The colour combination of the car is just gorgeous.

I respect a guy that hasn't taken a jacket off in 8 years

Finally! An Abarth reviewer that actually understands the car. It's more expensive, less practical and not as comfortable as an ST but I still wouldn't have anything different. It sounds incredible, has great style and feels special, which is more than enough to make up for it. But let's be honest, people looking at an ST wouldn't look at a 595 or vice versa.

Abarth have a soul, a spirit, something more that you can't explain... it's a légend!

The Fiesta ST it's clearly the best, but the 695 have the looks, the sound and especially the mystic. It's one car that make us feeling special when we drive it. You can try Fiesta and the 695, and you will see that the driving experience it's totally different. Cars are not just papper values, and thats why people keep picking the 695 and the 500 abarths in generally instead of another hot hatchs.

The stripes on the back of this particular car are amazing looking. This riva edition looks great

I use to have a black and white 595 Competizione, 160 hp, Sabelt seats, record Monza exhaust. I miss this car almost every day, I had to sell it because I got my 3rd kid.. Would have kept it otheriwise! I took it on a roadtrip from Stockholm to Monaco. I maxxed it out on Autobahn and according to my Garmin GPS i topped out at 221kmh!! Wow! Took it so a track day and it was a blast. No other car, Fiesta ST can even compare caracter wise to the Abarth, faster, sure, but it looks like crap and the Abarth is like a fine italian Espresso machine. GREAT to look at, LOADS of caracter, people coming and asking things about the car etc etc. :D :D :D

This looks mega compared to the Ford Fiesta

Great review as always, love Alex and Henry's reviews!

Thank you so much to see you back regardless what car you’re presenting.

Great to see Alex back on the channel!

I respect a guy that hasn't taken a jacket off in 8 years it is the most fun car I have ever driven , full of character, if you can live with the hard ride daily have no qualms about buying one , you will not regret it .

I bought my 2016 595 Turismo just last week, it has an aftermarket exhaust (Magnetti Marelli Bombardone 2.0) on it. Good God, it's such a nice and joyful little car, I absolutely adore it, even though it has quite some issues as Alex pointed out!

Wholeheartedly agree with this review , good and bad points . Coming to the end of a 4 year term with a 595 Competizione , it is the most fun car I have ever driven , full of character, if you can live with the hard ride daily have no qualms about buying one , you will not regret it .

Good to see a reviewer that gets Abarth. It’s amazing how few do. I’ve driven the ST and read the reviews and wouldn’t have it, oh sure it’s very adjustable but that’s not the point of the Abarth (it just offers grip rather than adjustability, even better with LSD models or with the electronic TTC diff turned on on models without a full LSD). Yes the seating position is naff and ride is hard (better on models with the Koni FSDs) but you do get used to it. They are an utter blast to drive, the noise, the grip, the 2nd to 3rd gear pull so much fun.

I love the way it looks. That color combo...wow!!! Wish they sold the Riva here in the United States.

I’ve owned two, my first was a 2010 500 Abarth, my second was a 2016 180hp Comp...I’m seriously considering a third now haha. This 695 looks beautiful I love it. I love the wood veneer and with tan interior = heaven. What I’ve really been waiting for is a 6 speed box. Shame they haven’t got round to it, I was hoping the facelift would have seen the introduction of one but no luck. The 5 speed is a bit wearing on the motorway.

great to see U again Alex in Carfection, welcome back.... 😀😀😀

Thank god you're back mate.

Yes! Alex is back! Arguably one of the very few automotive journalists to rival the holy trinity.

Fantastic car, I have one myself. The manual version does 0-60 in 6.7s whereas the MTA version does 0-60 in 6.9s. As for the "175 hatches and 175 convertibles" this is for the Riva 175 anniversary edition only. The car in the video is a normal 695 Rivale where an unconfirmed amount will be made but it is said to be around 3000.

I have this car (hard top) and I'd say this is a really accurate review. Any pothole is a horrible experience, but overall I love it and don't see the Ford in the same company. I'm sure it's better; but, it's a completely different proposition. It's a lazy desire to categorise rather than seeing the clear distinction, and I'm not talking about the reviewer just our human desire to put everything into a box. For me, it's not Abarth or... it's simply whether Abarth or not (like someone says below, they got a third kid so couldn't any longer).

What a beautifully gorgeous car. The paint scheme and interior with the wooden dash option is magnificent. I'll pass on the boat but I sure want one of these models! :) I have a 2017 Abarth 500, and love it. The best part about it I think, is as you said, it is so affordable. Thanks for an honest and good looking video review.

Great review mate, VERY fair & honest. I absolutely LOVE my Abarth, YES... there is faster, better, cheaper.......whatever??? But, I've NEVER had so much 'fun' & with a few 'mods', I've not seen a tiny little car get SOO much attention. The Abarth owners club is FANTASTIC & going to Italian car shows is the greatest honour EVER. Just drive 1, YOU'LL see!!! Cheers!! Canada Carl!!!

*awesome video guys! Love it.*

Nailed it, Alex! Only missed the bit about the 695 XSR is the best hot hatch ever made...

Welcome back Alex!!! We missed you. 👊🏼 Would be great so see a hot hatch off.... ST vs 595 vs Cooper S

Sometimes I think what I’ll get after my Abarth... And I feel extremely sad and depressed. No one has the same character of this little beast!

Henry and Alex under one roof, the best combination ever!

Beautiful design. Great review.

I just got a 2018 595 base 145hp and it kept up with a fiesta st between 50-90 I was really surprised

Brilliant review

Love this car.

Good to see Alex back!

The interior of this car is just amazing.

better than fiesta...italian style 4ever

The sport button doesn’t affect the suspension or ride at all actually....

