Hatchback Reviews

Opel Corsa. To the average person in the street it’s just another new brand and model adding to the vast choice of cars available to Aussie car buyers.But, as car enthusiasts will already know, Opel is not only one of the world’s oldest carmakers, but has effectively been sold in Australia for more than 30 years disguised behind our best know brand, Holden. Corsa was sold between 1994 and 2005 as the Holden Barina, arguably our best-known small car nameplate.Holden’s decision to source most of its small to medium vehicles from GM Korea (formerly Daewoo) has opened up the opportunity for Opel to sell cars here in its own right. As well as the Corsa it released the small-medium Astra and the medium Insignia sedan.Though Opel’s corporate headquarters is located within Holden’s Melbourne head office, Opel is keen to sell itself as a semi-prestige Euro brand. To this end it has adopted a similar approach to Audi and Volkswagen by using a German slogan, “Wir Leben Autos” (We Love Cars).VALUEThe current Opel Corsa is the next generation on from the Corsa / Barina that was removed from the Australian market in 2005. It’s been around since 2006 albeit with regular facelifts to keep it up to date, with the next generation model not due until 2014.Price and looks are the two biggest factors in the youth-dominated small hatch market and Corsa’s styling is neat and contemporary with wide headlamps and grille, dipping roofline and a wide, square stance.While it doesn’t stand out from its crowd of competitors in appearance it does stand out in terms of price, but for the wrong reasons - it’s between $2000 and $3000 dearer than its main rivals.Opel has targeted Volkswagen as its main competitor and the 1.4-litre Polo sells for $2000 less than the Corsa.Although Opel Corsa is available as a three-door hatch ($16,990 with manual transmission) most buyers are now looking for the convenience of rear doors. The manual Opel Enjoy 1.4-litre five-door is priced at $18,990, three grand more than the South Korean sourced 1.6-litre Barina CD manual.There are three variants, the entry-level three-door model just called Corsa, three-door Corsa Colour Edition and the five-door Corsa Enjoy.Corsa comes well-equipped with all models getting six airbags, electronic stability control, daytime running lights, rear foglamp, Bluetooth connectivity (phone only, but with voice control), USB and auxiliary sockets and steering wheel mounted audio controls.There’s a $750 Sport Pack that increases the alloy wheels to 17 inches and in gloss black and lowered suspension.The dressed-up Colour Edition variant adds front foglamps, body-coloured door handles, gloss black painted roof and exterior mirror housing, sports alloy pedals, an extended colour range together with 16-inch alloy wheels (the standard Corsa has 15-inch steels). As well as the extra two doors the Corsa Enjoy gets leather-bound steering wheel, front foglamps, FlexFloor removable boot floor that provides secure storage below the floor.The latter test car was an automatic five-door Corsa Enjoy, likely to be the biggest seller although with the optional $1250 Technology Package included it’s going to cost around $25,000 to drive it away from the showroom.TECHNOLOGYAll are powered by a naturally-aspirated 1.4-litre 74 kW / 130 Nm petrol engine mated to a five-speed manual, with four-speed automatic transmission in the Colour Edition and Enjoy only.DESIGNThere’s good interior space with no headroom problems and a pair of adults can fit with reasonable comfort in the rear seats. The seats are firm and supportive with side bolsters that were a bit too tight for the wider buttocked road tester, but will be ideal for its typical (20-something) buyer.The boot takes up to 285 litres with the rear seatbacks (split 60/40) upright, extending to 700 litres when they’re folded.DRIVINGWe’ve been able to test drive Corsa on a variety of conditions, initially on the rural-based press launch program and more recently in more relevant urban conditions during our week-long extended test.Corsa is nicely balanced with safe and predictable handling. There’s a semi-sporting feel to the steering and the ride is surprisingly comfortable for such a small car. We were impressed by how well the suspension reacted to several unexpected potholes reflecting the car’s European background.The 1.4-litre engine is capable enough in the suburban environment and on the freeway but struggled in hilly conditions where we often had to use the manual override to drop down to lower gears. We’d certainly recommend a manual gearbox if you live in hilly terrain as this will overcome the inherent power losses of an automatic.VERDICTIt’s too early to tell if GM’s Australian Opel experiment, especially its pricing structure, will be successful but sales in the first three months have been modest to say the least. This could be from the normal hesitancy of buyers in accepting a ‘new’ brand or it could be because of that ‘Euro surcharge’.Opel CorsaPrice: from $18,990 (manual) and $20,990 (auto)Warranty: Three years/100,000kmResale: N/AEngine: 1.4-litre four cylinder, 74kW/130NmTransmission: Five-speed manual, four-speed auto; FWDSafety: Six airbags, ABS, ESC, TCCrash rating: Five starsBody: 3999mm (L), 1944mm (W), 1488mm (H)Weight: 1092kg (manual) 1077kg (auto)Thirst: 5.8L/100km, 136g/km CO2 (manual; 6.3L/100m 145g/km CO2 (auto)

