2018 Fiat 124

Fiat only sells one vehicle in the U.S., the tiny electric 500e EV. Inspired by the beloved “Cinquecento” that put Italy back on the road after World War II and co-starred in countless art films, the battery-powered runabout is easy to park and short on cargo space. In years past, Fiat sold a gas-powered version of the 500, including a high-powered, sporty Abarth variant. Fiat also sold a handful of lackluster subcompact SUVs that earned low scores in Consumer Reports'' road tests, and the 124 roadster, its version of the Mazda MX-5 Miata. Fiat is part of the Stellantis conglomerate.

The Fiat 124 Spider is essentially a rebadged Mazda Miata, but it's powered by a 160-hp, 1.4-liter turbo four-cylinder from the Fiat stable and gets its own exterior styling. Like the Miata, it can be paired with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Though that's a smaller engine than the Mazda's nonturbo 2.0-liter, the Fiat produces more readily available power. The Fiat has more comfortable seats than the Miata. Different suspension tuning lets the 124 corner with slightly less body lean. But the ride is jittery and the cabin is very noisy, even with the top up. It takes some time to get used to the Mazda-sourced controls. The sportier Abarth version features tighter handling. Like with the Miata, opening and closing the manual top is a breeze. The two-seater cabin is very tight. 2020 marked the final production run of the 124 Spider.