We review the Abarth 124 from price to economy and all its features

ASK any sports car fan to pick a solid, entry-level roadster and the chances are they say the Mazda MX-5.

Its well-balanced chassis, compact frame and playful nature transform even the most boring journeys into grin-inducing hot laps.

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But owners move on and want more grunt under the right foot – while the Japanese marque has stuck to its guns and refused to turbo-charge its sportster.

It feels like a performance-orientated machine from the outset

You’re probably already aware Fiat teamed up with Mazda to create its own MX-5, the Fiat 124. But the Italians also handed it over to their tuning arm, Abarth, to concoct a machine that is 80 per cent MX-5 and 20 per cent hooligan.

The engine is a 1.4-litre Turbo MultiAir, which churns 170hp. And everything from steering to suspension has been given a racy makeover.

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Fire up the engine and the quad exhaust pipes emit a throaty roar. Slot the gear lever into first and the cogs engage with a satisfying thud.     Turn the weighty wheel and apply throttle then feel the turbo do its thing. It feels like a performance-orientated machine from the outset. All Abarth cars receive the 7in touchscreen display with Bluetooth pairing and DAB radio, but you’ll have to pay £350 extra to get navigation.

And this leads me to my final point. The Abarth 124 starts at £29,565 for the manual. This is £5,270 more than the top-spec Sport Recaro version of Mazda’s model. That’s a hefty chunk of change for an Italian MX-5 which goes around a race circuit slightly quicker.

Those who wanted a bit more from their MX-5 will like it. But for a first-time sporty two-seater, think long and hard about whether it justifies the extra cost.