change much during the short time it was on sale. The core 124 Spider trim levels were Classica, Lusso, and Abarth, with the latter a sportier variant with a touch more power and some aggressive styling details.
Our guide to the Fiat 124 Spider takes a look at its history, including which models are available, the best versions to buy, and how much you can expect to pay for one.
Fiat 124 Spider Buying Guide: Cost, Reliability, and the Best Years to Buy
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Fiat 124 Spider Pros and Cons
- Fiat 124 Spider Generations
- First Generation (2016-2020)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Fiat 124 Spider years are the best?
As is often the case, later versions of the Fiat 124 Spider tend to have fewer issues than the earlier models, although there’s not a huge variation considering that it was on sale for less than five years.
What are the worst Fiat 124 Spider years?
On the whole, the 124 Spider lives up to the promise of ‘Italian style, Japanese reliability’, which isn’t surprising, given that it shares so many parts with the Mazda MX-5 Miata. Earlier (2017/2018 model year cars) seem to suffer from more issues, though, with owners noting problems with malfunctioning alarms and faulty seat belt retractors. All model years were subject to an airbag recall.
Is a used Fiat 124 Spider a good deal?
A used Fiat 124 Spider could be a great option if you’re looking for a fun, affordable open-top car. Interior space is tight but it’s stylish and good to drive, and well worth considering if the Mazda MX-5 Miata just isn’t your thing.
Fiat 124 Spider Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Lots of fun to drive
- Affordable to buy and run
- Blends retro looks with modern tech
Cons:
- Small cabin
- Limited choice of models
- Noisy at speed
Fiat 124 Spider Generations
First Generation (2016-2020)
The return of the Fiat 124 nameplate in summer 2016 after a 30-year absence was something of a surprise, even if there was a precedent after the brand’s global success with the reborn Fiat 500 city car. The 124 Spider was something quite different, though, given that it was a car essentially developed by Mazda and built in Japan. Even so, the 124 Spider could claim to have an authentically Italian exterior and a Fiat engine under the hood.
Unsurprisingly, the 124 Spider’s marketing leaned heavily into its Italian background, with the first 124 examples coming in a limited-edition trim called Fiat 124 Spider Prima Edizione Lusso, which featured Azzurro Italia (blue) paintwork and premium leather upholstery.
The core trim levels throughout the car’s time on sale were Classica, Lusso, and Abarth. Classica supplied the basics and, at launch, kept the MSRP just below the $25,000 mark (excluding destination fee). Standard features included 16-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth connectivity, keyless entry, manual air conditioning, and fabric upholstery.
A $2,500 step up to Lusso trim added various cosmetic upgrades, as well as features such as automatic headlights and wipers, foglights, automatic climate control, SiriusXM radio, 17-inch alloy wheels, leather-trimmed/heated seats, a rear-view camera, and a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
The Fiat 124 Spider Abarth model was a $700 upgrade over the Lusso that gave the car a much sportier character. As well as bespoke front and rear fascias for a more aggressive look there were chassis tweaks, with Bilstein sport suspension, a mechanical limited-slip differential, a front strut tower bar, and a sports exhaust. The Abarth also gained a Sport Mode selector that altered the responses of the steering, the stability control, and the optional automatic gearbox. Oh, and you got an extra four horsepower with the Abarth, bumping output to 164 hp, but with the same 184 lb-ft of torque as other trim levels.
A six-speed manual transmission was standard for all versions, with a six-speed conventional automatic transmission available as an option (steering wheel paddle shifters were available for Abarth models only). Fuel economy was good for a sporty car, with an EPA rating of 26 mpg city/35 mpg highway with a manual transmission and 25 mpg city/36 mpg highway from the automatic.
Things stayed much the same throughout the 124 Spider’s time on sale. Option packages were tweaked and new exterior colors added, while a Red Top Edition version of the Lusso model (with a red fabric roof) was available during the 2018 model year. From the 2019 model year onwards, Classica trim gained the seven-inch infotainment display and the rear-view camera, while Abarth models were available with an optional Veleno Appearance pack that added red trim details. An Urbana Edition model based on Classic trim was also added for the 2019 model year, with extras including 17-inch alloy wheels, dark trim details and front fog lights.
Despite a very positive reaction to the car, the 124 Spider wasn’t a great sales success in the US, or worldwide. Production stopped in late 2020, with just over 41,000 produced in a run that spanned about four-and-a-half years.
As a new car, the 124 Spider was one of the most affordable sports cars/convertibles around and it remains good value as a used car. Prices for early 124 Spider Classica models start at about $11,000, while late, low-mileage Lusso or Abarth models can top $25,000.
With so many parts shared with the Mazda MX-5, you can expect decent reliability from a 124 Spider but there are a few things to watch out for. Owner reports from carcomplaints.com suggest that faulty alarms and non-retracting seat belts can be an issue, especially with early cars. A recall issued in late 2024 affected all 124 Spiders sold in the US. A faulty control module that can cause the airbags to deploy with excessive force in a collision was identified; the fix (reprogramming the module) is carried out for free at a dealership.
