Fiat’s first sports SUV in Brazil, the Pulse Abarth shines in the city and on the road, but there’s one detail to consider
This is the third time we evaluate the Pulse Abarth, the Fiat sports car that does not have the Italian brand logo visible, except in the inner corner of the rearview mirrors. The first time was on the Tarumã circuit (RS), the second daily and now we have traveled 1,200 km with the Pulse Abarth, from Sao Paulo to Londrina (PR), round trip.
As before, we liked the dynamics of the Fiat Pulse Abarth. With 185 or 180 horsepower available in the 1.3 T270 engine (depending on whether it runs on ethanol or gasoline), it is an acceleration champion in its category and the stiff suspension gives it excellent directional behavior. The brakes are also effective.
The Pulse Abarth goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds, thanks to an excellent weight-to-power ratio of 6.9 kg/hp. For comparison, the only sedan with sporty appeal in the class, the Volkswagen Polo GTS, completes the same test in 8.3 seconds. With just 150 hp and 250 Nm, the Polo GTS is more expensive than the Pulse Abarth, but it doesn’t have the same sportiness.
The price continues to be an interesting feature of the Fiat Pulse Abarth. It costs R$ 151,990, which is -3,000 reais compared to the Polo GTS (R$ 154,990) and -14,000 reais compared to the Fastback Abarth (R$ 165,990). Is the Pulse Abarth worse than them? No. But it has a disadvantage on two points, which became very clear on this 1,200 km trip.
Compared to the Polo GTS, the Pulse Abarth is less economical. On the road, the Fiat sports car gets 12.3 km/l on petrol and 8.9 km/l on ethanol. The VW gets 13.8 km/l (g) and 10.8 km/l (e). But who buys a sports car is more interested in performance or savings? Performance, of course – and the Pulse Abarth has 30 hp and 20 Nm more.
Compared to the Abarth Fastback, the Abarth Pulse has one detail to consider: the (huge) disadvantage in the trunk capacity. According to Fiat, the Fastback has a capacity of 516 liters, while the Pulse carries only 370 in the trunk. In our use, loaded with suitcases and boxes of books, the solution was to put some luggage on the back seat. Not ideal, since the volumes become loose.
In all other respects, the Pulse Abarth and Fastback Abarth are the same. The Pulse Abarth has the advantage of being quite compact (4,115 m), which makes it more versatile in traffic and also when looking for parking. It is worth mentioning that the sports model is 10 mm lower than the Fiat Pulse (which has 130/125 hp and 200 Nm in the Impetus 1.0 turbo version, which costs R$ 137,990).
The 6-speed automatic transmission allows the Pulse Abarth, whose engine is 1.3 turbo, to perform very well. However, if it had an extra gear, the car would also be more economical. In any case, in this Abarth the small gearbox for the 185/180 horsepower engine does not have as much of an impact as on heavier cars, such as the Jeep Compass, Jeep Commander and Fiat Toro.
The Pulse Abarth’s suspension is firm (as it should be on a sports car) and the tyres are 215/50 R17. They are quite wide for the size of the car (1.777 m wide) and not excessively low, which helps it to tackle rough surfaces more comfortably. The clearance is 217 mm and the minimum ground clearance is 188 mm. The car is great for everyday use and fast for trips
The butterfly for manual gear changes and the sequential lever (with the gears going backwards, which is better) allow for a sporty and pleasant driving. Snoring deeply helps. The Pulse Abarth still attracts a lot of attention on the streets and especially at service stations. Many still do not know that the Abarth is a Fiat.
Also exclusive to the Pulse Abarth are the sports instrument panel, the red “Poison” button on the steering wheel to activate Sport mode, the seats and the trim, which also features black side stripes and a black roof. The scorpion logo is strong and conveys exactly the idea of a car equipped with “poison,” as they used to say.
The 10-inch Uconnect multimedia system, with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, is very fast and the sound quality is admirable. The Fiat Pulse Abarth does not skimp on trifles (such as the safety belts on the roof, which have disappeared from Volkswagen cars). In addition, the seat belt is height-adjustable and does not constrain the passenger on the right side.
For those who don’t need to carry a lot of luggage, the Fiat Pulse Abarth is a great value for money car. It comes in the following colors: Bianco Banchisa with Nero Vulcano roof (from our review), Nero Vulcano, Rosso Monte Carlo with Nero Vulcano roof and Grigio Strato with Nero Vulcano roof. It’s a good buy for those who like robust cars.
Trip Details
- Total route: 1,174 km
- Fuel: Petrol
- SP-Posto Kafé: 11.7 km/l
- Kafé-Londrina station: 10.9 km/l
- City: 9.5 km/l
- Londrina-SP: 12.8 km/l
- Average consumption: 11.8 km/l or 8.5 l/100 km
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
