Ford Fiesta ST vs. Fiat 500 Abarth

Cars that are frugal, affordable, and easy to park don't have to be boring to drive. That's clearly the message that links the Ford Fiesta ST and the Fiat 500 Abarth subcompact hatchbacks. Both are sporty makeovers of existing models that seem to have had the in-house tuners working late into the night. And the results have given the unassuming-looking mini cars distinctively oversized personalities.

Of the two, the Fiesta ST is easily the more successful outcome. It was clearly developed by people who like driving. Even the most diehard enthusiasts at our test track were impressed with its handling, steering responsiveness, and sporty-sounding engine.

Agile handling, especially, is the Fiesta's strong suit, complemented by steering that has immediate and near-telepathic responsiveness. But there's much more. The 197-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine pulls strongly in just about any gear. The car's amazing braking performance is more reminiscent of a Corvette or Porsche than a small hatchback. And unlike some sporty cars, the ST doesn't beat you up with obnoxious noise levels; it emits an invigorating growl that's music to an enthusiast's ears.

Then there's the 500 Abarth. Yes, this pint-sized two-door car oozes with its own character, announcing its presence with a raucous exhaust note that barks, snarls, and pops with every gearshift. But it can't back up that sporty image with convincing performance or a particularly engaging driving experience.

The Abarth handles nimbly, with impressive tire grip, but its disappointingly vague steering robs it of the finesse and pinpoint accuracy of the Fiesta ST. Adding a turbocharger to the regular 500's normally lethargic 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine brings a welcome energy boost, but acceleration tapers off relatively quickly. And the Abarth can be rather taxing over the long term. The ride is extremely stiff, even to the point of making the car skittish in bumpy corners. There's a constant barrage of cabin noise, and the driving position is awkward. The rear seat is better suited for packages than for people. And, well, that exhaust note: After the novelty wears off, it's just plain loud, with the relentless noise becoming tiresome on longer drives.

As you might expect with these sporty cars, neither provides a comfortable ride. They are stiff and busy, even on seemingly smooth roads, although the Fiesta provides token isolation on bumps.

The Fiesta's spirited engine delivers instant throttle response. And both cars deliver good fuel economy: 29 mpg overall for the Fiesta ST and 28 for the Abarth. Still, we expected even more from the smaller Fiat. And both are slightly below the Mini Cooper S's 30 mpg. With either, you can only get a manual transmission, so plan on shifting yourself.

Inside, each car demands compromises. The Fiesta is a narrow car, so it might be tight for larger drivers. The interior finish is decent, and the attractive optional Recaro seats look cool. The seats hug you tightly in corners, but they're extremely confining for many drivers, who felt squeezed by the aggressive bolsters. So try before you buy.

The Fiesta ST has Ford's complicated MyFord Touch system, which can be cumbersome to use in even the best circumstances. In the ST, the touch screen is 6.5 inches, instead of the usual 8 inches, and it's mounted far from the driver. The smaller screen makes the already small fonts and tightly clustered buttons harder to use while driving, and having to operate them while stretching out your arm and being bounced around by the stiff suspension is especially tough going. You have a better chance of getting the response you want by using the voice controls.

The Abarth's controls aren't complicated, but they still leave plenty of room for improvement. The radio has no knobs, instead using push buttons for volume and tuning, which makes adjustments tedious. In addition, the confines of the narrow cabin and the lack of a telescoping steering wheel mean that the driver has to adapt to the 500, rather than the other way around. Sliding the seat forward to reach the wheel makes the pedals too close.

The bottom line? The Fiesta ST is a joy to drive, and zipping happily along a winding back road can make you forget about its few negatives. We just can't say the same about the Abarth. Moreover, the ST's four-door body style is more practical than the Fiat's two-door design. And the fact that the $24,985 Ford is also less expensive than the Fiat makes the comparison a no-brainer.

We can't recommend either car here because of insufficient reliability data. But it's worth noting that the conventional Fiesta and 500 have had well below average reliability.

Best versions to get. You don't get a lot of choices with the Fiesta ST, but the base car comes well-equipped. Unless you're comfortable in skinny jeans, you may want to bypass the confining $1,995 Recaro seats. If you choose the 500 Abarth, we'd skip loading on a lot of options, although we would get the $900 Comfort/Convenience group to add automatic climate control and heated front seats. The ST and Abarth come with a free day of professional instruction at a high-performance driving school, making them the least expensive cars to offer that perk.