It’s one of the most common questions we get asked: what are those Chinese cars like? Unfortunately the answer isn’t straightforward because the quality varies between brands – and individual vehicles within each brand. But, as a rough guide, some are definitely better than others.The Chery J1 hatch made headlines a couple of weeks ago when its price dropped to $9990 drive-away – the cheapest new car in Australia since the Polish-built Fiat-derived Niki of the early 1990s. Lost in the hype was its bigger older sibling, the Chery J3, whose price was also trimmed, to $12,990 drive-away. It’s about the size of a Ford Focus (you may even seen hints of the design from the previous model), so you’re getting a bigger car for the same money as the runabouts from Suzuki, Nissan and Mitsubishi.Chery is China’s largest independent car manufacturer but it has been slow to gain a foothold in Australia, unlike its compatriot Great Wall, which has made good headway with its ute and SUV range over the past three years. But the Australian distributor hopes to breath new life into the Chery line-up and find more homes for its cars having trimmed its prices to match the heavy discounting of the mainstream brands.The Chery J3 offers a lot of metal and equipment for the money. It’s almost Toyota Corolla-size but is priced down with the tiny-tots. Standard fare includes six-airbags, leather upholstery, steering wheel audio controls, rear parking sensors and 16-inch alloy wheels. The passenger’s vanity mirror gets a light (hey, every little thing counts), and the flick-key appears to have been modeled on a Volkswagen’s (although, annoyingly, it has only one button to lock and unlock the car, so you’re never quite sure if the car is locked until you check the door handle).Value, however, is an interesting term. The buying price is sharp: $12,990 drive-away equates to about $10,000 before on-road costs are added. And metallic paint (three of the four colours available) adds $350 (not $550 as it is on a Holden Barina, and $495 as it is on many other mainstream brands). But we know from recent experience that Chinese cars also have weak resale values – and depreciation is the single biggest cost of car ownership after buying the vehicle in the first place.For example, a $12,990 Suzuki, Nissan or Mitsubishi would be worth more in three years than a $12,990 Chery – and there would be a greater demand on the used-car market for the well-known brands.The Chery J3 is fairly basic on the technology front – it doesn’t even get Bluetooth – but we did spot one cool gadget. The rear sensors have a display in the instruments (near the odometer)s with a countdown in centimetres how close you are to the car behind.The cabin is roomy and the boot is massive. The back seats fold down to create an even larger cargo area. The leather seems to be of a fair quality and a comfortable design. There are child restraint anchor point on the 60:40 split rear seat backs. All buttons and dials are logically placed and easy to use. Unlike some other cars from emerging brands, most switches and controls don’t feel stiff or clumsy in the J3. Annoyingly, though, there is no reach adjustment on the steering wheel, only tilt.There is a clever hidden cubby near the top of the dashboard – and a neat sliding drawer in the middle of it – but the side pockets and the centre console are a bit too slim, and the cup holders are small for our tastes. The sound quality from the six-speaker audio system was good (bordering on above average), but the radio reception both AM and FM was patchy. At least you get steering wheel audio controls. The air-conditioning worked fine, although the vents are on the small side; I’d be curious to know how well it handled last week’s 46-degree heatwave.The Chery J3 comes with six airbags, the first Chinese-branded car on sale in Australia to do so. But this does not automatically equate to a five-star ANCAP safety rating. Chery says internal testing has shown the J3 is capable of a four-star rating but it loses a star for its lack of stability control (which is due to be added mid-year when the CVT auto arrives).Any speculation about an ANCAP star rating is unwise, however, because we won’t know for sure how it performs in a crash until the independent auditor smacks one against a wall later in the year. We