Fiat's retro-themed renaissance, which began with the 500 subcompact, continues this year with the 2017 FIAT 124 Spider. Taking its name and inspiration from a classic Fiat roadster that was born back in 1966, the new Spider also happens to take its underpinnings from a modern classic: the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata. That means the two cars are a lot alike, although the Spider sports an entirely different engine than the Mazda. On the other hand, they're both vastly different from anything else on the market, since they offer an otherwise unmatched combination of relatively easy-to-afford pricing, and rear-wheel-drive, open-air performance.
And besides, that shared Mazda platform has earned rave reviews for its athletic ride and handling as is.