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Few small cars are as chic and characterful as the Fiat 500. There are lots of them on the road but they still look really distinctive, especially in a bold colour combination. The 500 is easy to park thanks to light steering and a good view out through big windows, and it’ll fit in the tiniest of spaces. It’s also great value and running costs are low, particularly for insurance – a great bonus if you’re buying your first car.
The 500 was launched in 2007, inspired by the classic Fiat 500 of the 1950s. It’s been updated many times since, with changes including different rear lights and new interior technology. The most recent update, in 2020, included a new mild-hybrid petrol engine. Fiat launched the 500 Electric at the same time. Although it looks similar to the 500 it’s a completely different model that costs more, is a fraction larger and is powered by an electric motor.
While the 500 is available as a three-door hatchback only, there's also a two-door convertible version called the 500C. The 500X is a five-door compact SUV that’s much larger than (and completely unrelated to) either the 500 or 500 Electric.
In cars sold new before 2020, there’s a wider range of petrol and diesel engines. Of those, the 1.2-litre petrol is the most popular and great for town driving. The more powerful 0.9-litre unit might be better if you spend more time on motorways because it feels less strained at higher speeds. The latest mild-hybrid car feels much like the 1.2. While most 500 models have a manual gearbox, automatics are also available.
There are lots of trims to choose from. Popular ones include the entry-level Pop, sporty-looking S and top-of-the-range Lounge. At the time of writing in 2022, the ‘core’ packages were called Pop, Dolcevita, Dolcevita Plus and Sport. There are also many special editions like the Anniversario, Riva and Vintage ‘57, which have unique colour combinations and styling details.
The last 500 Pop model’s standard features include air con, DAB radio, USB ports, as well as electric windows and central locking. On top of that, Dolcevita has a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, as well as rear parking sensors and a sunroof. Dolcevita Plus also has sat nav and a digital driver’s display. The Sport model has the same features as the Dolcevita Plus, but no sunroof.
Older models have broadly the same features. The infotainment system was introduced in 2015 and featured smartphone connectivity to use various apps in the Lounge model. In 2018, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity was added for even better smartphone compatibility.
According to official figures, 1.2-litre petrol models can give you an average fuel economy of up to 53mpg, as do the mild-hybrids, and 1.4-litre petrol models can give around 44mpg. The most efficient petrol models have the TwinAir engine, which can give up to 68mpg. But they’re beaten by the diesels, which can give as much as 76mpg.
There’s no Vehicle Excise Duty (car tax) to pay on many 500 models; those that do incur charges are in the low-cost VED bands. Insurance costs are also generally low.
Other stylish small cars like the 500 include the Mini Hatch, the DS 3 and the Vauxhall Adam. Compared to the Fiat, the Mini’s interior has more of a premium feel, the DS is more practical and the Vauxhall has more standard features. But the Fiat’s style and sense of fun may well be irresistible to you.
The 500 has generous headroom and legroom in the front seats, so you should be able to get comfortable however tall you are. You might end up quite close to your passenger though, because it’s a compact, narrow car. If you have difficulty getting into cars, the 500 could be a good option because it has big door openings and the seats are high off the ground, which can make access easier. Back-seat space is best kept for shorter adults and children, and there are two sets of Isofix child-seat mounts. The boot is on the small side, but a week’s food shopping will go in and the back seats fold down if you need more space.
When safety organisation Euro NCAP first assessed the 500 in 2007, it was awarded a full five-star rating. It was reassessed in 2017 and received a three-star rating out of a possible five. That’s because Euro NCAP changed its criteria to include new electronic driver safety features like automatic emergency braking, which isn’t fitted to the 500. Features that are fitted include seven airbags, anti-lock brakes, a hill-hold assist function and a speed limiter to stop you inadvertently creeping over the limit.
There’s a wider group of Fiat models with ‘500’ in their names. All share styling details like the big, round headlights but meet different needs. Besides the 500 hatchback discussed here, there’s the open-top 500C, the zero-emission 500 Electric, the big 500L MPV people carrier and the 500X SUV. Sporty versions of the 500 are sold by the Abarth brand.
All 500 models sold new since 2020 have mild-hybrid power. The petrol engine is supplemented by an extra electrical system that helps improve fuel economy and reduce CO2 emissions. It does that by powering most of the car’s electronic features from a battery that’s recharged when you brake. There’s also the fully battery-powered 500 Electric – though it looks similar to the regular 500, it’s actually a completely different car.