should point out that the Chery J3 meets and/or exceeds the Federal Government’s safety regulations, but those regulations are a much lower benchmark than global standards.But the J3 (and the J1) cannot be sold in Victoria because it does not yet have stability control (which can prevent a skid in a corner and is said to be the next big advancement in saving lives since the seatbelt). It has been common on almost all new cars for several years but is due to be added in June when the CVT automatic arrives.Here’s the most surprising part: the Chery J3 actually drives quite well. In fact, I’d venture to say it feels like the most complete Chinese car I’ve driven to date. That’s not damning it with faint praise, but it does come with a few qualifications. The 1.6-litre is a little breathless and needs to be revved to really get moving. And although the engine itself is quite smooth and refined, Chery is yet to master the craft of noise deadening, so you hear more of the engine’s goings-on that you do in other cars.Despite insisting on premium unleaded (the minimum requirement according to the label is 93 octane, which means you’re obliged to use 95 octane in Australia) it’s rather thirsty (8.9L/100km). So one of the cheapest cars on the market requires the expensive fuel. Hmmm. The five-speed manual gearshift was basic but normal, as was the clutch action, and the steering feel was more than adequate for this type of car. What impressed me most, however, was the ride comfort and relatively good control from the suspension and 16-inch Maxxis tyres. It’s not going to out-maneuver a Ferrari (or a Mazda 3 for that matter), but it will serve most people’s needs.

Kia has pumped up the bass and swaggered onto the back streets. The Soul is a quirky, tough looking vehicle, the kind you’d want to back you in a fight...when you don’t have enough money or sense of shame to drive a Hummer.The Kia Soul...well, we hate to be redundant, but that’s exactly what it has. Affordable and attractive, it has tons of character and a self-assured drive that will appeal especially to the younger market.PRICE AND EQUIPMENTThe diesel, automatic Soul + rocks up at $29,990, including 18-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, multi-function trip computer, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and cruise controls, ABS, ESC, VSM, iPod compatibility, Bluetooth, six speakers, speed dependant volume control, and a fun little power bass.TECHNOLOGYThe six-speed automatic, 1.6-litre diesel Soul+ has 94kW at 4000 rpm and 260Nm at 1900rpm. The official fuel combined is 5.9/100km. Our cruise downtown and through the Royal National Park found 9.8/100km, on the motorway we reached a respectable 6.3/100km in this fun, five-seater, front-wheel drive car.DESIGNKia’s Soul has enough style to impress and plenty of options to express. Besides the attractive frame to start with, there are heaps of extras that allow you to articulate your style. From dragon and houndstooth decals to racing stripes and custom coloured interior - the Soul wants to be your mate.Seats front and back are comfortable, with storage nooks and functionally sized drink holders. The airy cabin is hard to fault and cools impressively fast, even on sweltering 40 plus days. There’s a little interior noise when the diesel idles, but that’s not too bad, especially when you activate the power bass and start blasting a beat.  The boot, however, may cramp your style. At 222 litres, there isn’t a lot of space, but fold the 60:40 rear seats, and you get 700 litres – a good amount if you don’t need to carry extra baggage or have little ones in tow. While this small hatch lacks the room to be an ideal family vehicle, it’s great for singles, young couples, or those who have passed the need for child seats.SAFETYWith a five-star ANCAP safety rating, ABS, ESC, VSM, driver and front passenger, front side, and curtain SRS airbags, and active front headrests, the Soul looks after yours.  DRIVINGYou feel above everything seated high in the Soul. While the wheel initially feels a bit heavy, the Soul responds well and the vehicle’s small size lets you zip around. The height also lends to easy loading and unloading, though you get a bit of body roll on sharp turns.There are blind spots to the sides and back so if you’re going to park a lot in the city, the optional rear park assist may be worth considering. Overall though, the Soul handles well and is a comfortable ride.  VERDICTAn impressive move for Kia, the stylish and unique Soul + diesel is a great vehicle for practical souls wanting to stand out from the crowd.Kia Soul+ 1.6-litre dieselPrice: from $29,990Engine: 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder, 94kW/260NmTransmission: 6-speed auto, FWDThirst: 5.9L/100Km, CO2 155g/km

Toyota Corolla and Hyundai i30 go head-to-head in this comparative review.

