Review
/5
- Pros:
- Trendy retro looks
- Easy to drive
- Low running costs
- Cons:
- Uncomfortable on long journeys
- High list prices
- Basic specification with entry-level models
reviewed by Carbuyer
"Cute, fun and cool, Fiat's retro 500 is a hugely stylish, if compromised small car choice."
At a glance
- The greenest
- 0.9i TwinAir Gucci White S/S 3dr
£16,060 - The cheapest
- 1.2i Pop S/S 3dr
£9,960 - The fastest
- 1.3i-16v Multijet (95) Pop Bicolour S/S 3dr
£13,720 - Top of the range
- 0.9i TwinAir Gucci White S/S 3dr
£16,060
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With its classic styling, Fiat's 500 is seen by some as an expensive fashion accessory, but its compact bodywork and eager engines make it a great city car too. Entry-level 1.2 Pop models are basic – but even they come with an MP3-compatible stereo, power assisted steering and electric mirrors. Sport and Lounge models are more luxurious, and add hi-tech equipment like Bluetooth phone connectivity and air-conditioning. TwinAir models are Road Tax exempt but all models are cheap to insure, which means the 500 is ideal for young drivers.
Drive
The petrol engines are fine around town, but strained at motorway speeds
Fiat has deliberately made the 500's steering very light so that it's easy to manoeuvre around city streets and park. The suspension is firm, although it's not uncomfortable, and the car has plenty of grip in tight corners. Both the 900cc TwinAir and 1.2-litre 69bhp petrol engines are fine around town, but strained at motorway speeds: The now discontinued 100bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine was much more capable. The 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel with 95bhp is the best choice for those who plan to make long journeys on a regular basis – not least because it offers average fuel economy of 72.4mpg.
Comfort
Rear legroom is tight but acceptable for a small car
The 500 is perfectly comfortable around town, and it's reasonable on longer trips, too. The front chairs don't have much support for your lower back, and rear legroom is tight. Wind and road noise is also quite intrusive, particularly at cruising speed. But overall comfort is still impressive for such a small car.
Reliability
All models come with seven airbags
Fiat's quality and reliability has lagged behind that of rivals in the past, but the 500's upmarket interior is much better. The company has worked hard to improve reliability, so the 500 should be better than Fiats of old. The Fiat Panda, on which the 500 is based, came second in the city car category of the 2010 JD Power survey, which is very impressive. All models come with seven airbags and Isofix child seat mounts as standard.
Practicality
The Fiat 500 has a decent sized boot
As small cars go, the Fiat 500 has a decent sized boot at 185 litres. That's better than the Toyota Aygo's 139 litres and the larger MINI's 160-litre boot. The Ford Ka, which shares most of its components with the Fiat, is much more spacious at 224 litres. There is plenty of room up front, but back seat passengers will struggle for headroom, and rear legroom is tight but acceptable for a small car. Top-of-the-range Lounge versions have a split folding rear seat for extra practicality.
Value for money
The 500 is still hot property in the showrooms
Fiat knows that the 500 is still hot property in the showrooms – so you’ll struggle to get a discount. It's significantly more expensive than rivals such as the Fiat Panda, Citroen C1 and Volkswagen Fox, but the Toyota iQ costs more and the Ford Ka is similarly priced. Electric windows are standard on all models, while Lounge and Sport models get air-conditioning, it remains an option on entry-level Pop versions.
Running costs
All models are cheap to run
All cars come with stop-start, and the 1.2-litre petrol and 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel engines offer good value for money. The TwinAir petrol model returns 68.9mpg and has emissions of 95g/km, so annual Road Tax is free. The diesel returns an impressive 72.4mpg and with emissions of only 104g/km, Road Tax is only £20. The 1.4 petrol engine offers better performance, but with fuel economy of 48.7mpg and emissions of 135g/km it will cost you more to run.
*Our monthly finance prices are updated on a regular basis, but due to the dynamic nature of the market are not guaranteed accurate. You can always confirm the monthly finance price with FinanceAcar.
