Abarth 595 vs Toyota Prius
What's the difference?

Abarth 595

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2018 price

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Toyota Prius

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2021 price

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Summary

2018 Abarth 595

2021 Toyota Prius

By Tim Robson

By Tom White

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 1.4L

Inline 4, 1.8L

Fuel Type

Unleaded Petrol

Unleaded Petrol/Electric

Fuel Efficiency

5.8L/100km (combined)

3.4L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Good engine/chassis combo
Surprising grip levels
Unusual

Seamless hybrid drive
Incredible fuel efficiency
Comfortable and spacious

Dislikes

Terrible driving position
Ride not great around town
No reversing camera

Polarising exterior
Dorky central instrument cluster
Not so engaging to drive

2018 Abarth 595 Summary

Since 1949, Abarth has been giving the venerable Italian brand, Fiat, a patina of performance, based largely on giant-killing feats in small modified cars like the Fiat 600 of the 1960s.

More recently, the brand has been revived to boost the fortunes of the smallest Fiat on sale in Australia. Known formally as the Abarth 595, the tiny hatch packs a bit of a surprise under its distinctive snout.

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2021 Toyota Prius Summary

What to say about the Toyota Prius in 2021? A car that was once a technology trailblazer seems now to have become properly retro, even while it’s still being built and sold.

The awkward-looking wedge, an eco-punk icon, not only brought Toyota’s hybrid synergy drive to the masses, it also debuted the brand’s excellent TNGA architecture and set the scene for the company's absurd hybrid success, which now sees the RAV4 version topping the sales charts.

So, after all these years (25 to be precise), is the Prius’s time finally over? Or does this quaint hybrid hero still have more to offer? I took a top-spec I-Tech for a week to find out.

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Deep dive comparison

2018 Abarth 595 2021 Toyota Prius

Verdict

It’s tough to be kind to the Abarth 595. Based on a platform that’s more than a decade old, the car has been left behind by its rivals in many ways, including basic ergonomics and its value equation.

The larger engine does work well in this smaller package, and its road-holding ability belies its size. However, only die-hard fans of the Abarth brand will be able to cope with the uncomfortable seating position and a complete lack of even the most perfunctory features that cars costing $10,000 less are able to offer.

Verdict

The Prius can rest its weary head. The Age of the Hybrid has begun. Even though this iconic eco car might have lost its ultimate purpose to more mainstream models in the last few years, it’s still the best execution of Toyota’s hybrid tech on the market and if you can look past its divisive-as-ever looks, it’s comfortable and practical, too.

The brand’s Australian division promises the Prius will stick around in one form or another, so we’re keen to see what its next iteration will look like. Plug-in? Fully electric? Time will tell.

Abarth 595 vs Toyota Prius What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Abarth 595 vs Toyota Prius
What's the difference?