I've always had a soft spot for VeeDubs, ever since my Beetle days. The old Beetle that is, not the new fangled contraption. I had a '76, the very last model they sold here. The money I poured into that car . . .Learned to drive on a Beetle too, not that one but that's another story. It's not surprising I fell in love with the gorgeous Scirocco the first time I laid eyes on one. That was overseas somewhere, probably in Germany and I've had a hankering for one ever since. "When's it coming here?" I kept badgering Volkswagen. I even managed to corner the then manager of Volkswagen Australia Jutta Dierks in a car one day driving through Germany and boy she copped an ear full. The problem was, she explained, dealing with head office and getting the car in the exactly right specification, so it wouldn't upset VW's best selling Golf GTI. After months, no years of asking, my dream came true in 2011 when VW announced the Scirocco was finally coming here. It's ironic that it took me almost 12 months to get around to driving one?In terms of price, Scirocco sits between the Golf GTI and Golf R, priced from $47,990 $2500 less than the R and $7000 more than the GTi. The big gap between the GTI and Scirocco leaves some headroom for special editions like the recent GTI Edition 35 that also featured a more potent engine.Performane wise, the Scirocco also sits somewhere between the GTI and Golf R, with the latter's more powerful 188kW/330Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged engine (but not all-wheel drive). That is not necessarily a bad thing, because it makes the car lighter and more agile, with an adaptive chassis as standard equipment.The XDL (Extended Electronic Differential Lock) from the GTI provides maximum traction and generates plenty of fun through corners. It's no mistake that you can no longer buy a three-door Golf R either the three door/four-seat Scirocco is designed to fill that role. The choices are 6-speed manual or 6-speed DSG for $2500 extra. Ours was the DSG - beggars can't be choosers.Even though this car is a few years old, it still looks as fresh as a daisy. The sweeping feline curves turn the Golf, for in reality it's still a Golf underneath, into one of the world's more desirable coupes. It will be interesting to see where the stylemeisters from Wolfsburg take the car next?As the benchmark for Euro hatches you'd have to include VW's own GTI regardless of what they think. Focus ST is also in there as is the Megane RS and soon to be released Opel Astra OPC  the latter promises 206kW. You'd also have to include the ubiquitous WRX and its long time sparring partner the EVO. What the Scirocco brings to the equation besides performance and does so with plenitude is style.Renault's Megane RS265, itself a super stylish hatch, takes the cake for performance in our estimation. The Scirocco lacks the Megane' razor edge, but is a more comfortable day to day proposition. That's not to take anything away from its performance, because it goes hard too and sits flat in corners, just as you'd expect with a wheel at each corner.The DSG might be quicker, but we reckon the manual is more fun to drive. In terms of fuel economy we were getting 12.8 litres/100km and it takes premium.Where do I sign? Bugger the fact it’s a bit long in the tooth, it still ticks all the boxes as far as this fan boy is concerned.

