Skip advert
Advertisement

Fiat 500 Hybrid - Interior, design and technology

The 500 offers retro-styling in a small package, along with a reasonable level of standard kit

Overall Auto Express Rating

3.0 out of 5

Interior, design and technology Rating

4.2 out of 5

Price
£15,719 to £18,275
Find your Fiat 500
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
9/10 sellers got the price they expected
Advertisement

This generation of Fiat 500 was first launched in 2007, and it remained largely unchanged until summer 2016 when Fiat tweaked the looks inside and out. At the front, the refreshed 500 got an extra chrome strip — reminiscent of the larger 500X SUV — and new larger elliptical daytime-running lights. To the rear, ring-shaped light clusters with body-coloured centres were added. Very little has changed since then, though.

Advertisement - Article continues below

In terms of spec, the standard 500 Hybrid gets 15-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime driving lights on the outside, while the interior features a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system, air-conditioning and cruise control

Moving up to the 500 TOP adds in a few extra goodies such as larger 16-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, automatic climate control and a digital dashboard display.

Customisation has long been the theme with Fiat’s city car, so there’s a reasonable amount of personalisation options to choose from. Stripes, a chequered roof, chrome door mirrors and even key covers are just some of the add-ons that can help your 500 Hybrid stand out, but these will drive up the cost.

One problem that has continuously plagued this generation of 500 is the material quality. Some interior plastics are pleasing to the eye and touch, but there’s also some rather nasty door finishes and flimsier trim further down the dash. Fit-and-finish isn’t amazing in some areas, either.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

Both the standard and TOP trims get the same 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, USB and DAB functionality.

The combination of buttons, dials and touchscreen interface means this system is easy enough to use, and the optional sat-nav is clear enough, but it’s far from being the most modern system on today’s market.

TOP spec cars also get a 7-inch TFT display in the instrument binnacle which displays graphics representing the status of the hybrid powertrain systems.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    1.2 Pop 3dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • Price
    £11,461

Most Economical

  • Name
    1.2 Pop 3dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • Price
    £11,461

Fastest

  • Name
    0.9 TwinAir 105 Lounge 3dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • Price
    £14,371

Shane is responsible for looking after the day-to-day running of the Auto Express website and social media channels. Prior to joining Auto Express in 2021, he worked as a radio producer and presenter for outlets such as the BBC.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

“MG is easily outselling Jaguar, Land Rover and Bentley combined”
Opinion - MG4
Opinion

“MG is easily outselling Jaguar, Land Rover and Bentley combined”

The wave of Chinese cars has arrived in the UK, and Mike Rutherford thinks it’s not about to stop any time soon
17 Mar 2024
Car Deal of the Day: breathtaking Lotus Emira V6 for £45k and an I.O.U.
Lotus Emira - driving
News

Car Deal of the Day: breathtaking Lotus Emira V6 for £45k and an I.O.U.

Our Deal of the Day for 15 March is a half-now, half-later plan for the last-ever petrol-powered Lotus sports car
15 Mar 2024
New Audi A5 Sportback and Avant: prices, specs and info on sleek new compact execs
New Audi A5 Avant - exclusive image
News

New Audi A5 Sportback and Avant: prices, specs and info on sleek new compact execs

The new ICE and hybrid Audi A5 is due by year’s end in hatchback and estate forms
15 Mar 2024