Fiat 500 - Interior, design and technology
The Fiat 500 just oozes style, while great on-board tech adds to the appeal
Despite having a clean sheet to explore new designs with the Fiat 500 electric, the Italian manufacturer wisely decided to go with an updated version of its trusted retro formula as the petrol 500 city car that arrived back in 2007.
The third-generation all-electric model is slightly bigger than the petrol version, but it still retains the unmistakable family looks. The split headlights at the front add a modern touch, and some of the alloy wheel designs really stand out, while inside the cabin a body-coloured section across the dash pays homage to the original car. You’ll have to decide for yourself whether the buttons to open the doors add to the appeal or are a bit gimmicky, and the same goes for the sound effects that play when you switch the car on or off.
Buyers get a choice of three trim levels – the base 500, the (RED) edition and top-of-the-range La Prima – all of which come with a 10.25-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a digital driver’s display, keyless entry, automatic wipers, traffic-sign information and cruise control. The top-of-the-range versions add wireless phone charging, a panoramic roof and a premium 320-watt JBL audio system, plus extra driver aids and semi-autonomous technology features.
Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment
The Fiat 500’s slick infotainment system is a stand-out feature. The 10.25-inch touchscreen looks sharp, and the menus are logically laid out. The navigation page graphics are clear, and the screen responds quickly to pinching and swiping motions across the page. The 500 is also fast when you’re trying to plot a route; opening the search bar, entering a postcode, and getting the first navigation instruction from a fully loaded route took just 19 seconds when we tried it out.
One small gripe is that the Fiat forgoes physical shortcut controls, so it isn’t as easy to make adjustments on the move. There is a standard seven-inch digital driver’s display, where it’s possible to prioritise various trip and audio functions through buttons on the steering wheel.