Honda Jazz is all about style at the front – and space and practicality at the rear. Which comes as no surprise as it comes from a Japanese car maker that has never followed mainstream thinking. Probably because it began life as a motorcycle manufacturer, so was aiming its products as much at fun as function.The new Honda Jazz VTi starts at $17,790 for the manual and $19,790 for the automatic. Standard features include Bluetooth connectivity (phone and audio), USB socket, multi-information display, 10 cup holders and tilt/telescopic adjustable steering wheel. The two higher-specced models also get cruise control, steering wheel mounted audio controls, alloy wheels and foglamps.Jazz comes with the choice of two petrol engines, with capacities of 1.3 litres (GLi) and 1.5 litres (VTi and VTi-S). Power from the smaller engine is 73 kW and torque 127 Nm, the torque graph shows the output is relatively flat. Indeed, the 1.3-litre may have all the power and torque you need if the car isn’t used in hilly areas and isn’t used to cart big loads.The Jazz has large moulded headlights, a sleek bonnet that drops down sharply for good air penetration, neat sculpting at the rear end and LED taillights to brighten up the look of the tail. The higher-specced VTi and VTi-S models get sporty bumpers, side skirts, a gunmetal grey grille and alloy wheels, while the VTi-S benefits from a neat little tailgate spoiler.The first thing you notice when you step into the Honda Jazz is how much light is present. With its large windscreen and rear window, low waistline and tall styling there’s a bright, airy feel that appeals to many in the land downunder. Just as importantly, the all-round visibility provided by the light and airy feel complement the slim A-pillars and large side mirrors make the Jazz safer. The smallest Honda car sold in Australia will spend most of its time in urban areas so good outward visibility is pleasing. Other car makers take note.Although it's not a full five seater for large adults, the Honda Jazz can carry four average-sized adults in reasonable comfort with the bonus of a number of practical and convenient in-cabin stowage areas including under-seat compartments. The typical load of mum, dad and a couple of kids will find there’s stretch out room.Jazz’s boot space in is very good and its capacity can be expanded with a very clever three-mode seat folding arrangement. It provides up to 1720 mm of luggage length with the rear seatbacks folded flat, which makes it long enough to hold a bicycle. Even better there’s up to 2400 mm of interior length if the front passenger seatback also folded flat. The rear seat base folds up to make maximum use of the Jazz’s height – just the thing for carrying tall potted plants home from the nursery.Honda Jazz has been tested to the five-star ANCAP safety crash rating. There are six airbags (front, side and curtain), front and rear seatbelt reminder, ABS with Brake Assist and Vehicle Stability Assist.Our road test was carried out in a Honda Jazz VTi with the 88 kW, 145 Nm 1.5-litre engine and five-speed manual gearbox – there's also a five-speed automatic that’s optional in the GLi and standard in the VTi-S. As expected the larger engine has a more refined and responsive feel and the gearbox has nicely spaced ratios.We found ourselves using just under six litres per hundred kilometres on the motorway and in the mid-sevens around town. On the road we were pleasantly surprised at how well the Jazz handles. For a tall, squarish car it grips the road well and hugs the corners better than one would expect. It’s no sports hatch but will suit the sensible person more interested in easy running than hard charging.Honda Jazz has long been one of the yardstick models in the Australia small car field thanks to high levels of quality and the sort of refinement and comfort that normally requires a car a full size larger.

