Road test: 2016 Fiat 124 Spider Lusso

The original Fiat 124 Spider was launched 50 years ago and became a bit of an icon. Is the new model destined for similarly great things?

Well, this time it’s based on the Mazda MX-5. Which is already a great thing.

Styling is personal, so you can make your own mind up on the 124’s looks. We’ll concentrate instead on the other differences between Fiat and Mazda.

These mark out the 124 as being for a less youthful, less hard-charging clientele. Its suspension is softer, its engine more relaxed… it even has more luggage space.

Not that you’d notice. The difference is tiny enough that in whatever real-world scenario you care to dream up, you’d struggle to see any at all. There’s not a lot of places to put stuff in the cabin, either, which is possibly a good thing as it’ll get blown about as soon as the roof comes down – yes, even with the deflector in operation. The seating position is pretty good, though.

So far, then, we’re not seeing any sort of significant difference. But once up and running, it’s all too apparent. The Fiat’s suspension is softer and comfort-orientated, and so too are its steering and throttle settings – with the result that it feels both weighty and wallowy compared to the razor-sharp MX-5. It soaks up uneven surfaces more effectively, but you want a sports car to feel accurate, nimble and, most of all, fun – and all are epithets you can apply to the 124 half-heartedly at best.

And what of the engine? A 1.4-litre unit with a turbo, it’s strong on flexibility in the middle of the rev range but doesn’t respond as well as either of the Mazda’s 1.5 and 2.0-litre units to having the throttle pinned. It’s quick enough to make you smile, but not to make you laugh out loud.