2020 Fiat 124 Spider Trim Levels with Comparisons & Configurations.

The Fiat 124 Spider is a perfect example of a vehicle that's fun and exciting. As a two-seater roadster, the car is more designed for joy rides around town than it is for big adventures and long road trips. The Fiat would definitely appeal to people who are looking for something a bit different than the norm.

There are four trims of the Fiat 124 Spider. The base model is the Classica, the Abarth is the top-of-the-line trim, and the Urbana and Lusso sit right in the middle. All models have rear-wheel drive, which is the configuration that many high-end vehicles have because it leads to better balance. That balance, in turn, results in enhanced handling.

In addition to their shared drivetrain, all models of the Fiat run on the same engine. Under the hood of the car, there is a 1.4-liter MultiAir turbo engine that has an inline-four design. This engine is able to generate 160 horsepower in the first three trims. An extra four horsepower is generated by the engine on the Abarth due to some very slight differences. This engine is fairly efficient, as it gets up to 26 miles per gallon in the city and 35 miles per gallon on the highway.

The Fiat can either come with a manual or automatic transmission. Either version comes with six speeds, but note that the manual transmission is standard. The automatic transmission does come with paddle shifters to give drivers some more control over shifting. Those paddle shifters are mounted on the steering wheel to keep the drivers' hands where they should be.

It's clear upon first glance that the Fiat 124 Spider is quite compact. Leg room in the front can be up to 43.1 inches. Head room isn't that generous, at 37.4 inches, but remember that this vehicle is a convertible. Opening up the top gives people an amazing driving experience, with the open air all around them. With the top open, head room certainly isn't an issue. To make the cabin quieter when the roof is closed, the Fiat comes with an acoustic headliner that absorbs some of the sound and makes the ride more peaceful.

The vehicle weighs less than 2,500 pounds, which is less than almost any other type of car and a fraction of what large SUVs and trucks weigh. When the phrase "light on its feet" is used, this is literally the case with the Spider. The overall length of the car is just shy of 160 inches, and it's only 48.5 inches tall.

Trunk space on the Fiat isn't anything to get excited about, but this shouldn't deter too many people who are already considering the convertible. In the trunk, there is less than five cubic feet of space, so perhaps one or two bags could fit. Depending on who's sitting in the passenger seat, another bag could be stashed on the floor of the passenger side in case a couple is going away for the weekend.

 

Compare the 2020 Fiat 124 Spider Classica vs Urbana. What is the difference?

The Classica rides on 16-inch wheels that are silver aluminum, and the Urbana sits on 17-inch black diamond aluminum wheels. The Classica is the only model that has three-season performance tires versus a slightly more versatile performance tire designed for year-round usage.

An upgrade on the Urbana is that it has front fog lamps. The way these are designed makes it easier for the driver to see the road when there is poor visibility. Both models have daytime running headlamps, LED tail lamps, and bi-function projected headlamps.

At the rear of the car, the Classica has dual exhaust tips and the Urbana has dual bright exhaust tips. The Urbana also has piano black accents on the exterior and optional rear mud guards. Both models can be outfitted with rally stripes of various colors to add some flair.

Moving to the inside of the Fiat, there are many similarities and several differences to set these two trims apart. In terms of what they share, both trims have manually adjustable seats, standard air conditioning, a steering wheel wrapped in leather, and push-button start.

The accents on the Classica are silver, which contrasts with the matte gray accents on the Urbana. Other differences are that the Urbana has a wrapped instrument panel and leather/microfiber seats. Seats in the Classica are trimmed with premium cloth, which is nice but not as sophisticated as other materials.

Infotainment is an important aspect of what modern vehicles have to offer. The 2020 Fiat 124 Spider has a seven-inch display as a standard feature, in addition to having four speakers and Pandora, Stitcher, and Aha radio. SiriusXM Satellite Radio is included with the car starting at the Urbana level. With Bluetooth, phones can be wirelessly connected to the infotainment system, and certain voice commands are accepted.

Like the higher models, the Classica and Urbana have a ParkView back-up camera to provide drivers with a better view of what's behind them while they're backing up. Other safety features are airbags, electronic stability control, and a tire pressure monitoring system.

Compare the 2020 Fiat 124 Spider Urbana vs Lusso. What is the difference?

There are some notable ways in which the Lusso has been upgraded over the Urbana. On the exterior of the car, the Lusso has automatic headlamps. This can be considered both a safety and convenience feature since they turn on automatically in dark or dim conditions. Similarly, the the Lusso has rain-sensing wipers that can turn on automatically.