The Australian hybrid market is small and is dominated by the Toyota Prius. But competitors such as the Holden Volt, Renault Fluence ZE and the Honda Insight tested here are attempting to close this sales gap.While Honda has sold over one million Insights globally in 13 years, the small hybrid hasn’t been popular in Australia. The Insight was originally priced at nearly $50k from 2001-2004 and after being dropped for six years was re-introduced in December 2010 at a sub-30k price with 113 sales that month and 715 in 2011.This year Honda has upgraded the five door hatch’s styling and features in an attempt to lift sales. However, with only 217 sold so far, compared to the Prius’s 1,535 it hasn’t been the boost Honda was looking for.VALUEThe base model VTi is priced from $29,990, while the top spec VTi-L tested here starts at $33,490. Standard features include USB, iPod and hands free connectivity, integrated Bluetooth, steering wheel controls, six speaker stereo and 12V auxiliary sockets. There’s also a three year 100,000km warranty.The top spec receives extras like 16 inch alloy wheels (the VTi gets 15 inch), rear vision camera (the VTi has controlled park assist), DVD player, GPS satellite navigation, leather steering wheel and shift knob, adjustable headrests, a laminated windscreen, electric level adjustment headlamps, light sensitive automatic headlamps and rain sensors.TECHNOLOGYThe 1.3 litre four cylinder i-VTEC engine has 65kW of power and 121Nm of torque, while the electric motor adds 10kW of power and 78Nm of torque. Both variants are driven through a constantly variable transmission with front wheel drive.Fuel efficiency has been improved by 6.5 per cent and the combined fuel economy has a 5.5 per cent reduction to 4.3L/100km (we managed 6.9L on test).DESIGNThe Insight has a raised rear and sharp lines with camouflaged rear doors that visually mold to the coupe shape. It weighs nearly the same as the Civic but is shorter than its three siblings the Civic, City and Jazz.Honda says they have made several upgrades to the styling receiving a new front grille with attractive blue accents flanked by two slanting headlights and a fresh bumper design with bright red rear taillights.The interior features include fuel consumption display, rear vision camera and multi function control screen. The overall design of the dashboard is economically focussed, as expected in a hybrid car. The speed dependent display glows green to indicate fuel efficiency and blue to suggest reduced speed for a greener drive.This blue and green theme is repeated on the speedometers and eco assist display. The eco assist uses images of small trees that grow while you drive to indicate your long term fuel efficiency.The bucket style seats mold to the driver and there is soft-touch upholstery. While tall passengers will appreciate the 20mm headroom increase in the backseats the legroom is a bit tight. The boot capacity is 408 litres and increases to 584 litres with the 60/40 rear seats down.SAFETYThe VTi-L receives a 5-star ANCAP crash rating with front, side and curtain airbags, ABS antilock brakes (the base model misses out), LED daytime running lights for improved visibility, vehicle stability assist with traction control, fog lamps, front and rear stabiliser and LED tail lamps.DRIVINGThe green eco button reduces your fuel consumption by limiting engine output but you’ll have to turn it off to get the car really going. The Insight also comes with auto stop technology which turns the engine off while you’re paused to help reduce your fuel consumption.The engine is extremely quiet providing a silent drive but at fast speeds road noise enters the cabin. The overall drive is efficient, the suspension is smooth and it’s easy to manoeuvre through city streets. The only small complaint is the loose power steering that doesn’t give you total control around tight corners.VERDICTThe Insight is slightly pricey but offers good looks, low emissions and fuel consumption, has up-to-date technology and can get you from A to B with comfort.However, if you’re unsure about hybrids you may want to wait for the new 2013 Civic diesel that comes out mid next year with overseas reports of 3.8L/100km compared to the Insight’s 4.3L/100km.Honda InsightPrice: from $29,990Engine: 1.3-litre 4-cylinder, 65kW/121Nm, electric motor 10kW/78NmTransmission: constantly variable, FWDThirst: 4.3L/100km, CO2 103g/km

Almera: it sounds like a South American novelist, or an athlete's foot cream. In fact it's the sedan version of the Nissan Micra hatchback. VALUE Almera ST manual opens the pricing at a manufacturer's recommended retail of $16,990, the auto adds $2000, while the Ti, in automatic only, tops off the range at

