Skip advert
Advertisement

Fiat 500 (2008-2024) - Reliability and safety

The 500 Hybrid remains rather popular with customers, but it’s not the safest city car

Reliability and Safety rating

3.0

How we review cars

​When it was first launched in 2007, the Fiat 500 Hybrid scored the maximum five-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash tests, but it was re-tested in 2017 under the organisation's tougher test regime and lost two stars. 

Fiat fits driver, passenger, side, curtain and driver's knee airbags as standard, making a total of seven, which is impressive for a city car. ABS brakes and ISOFIX child seat mountings feature, too. The hazard lights come on under hard braking to warn traffic behind but the trigger point is over-sensitive.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The older 500’s last appearance in our Driver Power customer satisfaction survey was in 2021 where it placed 67th out of the 75 best cars to own. In our most recent best manufacturer rankings, Fiat finished in a very poor 31st place out of 32 brands.

Warranty

The 500 Hybrid comes with a three year/100,000-mile warranty. That’s par for the course, although Hyundai offers five years with its i10 and Kia offers an impressive seven years on the Picanto.

Servicing

All 500 Hybrids need to be serviced every 12 months or 9,000 miles, whichever comes first. Fiat offers fixed Oil Care and Service Care plans at an additional cost.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Flawed hybrid car efficiency data to stifle UK EV sales and propagate pollution
Connecting charger to Hyundai Tucson PHEV

Flawed hybrid car efficiency data to stifle UK EV sales and propagate pollution

Half a million extra PHEVs could reach UK roads by 2030 in place of cleaner EVs due to changes surrounding the ZEV Mandate
News
19 May 2025
New Ford Fiesta: latest details on supermini’s potential return
Ford Fiesta exclusive image

New Ford Fiesta: latest details on supermini’s potential return

The Ford Fiesta could be coming back as an electric car, and here’s everything we know so far
News
20 May 2025
Kia is returning to its 'Keeping It Affordable' roots
Opinion - Kia

Kia is returning to its 'Keeping It Affordable' roots

Mike Rutherford thinks new cars are simply too expensive, but some manufacturers are starting to do something about it
Opinion
19 May 2025