The remaining safety components on the two trims are mostly the same. There is one exception, though it's only a cosmetic difference. While the lower two trims have a black rollbar cover that can protect passengers in case of an accident, the Lusso has a premium silver rollbar cover.

These distinctions just mentioned may seem minor, but there are more significant changes inside the cabin. What many people will notice right away about the Lusso trim is that it has leather seats. These seats are heated, which can really improve comfort on chilly days. Also, the Lusso has automatic temperature control to make the system more precise and easy to use. Just like the Classica and Urbana trims had different colors for their interior accents, so does the Lusso, which has piano black accents.

At the Lusso level, more options are available. Consumers can opt to get a Convenience package or a Navigation/Sound package. The Convenience package comes with features like heated exterior mirrors that can automatically dim when bright lights are detected, blind spot monitoring, and a park assist system that warns people when they're getting too close to other objects. The other package upgrades the infotainment system to have eight Bose speakers and a subwoofer as well as GPS navigation.

One more option on the Lusso trim is the Visibility package. This package comes with adaptive front headlamps that can adjust their angle depending on the direction and angle of the car, LED daytime running lamps, and LED headlamps. A bonus feature that's included with the package are small washers that can clean the headlamps.

Compare the 2020 Fiat 124 Spider Lusso vs Abarth. What is the difference?

While the Lusso has premium silver aluminum wheels that measure 17 inches, the Abarth has the same-size wheels that feature a gun metallic finish. This gives them a more luxurious look and fits with the other stylistic elements that are seen in the Abarth.

The Abarth has leather and microfiber sport seats. Available on only the Abarth are leather sport seats and Recaro leather/Alcantara sport seats. Having these options gives people more to think about and allows them to customize their cars. This customization may be something that people prepared to pay a premium price are looking for.

Since the Abarth has those tweaks to its engine that gives it a little more horsepower, its speedometer goes up to 160 miles per hour instead of 150 miles per hour, as seen on the other trims. A sport instrument cluster and sport mode selector are exclusively found on the Abarth. The instrument cluster is mostly similar to the traditional version, except it has a bright red tachometer. The sport mode selector lets drivers make some modifications to how they drive in order to optimize performance in different situations.

Going along with a sportier vibe on the Abarth are other design elements. It's the only trim to have bright pedals, a mirror cap and rollbar cover that have a gun metallic finish, and a sport steering wheel. Having that design means that the steering wheel has a flat bottom and more precise handling, similar to what you might find in a performance sports car tuned for the race track.

What further sets the Abarth apart from the Lusso are what's included under the hood. The Abarth is the only trim to come with a sport version of an engine cover and the option to upgrade to Brembo disc performance brakes that are more responsive and durable. If this option isn't selected, the Abarth would come with four-wheel anti-lock brakes like the other trims have.

In addition, the Abarth is the trim to get if anyone is looking for better traction. It has a limited slip differential and rear axle, which works to keep the two rear wheels rotating at the same speed. Also, the Abarth has a performance versus a touring suspension system, and the upgraded suspension has a front strut tower brace for better support. This brace keeps things stiff and reduces the flex generated when the car is taking tight corners.

More options are available on the Abarth when compared with the Lusso. If the Abarth is equipped with the Veleno appearance package, it'll have more elegant floor mats, a bright dead pedal to match the gas and brake pedals, a red mirror cap, and a red lower lip to the fascia. The Abarth can also have a scorpion stripe in either black or red or a hand-painted heritage racing stripe.

 

Which Trim to Choose?

When choosing what 2020 Fiat 124 Spider is best, one would have to consider what features are most important. If a slight improvement in performance is desired, then the Abarth becomes the only trim to choose. It has some different mechanical elements that make its handling superior over the other trims, but honestly, the margins are quite slim.

As one looks at the interior of the car, the seating material has to be considered. Premium cloth will be sufficient for most customers, but there may be some who prefer leather, since it has a more high-end feel. The heated seats in the top two trims would be another factor to take into consideration.

If sophistication is what a driver prefers, the Lusso would come out as the winner. It has several interior upgrades as well as the option to have navigation and a premium sound system, and overall, it feels more like a luxury car than the lower models. While it doesn't have the performance elements of the Abarth, these might not be necessary.

Some people might not feel the need to fork out more money for aesthetic details and advanced technology, and if this is the case, there's no question that the entry-level Classica would come out as the winner. Its standard features are still impressive, as it has a seven-inch touchscreen and a back-up camera. What probably matters most to people interested in the Fiat 124 Spider is its convertible design, and the Classica does the job just fine.