City Car of the Year 2022: Fiat 500
The Fiat 500 is the 2022 Auto Express City Car of the Year, with the Hyundai i10 and Toyota Aygo X commended
It’s another big win for Fiat’s brilliant bambino, which takes back-to-back city car honours in 2022. A year on from its debut success, no rival can match the Italian machine’s blend of style, tech and all-round appeal, or the allure of its smooth, efficient electric powertrain.
Of course, many buyers will be swayed by the car’s cute looks, which ooze retro charm and can be personalised to your heart’s content. Yet the interior is arguably even more impressive, with its slick design, high-quality finish, generous kit and cutting-edge tech that includes the option of an intuitive 10.25-inch infotainment system boasting the latest connectivity.
On the move, the all-electric 500 goes as smartly as it looks, with the 116bhp motor serving up smooth and zippy acceleration. Compact dimensions, light steering and a lack of gearbox to worry about make it an accomplished city slicker, but agile handling and surprising refinement mean it feels just as at home on the open road. The Convertible option with a full-length fabric roof throws wind-in-the-hair thrills into the mix too.
Your stress levels behind the wheel will also be kept to a minimum thanks to the 500’s range, with the 42kWh battery serving up a claimed 199 miles on a full charge. There’s also the option of 85kW rapid charging, so the battery can be replenished to 80 per cent in 35 minutes.
As with the best small cars, and even with home energy costs on the rise, Fiat’s city car will cost peanuts to run and shouldn’t break the bank to buy.
Our choice
Fiat 500 42kWh Icon (£28,835)
Its advanced electric powertrain means the Fiat 500 is pricier than conventional city car rivals, but it compensates for this with lower running costs and much more kit. Our pick is the Icon: it gets a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, rain-sensing wipers and traffic-sign recognition all as standard. Place a modest £1,500 deposit on a three-year PCP agreement, and it comes to £404 per month.
Commended
Small cars need to appeal to the head as much as the heart, and this is where the i10 excels. Roomy, well equipped and backed by Hyundai’s five-year warranty, the Korean machine serves up a stress-free experience. Yet it’s also smartly styled, features the latest tech and packs the sort of grown-up driving experience you’d expect from the class above.
Toyota has cashed in on the crossover craze by reinventing its entry-level Aygo as a tiny but tough urban assault vehicle. Featuring a raised ride height and chunky body cladding, it certainly looks the part, yet its dinky dimensions and frugal petrol engine mean it’s as easy to drive and cost-effective to run as its pint-sized predecessor.
The 2022 New Car Awards are brought to you in association with Hankook tyres
New Car Awards 2022: the winners
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