Great review Xcar

Really good review 👍

When Alex says comedy gear knob it reminded me of when James May comments about that comedy beer when he's camping with Oz. If you know what I mean, you'll get a laugh.

I have a 695 Rivale. It is full of character, lots of fun, feels really special and is also very versatile and practical. The downsides ? Some understandably scratchy plastics, hilarious torque steer (but that's part of the fun to be honest), and somewhat immature dash display graphics and animations. Very happy with the car.

Great review, thanks

OK we all know it is not the best hot hatch by most standards but the character, looks, noise and fun factor are unrivalled. Good to see Alex again.

i just like watching and listening to Alex haha, get back to combe do some track tests

I recently bought an Abarth 695 XSR, I own it for 3 months now and it gives me a smile every single day. It feels so special to drive and the exhaust sound (akrapovic) is crazy! So in love with this little thing and it looks so beautiful. It's a good purchase for those being young and still independent. But once you have a family, such car must be your second driver. It's not practical or a comfortable cruiser. But eitherway, you will never regret owning one!

welcome back, Alex Goi! :)

I always thought the 595 needed a bigger 6.95 litre engine. I love that Abarth still has logic to their model names!

I love the 500 I was so close to buying one but the condition on the one I was looking at was not up to scratch. But that full throttle 1-2 shift with that exhaust pop in between shifts all the crackles burbles and the way it feels while driving. This is the cheapest car that has flair and theater to the driving experience. Plus the dam thing is a LEGO set looks like a 45min job tops to pull the turbo. I agree with the seating position but I’m 6,1 and it was not a deal breaker to me the pedal was fine. I agree with the shifter feel. I wish I could get my hands on those brembos though those and enough mods to hit 200 whp and if I can find a nardo grey in good condition would be a treat.

This used to be my dream car and I still would take it.

I am so glad you are back in the mix Alex!

Still looks cute. I love it!

The Abarth has got some else

Drive a Abarth from 3 years ago and this will be perfection in comparison to the old model.

This guy should do all the car reviews 👍

Perfect if I was living on the Med & actually had the Riva to go with this Abarth! Oozes pizzaz!

That interior 😱

Good review that Shorty.

The best colour for an Abarth, was Modena Yellow. Unfortunately, Fiat have now discontinued that colour option, but the paint code, is identical to that provided by that other Italian company based in Maranello. A tiny Abarth 595 or 695 in Modena Yellow, SUPER COOL

i need this in the states...

The panda is the same with the pedal position - a bit wierd to start with but you do get used to it pretty quickly :)

Well, it looks good, not my favorite small car but still it is a good proposition for small sports hatch (pocket rocket) with some character. Nice Review.

now i have because why not stuck in my head

Does it come with air con because seen through glass's 695 didnt

It is so cute 😍😍

Did you get to try the Aston Cygnus? That should be very similar to this, but 10x more power

Subbed! excellent review, good job 👍

These cars are everywhere in Monaco.

The COOLEST / Nicest car a ever seen/ heard/ been in / want to own /, I am lucky( having 2 of my All time Dreamcars, But this one gave me a shock, its even nicer than ALL lucurycars ever built ( for me ) !!!! TK🇳🇴

Italian Sound 🔥

Love this car. Fiesta is not even close.

Yay alex is back :)

What brand is your leather jacket?

what a sound for a 1.4, sounds better than most 4cyl 2.0s

The sitting position on these are enough to make you hate driving

That’s the Alfa Giulietta engine isn’t it? Good motors those!

In the USA, MOPAR deleted the mufflers from the Abarth from day one, so Akrapovic exhaust (and all other exhaust kits) don't make much sense until you start really overboosting. Our 2013 Abarth 500 came with straight pipes after the turbo and the cat. I think they may have kept a muffler/silencer in Europe. Anyone know if that's still the case?

It's also a convertible. NONE OF it's rivals mentioned in the video are convertibles.

Perhaps Fiesta is more practical ect , BUT after 5-6 years instead of OLD fiesta ,one can still anjoy his eyes , looking at this italian GEM !!!! which will be NOT ,,face lifted " . For me it has a charm of OLD Italian clasics , this baby is for people ,,thinking "with their hart !

Going 140 mph in a fiat 500 would be the most silly fun thing ever

If you even dare to compare this Rivale against a fiesta, you have no ❤️

Whats the differenxe between Abarth and Fiat?

I would buy this

Affordable and, importantly. Small. Down a B road, a narrow car is king. Love a small hot hatch

Imagine this rivale spec on the 124 abarth

You get it

Beautiful car but yeah it falls short to the Fiesta in every single other area. By the way, I know it's almost the same car but I'd like to see a review of the Competizione.

Italy has fine roads honestly

Stop calling it an Abarth 500!!! It’s Abarth 595 or Abarth 695!!!

4:47 haha 😄

waittt did you call it an Acrapovic exhaust???

Ford Focus vs Abarth? Why pit these against each other, they serve two completely different audiences with entirely different self-perceptions. Cheese sandwich vs panino al formaggio (same thing, but sounds bland in English)

I realy realy realy missed you alex......im happy to you again.

The Abarth is the one. It's an upmarket thing. A designer label.

Is it more reliable then the fiat 500?

This is actual my car he is driving

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this car. Fiat should not give away its DNA for Jeep brand. I wish they still produced upgraded Bravo/Punto in EU. They were so much fun and practical.

Calling it a Fiesta is a damn insult for the piece of art that is the Abarth!

Henry Catchpole where are you?

Wow

The best hot gti is the 208 gti BPS. Please put this car on the top of the list and as the reference. Thank s