Fiat 500 review - Reliability and safety
The 500 includes excellent levels of safety kit, while servicing costs should be reasonable
Fiat is not well known for its reliability, and customer feedback from our latest Driver Power survey placed the manufacturer in 26th spot out of 30 in the Best brands segment. It’s still a little early to tell how the battery-powered 500 will be received by city car customers, but we think it has all the right qualities to perform well.
Standard safety equipment is good with entry Action versions coming with Attention Assist (Drowsiness Detection), Lane Keeping Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition with Intelligent Speed Assistant and Autonomous Emergency Braking. The optional Fiat Co-Driver Pack includes a full suite of active safety systems, along with Level 2 semi-autonomous driving which uses a front-facing camera system to monitor the road ahead.
Euro NCAP awarded the 500 a four-star rating (out of 5) when it tested the electric city car at the end of 2021. Adult and child occupant safety received scores of 76 per cent and 80 per cent, respectively, while safety assist systems were rated at 67 per cent. Euro NCAP's assessment of the 500's Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) function was that it 'performed marginally in tests of its reaction to other vehicles'.
Servicing
Due to the all-electric 500 having fewer wear and tear items than a conventional model, Fiat claims its scheduled maintenance costs will be up to 35 per cent less than a combustion-engined equivalent, while it offers individual service plans to help keep your car in good shape.
Warranty
Fiat offers a standard three-year warranty, with an option to extend cover for an additional 12 or 24 months at extra cost.
