Fiat 124 Spider Modern (2016-2024) Price Guide

The Fiat 124 Spider Modern of 2016 to 2024 revived one of the most celebrated Italian sports car nameplates using an unlikely but effective formula; the Mazda ND MX-5’s platform, body structure, suspension, and factory, combined with a Pininfarina-influenced nose and tail design and Fiat’s 1.4-litre MultiAir turbocharged engine. Built alongside the MX-5 at Mazda’s Hiroshima plant, it offered the MX-5’s exceptional chassis dynamics in more distinctive Italian clothing, with a different power character from the forced-induction four-cylinder.

The Car

The 1,368cc turbocharged MultiAir four-cylinder produced 140bhp in standard specification. This was slightly more than the MX-5’s naturally aspirated units but with a different delivery character. Peak torque of 240Nm arrives early and stays broad, giving the 124 Spider a more relaxed, effortless feel at low revs compared to the MX-5’s more revvy, naturally aspirated character. The six-speed manual gearbox is shared with the MX-5; the automatic was available but the manual is the specification to seek. The soft-top roof is manually operated. The 124 Spider’s body is longer, lower, and more formally proportioned than the MX-5, with a longer nose that accommodates the turbocharged engine differently and a tail treatment that references the original 1966 Spider’s fastback line.

What Goes Wrong

The MultiAir 1.4 turbo has been reliable in service; no significant endemic failures have emerged. The turbocharger and its oil supply should be checked on higher-mileage examples. The soft-top hood mechanism is straightforward but the rear window should be inspected for crazing on older cars. The Mazda-derived chassis components are well-supported through both the Fiat and Mazda specialist networks.

Buying

The Abarth remains the enthusiast’s choice; the Monza exhaust, Koni suspension, and 170bhp make it a noticeably more engaging car than the standard 124 Spider. The standard 140bhp car offers the MX-5’s chassis at a price that typically undercuts equivalent MX-5 specifications on the used market, making it genuinely good value. The Fiat 124 Spider is supported by both Fiat dealers and Mazda specialists for mechanical work, which is a practical advantage given the shared underpinnings.