Fiat 500

• Rating:
• Latest deal price: from £9,434 to £18,299
• For : Cute styling, fun to drive, efficient and powerful TwinAir engine
• Against : Basic spec on entry models, high list price, poor reliability record

The Fiat 500 injects a welcome dose of fun and Italian flair into the city car market. With its retro-inspired design, the modern 500 has been a massive hit in the UK since it was introduced in 2007. A huge range of customisation options, value pricing and award-winning engines help the 500 to compete against its rivals the MINI Hatch and Citroen DS3. Compact dimensions and a tight turning circle make the 500 a breeze to drive in town, and it rides and handles well enough on the open road, too. The 875cc two-cylinder TwinAir engine is a highlight, but there are two other petrol units and a 1.3-litre Multijet diesel in the range too.

Our choice: Fiat 500 875cc TwinAir Lounge

Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the Fiat 500

Styling

Good things come in small packages. The original Fiat 500 was a big hit when it was launched in 1957, and the modern car has the same classless charm. The retro-themed 500 has become a familiar sight on our roads, thanks in no small part to its eye-catching styling. Curvy lines and cute circular headlamps provide lots of appeal. All models are available in an array of bright colours and with a vast range of personalisation options, meaning all you need is a bit of imagination to create a Fiat 500 that you can call your own.

Interior

A neat cabin, body-coloured dash and numerous options make the FIat baby a pleasant place in which to spend time. Rear is less cramped than that of MINI.

Driving and Performance

Nimble and fun, the Fiat 500 is easy to drive and packed full of character. Engine choices include the groundbreaking 85bhp 875cc two-cylinder turbocharged TwinAir model. Elsewhere you’ll find a 69bhp 1.2-litre and 100bhp 1.4-litre petrol, which gets a six-speed gearbox. All the others have a five-speed manual while the Dualogic automatic is offered as an option on the petrol cars. With its rev-happy nature the TwinAir is the choice for keen drivers, while on the motorway the 1.3-litre Multijet diesel is the one to pick, as it serves-up punchy performance and decent refinement. Across the range, the steering is light and the handling vice free.

MPG and running costs

Stop-start technology is included across the range, making the Fiat 500 a great choice for frugal motoring. The cleanest petrol model is the TwinAir, which emits only 95g/kms of CO2, making it free to tax and exempt from the London Congestion Charge. The fuel busting 1.3-litre diesel delivers 72.4mpg and 104g/kms of CO2, meaning you’ll only pay a paltry £20 per year in tax. Other petrol engines offer good fuel economy but the 1.4-litre is less clean with a CO2 figure of 135g/km. Low insurance groupings on all versions help keep the cost of running the 500 to a minimum.

Practicality

Due to its size the Fiat 500 is never going to be the most practical vehicle on the market, but its 185-litre boot is larger than its more expensive rival the MINI. Rear room is tight for adults but the driving position is roomy enough, despite a limited range of height adjustment on the wheel. The high-mounted gearlever and well laid-out dash is easy to live with. Equipment across the range includes 14-inch steel wheels, under-seat stowage and ISOFIX. Lounge adds Bluetooth and MP3 connectivity, air conditioning, 15-inch alloys and a fixed glass roof.

Safety and reliability

The Fiat 500 was awarded a five star-rating from Euro NCAP, making it one of the safest city cars around. All models come with seven airbags as standard, which includes a knee airbag. It’s a shame that stability control isn’t standard across the whole range, though. The Fiat 500 comes with automatic hazard light activation under hard braking, but in common with other small Fiat’s the trigger point is over sensitive. Fiat has worked hard to overcome its past reliability issues – but its been an uphill struggle, and the 500 has had its share of niggles. In our 2011 Driver Power survey the brand finished a poor 32nd out of 35.

Model Variants and Specifications

• Fiat 500 0.9i TwinAir Pop S/S £10865
• Fiat 500 1.2i Lounge S/S £11065
• Fiat 500 1.2i Sport S/S £11065
• Fiat 500 1.3i-16v Multijet (95) Pop S/S £12065
• Fiat 500 0.9i TwinAir Lounge S/S £12265
• Fiat 500 0.9i TwinAir Sport S/S £12265
• Fiat 500 1.2i Matt Black S/S £12365
• Fiat 500 1.4-16v Lounge S/S £12465
• Fiat 500 1.4-16v Sport S/S £12465
• Fiat 500 1.2i by Diesel S/S £12715
• Fiat 500 1.3-16v Multijet (95) Lounge S/S £13465
• Fiat 500 1.3-16v Multijet (95) Sport S/S £13465
• Fiat 500 0.9i TwinAir Matt Black S/S £13565
• Fiat 500 1.4-16v Matt Black S/S £13765
• Fiat 500 0.9i TwinAir by DIESEL S/S £13915
• Fiat 500 1.2i Pop S/S £9665