Skip advert
Advertisement

Fiat 500

Eye-catching retro supermini is still a strong challenger

If there’s one city car that can match the VW up! for head-turning, high-street appeal, it’s the Fiat 500. With its cheeky retro looks, fizzy Latin character and upmarket cabin, this car is a firm Auto Express favourite and offers a strong challenge to any class newcomer.

Even five years after its debut, the 500 still gets noticed. Styling cues from the fifties original help the classy Fiat to stand out easily next to modern rivals. What’s more, even the basic black door mirrors and plastic wheel trims of our entry-level Pop test car failed to tarnish the model’s upmarket image.

Advertisement - Article continues below

It’s a similar story inside, where the 500 runs the up! close for premium appeal and beats it for style. The body-coloured dashboard, quality materials and comfortable driving position give the Fiat’s cabin a luxury feel that belies its £9,900 price tag.

However, the pay-off for this bargain-basement price is a lack of standard equipment. Unlike its rivals, the 500 doesn’t get air-conditioning, a leather steering wheel or Bluetooth. Adding these will cost you an extra £895.

Rear-seat passengers get less head and legroom than in the other cars, while you’ll have to find another £155 to replace the single-piece rear bench with a more versatile split-fold option.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

5008

2020 Peugeot

5008

36,941 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £17,048
View 5008
Qashqai

2022 Nissan

Qashqai

26,958 milesManualPetrol1.3L

Cash £15,589
View Qashqai
Qashqai

2020 Nissan

Qashqai

30,821 milesManualPetrol1.3L

Cash £11,989
View Qashqai
MG 5 EV

2021 MG

MG 5 EV

35,712 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £10,950
View MG 5 EV

Still, with the seats in place, the Fiat provides a useful 185 litres of storage. There are also plenty of cubbies elsewhere in the cabin, although the lack of a proper glovebox means there’s nowhere to safely conceal valuable items from prying eyes.

As with its exterior styling, the Fiat’s 1.2-litre engine has historic roots. Yet despite its advancing years, the 69bhp unit is a smooth and eager performer. It can’t quite match the outright pace of the smaller and lighter up! and Aygo, but its more muscular mid-range power delivery means the 500 is well able to keep pace with fast-moving traffic.

And despite a lack of steering feel and an occasionally bouncy ride, the 500 impresses with its agility and grip through corners. Elsewhere, it’s second only to the impressive VW when it comes to comfort and refinement on long-distance journeys.

But as you’d expect, the 500 is at its best in town. Compact dimensions and decent visibility make it easy to thread the car through crowded urban streets. Better still, a city button makes the steering even lighter, helping to reduce the strain of slotting the Fiat into tight parking spots. There’s even a standard stop-start system that cuts the engine at traffic lights to save fuel.

Yet the 500 isn’t without its faults. As with the Aygo and up!, you pay extra for electronic stability control, while high emissions and poor fuel economy make it surprisingly costly to run. Will these flaws count against it in the final reckoning?

Details

Chart position: 3
WHY: Great-value city car doesn’t sacrifice style. Will the 500’s retro design be a help or hindrance in the battle for supremacy in this class?

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £13,895
Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,785Avg. savings £3,331 off RRP*Used from £9,900
Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £5,568 off RRP*Used from £12,295
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £2,513 off RRP*Used from £5,500
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Ford Fiesta to return? Icon could be reborn as re-nosed Volkswagen ID.2
Ford Fiesta facelift - front cornering

Ford Fiesta to return? Icon could be reborn as re-nosed Volkswagen ID.2

VW’s sales and marketing boss considers Ford tech share “very successful” – and won’t rule out future projects
News
30 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025