The reliability of the Getz is translating into repeat sales for Hyundai's i20 light car. Sales figures say the i20 hatch is the third-best vehicle in the class. It trails the Toyota Yaris and Mazda2 by a long way but is ahead of the Holden Barina, Suzuki Swift and Kia Rio. And the five-year warranty can't be the

The Abarth 500 is a tiny car with a big heart. This baby (or should that be bambino?) Italian sports machine is guaranteed to bring pleasure to anyone who loves sitting behind a steering wheel.In Australia we like our cars hot so the decision was made to import only the topline Abarth 500 Esseesse (trying saying ‘SS’ with an Italian accent and suddenly ‘Esseesse ‘ makes sense!).VALUEThe Australian line-up includes the standard Abarth 500 Esseesse and the Abarth 500C Esseesse convertible, our review vehicle was the closed coupe.The Abarth 500 comes as standard with powered door mirrors, climate control air conditioning, electric windows, an Interscope sound system with radio, CD and MP3. Much of the control of the audio system can be done through Fiat’s Blue&Me hands-free communication to minimise driver inattention.This model is not just about looks, the Abarth 500 has uprated suspension, cross drilled brake discs and stylish 17x7 alloy wheels (huge for such a small car) in a style unique to the model. TECHNOLOGYThe Abarth 500 Esseesse has a turbocharged four-cylinder 1.4-litre powerplant sitting under the front bonnet and driving the front wheels. It produces 118 kW of power and torque of 230 Nm. So it’s completely different to the original Abarth of 1957 that was rear-engined.DESIGNIt’s not just about the way it drives, but also in the retro styling that on our glittering white test car was further enhanced by stylish red side stripes carrying ‘Abarth’ lettering. The Abarth ‘scorpion’ badge sitting proudly in the centre of the grille and the wheel hubs leave no doubt this diminutive machine is something out of the ordinary when it comes to providing sting in the tail.Talking of the tail, have a look at that big spoiler and the huge exhaust outlets. The brake callipers and door mirrors also receive the full red treatment.Lowered suspension is emphasised by a body kit that neatly fills the area between front and rear wheels and continues to air extractors in the rear bumper. A deeper front spoiler aids aerodynamics and also feeds extra air to the cooling system and engine.SAFETYCrash prevention or minimisation features include ABS braking with EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution) and HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assistance) to ensure maximum stopping power. There’s also an ESP (Electronic Stability Program) to ensure control is maximised at all times. A Hill Holder provides stress-free starts on a slope for drivers who prefer not to use the handbrake.Should you still manage to get it all wrong there are seven airbags. Abarth 500 has secured a five star EuroNCAP rating - something that’s not easy to achieve in a diminutive body like this.DRIVINGAcceleration is hard, but not in the fashion of a full-blown sports machine such as the Subaru WRX to which the Abarth is likely to be compared. Rather the Italian bambino is about ample power that demands the driver keep the car in the right gear to get the best from it.To maximise driver input there’s a dash-mounted turbo boost gauge when the Sport button is pressed. We loved to buzz the little engine to its redline and listen to the purposeful sound it produced when it was working to the max. Abarth has also included a Normal mode for those who feel that way inclined - I can’t say we tried it for long.We loved the way the Abarth’s cheeky personality showed up in torque steer tugging at the steering wheel when the throttle pedal was floored at low speeds. Abarth’s engineers have installed a system called Torque Transfer Control (TTC) that acts like a kind of limited slip differential to limit understeer and counteract the hassles when driving hard on rough roads.Feedback through the steering wheel is excellent, as is the way the hot little Italian can be steering on the throttle. This makes for lots of driving pleasure and everyone who drove the Abarth came back with smiles on their faces.Unless they had been driving on rough and ready Aussie back roads that is, where the smile on the face may have been turned into a grimace produced by the firm suspension. This is exacerbated by the short wheelbase of the baby car.VERDICTLike to own a Ferrari or Maserati but are about half a million short of the asking price? Then why not take your own test drive in a far more affordable machine from the same Italian sporting stable? Or perhaps you already have a Ferrari or two in the garage and now want to buy a toy or two to spoil your kids?Fiat Abarth 500 EsseessePrice: from $34,990 (manual), 500C from $38,990 (auto)Engine: 1.4 litre turbo 118 kW/230 NmTransmission: five-speed manual or five-speed automaticAcceleration: 7.4 secondsThirst: 6.5 L/100km