Fiat 500e Review
Read Caroline's Fiat 500e review for everything you need to know about buying Fiat's new electric city car in Ireland.
The Fiat 500 has been a huge success for Fiat since it was relaunched as the new 500 back in 2007. It's stayed popular throughout, while only being mildly revised over the years. Various special editions and cosmetic updates have kept it just as desirable as the day it was launched. It's clearly one of the most recognisable small cars on Irish roads.
At Changing Lanes, I've had the opportunity to follow the story of the 500 since about 2013 when I first tested the petrol version and since then I've tested it in many of its different iterations.
The 500 is the quintessential city car and now it's back for a new generation. The big news is that Fiat has taken the plunge and created a fully electric version of the 500 - the new Fiat 500e. Let's take a closer look.
What's so special about the Fiat 500e?
There are two battery sizes available - 24kWh and 42kWh. Go for that Fiat 500e 24kWh and you have one of the cheapest electric cars on sale right now. It's priced from just €24,995 including grants and VRT relief. The catch? The range is just 190 kilometres (WLTP). It might work as a second car or if the car will stay in the city only.
The Fiat 500e 42kWh offers more flexibility with a projected range of up to 320 kilometres (WLTP) and is priced from €29,995.
This is one of the most stylish small electric cars on sale right now. It sits on a new platform. It's a bit longer, taller and wider...but still tiny, measuring less than four metres in length. That makes the 500e the ideal city car, zero tailpipe emissions too. It's easy to park and manoeuvre around tight city streets.
The car has also matured well in terms of design. There's no mistaking it's a 500 but it somehow has more presence and a cooler stance on the road. At the front, there is a new split lighting design that adds character, while at the rear, there's a big bumper and new lights.
There are three trim levels - Action, Icon and La Prima - with wheel sizes varying from 15- to 17-inch depending on what model you go for. There's even a very striking Red special edition of the car that comes packed with equipment.
So a charismatic small car that also happens to be electric.
Inside the Fiat 500e
The Fiat 500e has a brand new interior that has been modernised in line with this car's new status as a battery electric vehicle. There's a new two-spoke steering wheel and digital instrument cluster for the driver displaying relevant information including the status of the battery.
On all but the entry model there is an impressive 10-inch touchscreen using Fiat's Uconnect system. It has lots of functionality and all versions get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The cabin is bright and airy thanks to large windows and windscreen.
There is quite a lot of exposed hard plastic in the cabin but that's mixed with some nicer materials like fabric trim in the dashboard panel and some lovely eco-leather seats in top of the range La Prima models. Some of the fabrics available across the range are made from recycled materials too.
This is a small car but up front it feels roomy for two people with some handy storage compartments. In the back it's a different story, but children should be fine. There's Isofix on the two seats in the rear but it's hardly a car you buy if you use the back of the car regularly as legroom and headroom are in short supply. There's also Isofix on the front passenger seat.
The boot is about standard for the city car class at 185 litres and is enough to carry a few bags.
Driving the 500 Electric
Versions with a 24kWh battery have 95hp, while versions with a 42kWh battery have 118hp. Yet there's not much between them in terms of real on the road performance and the Fiat 500e feels nippy and capable. In fact if you're used to driving a petrol 500, the electric version feels so much more responsive and smoother to drive.
The steering is light as you would expect from a city car and the Fiat 500 electric is fun to drive just by being a small car. It's not the most comfortable small car on the market and it does bounce around a bit over any bumps or imperfections in the road surface. It's not a dealbreaker if you like the car, but certainly frustrating over a long journey on a motorway for example. Yet this is a city car and that's where it's really at its best.
In real world driving, 270 kilometres is definitely possible on a full battery and driving at low speeds around town will prolong your range for longer. Fast charging is available up to 85kW getting you to 80% battery charge in about 35 minutes. While it takes just over six hours to charge the 500e to full from a standard 7.4kW wallbox at home.
There are also driving modes included - Normal, Range and Sherpa. The Range mode is like one pedal driving so you can control the car with just the accelerator. When you lift off the accelerator, the car will gradually bring itself to a stop. It makes city driving effortless.
The Sherpa mode is used to conserve your range when you find yourself trying to reach your destination on the last few kilometres of range. It turns off the air conditioning and reduces the top speed of the vehicle to 80km/h.
Did you like it?
The Fiat 500e is one of the most stylish small electric cars on sale right now. Fans of the petrol 500 will just love this electric version. It looks better and is even more enjoyable to drive now.
The interior has also had a great revamp and there are lots of nice trims available and cool digital features like the 10-inch touchscreen.
Like all these small electric cars, you will still pay more for one of these than the equivalent small petrol car. The 500 is certainly not the most practical small electric car on sale at the moment. Some others are bigger and nicer to drive too overall.
Yet, the Fiat 500 was always the car you bought because you wanted a small, trendy car to drive around town in. It still very much is, though not as cheap as before. Except now it's ready for the future too.
Model tested: Fiat 500e 42kWh La Prima
Price: €33,495
Battery: 42kWh
Range: 320km (WLTP)
Power: 118hp
Torque: 220Nm
Top speed: 150km/h
Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 9 seconds
Motor Tax: €120 per year
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Written by Caroline Kidd
Founder and Editor of Changing Lanes
Fiat 500 Electric Goes On Sale In Ireland!
Fiat in Ireland has announced pricing and details for the new Fiat 500 Electric, the brand's first all-electric car.
The Fiat 500 Electric ('500e') goes on sale priced from €24,995 in Ireland, including the SEAI grant for electric cars and VRT relief for private retail customers.
The range will include a hatchback and cabriolet. There are two battery options available now for the 500e.
The entry into the new 2022 Fiat 500e range in Ireland is the 500e 23.8 kWh. It has 95 hp and a range of up to 180 km measured by WLTP. It is is priced from €24,995 in Ireland.
Next up is the Fiat 500e 42 kWh with 118 hp and a range of up to 320 km (WLTP). It is priced from €26,995.
The Fiat 500e convertible is available from €31,495.
There are four trim levels - Action, Passion, Icon and La Prima. Availability depends on model.
For faster charging, the new Fiat 500 Electric can fast charge at 85 kW. The brand says it takes only 5 minutes to add 50 kilometres or charge to 80% in 35 minutes.
The Combo 2 socket located on the rear right side panel of the car powers the fast charger, for both AC and DC charging.
John Saunders, Managing Director of Fiat Ireland, said:
"The New Fiat 500 Electric has received an overwhelming positive response in Europe, and we expect the same in Ireland. This iconic urban car has the outstanding range of 320 km, best in class safety features, and level 2 autonomous driving, bringing all the associated benefits to urban mobility. 2022 is an exciting year for FIAT in Ireland and we look forward to welcoming all customers old and new into our showrooms nationwide."
Fiat 500X Review
Caroline drives the 2019 Fiat 500X!
The Fiat 500X landed in Ireland in 2015, just as the compact crossover boom was taking hold. There have been a host of new entrants since but the Fiat 500X does the compact crossover thing the cheeky Italian way. That means that the 500X has oodles of style and charm inherited from the very successful Fiat 500 city car. But being a larger vehicle altogether makes it much more practical. There’s more space and more doors.
The 500X uses a clever formula, at least on paper. At some point Fiat 500 owners were going to outgrow the city car and need more space, and why not get it in the trendy skin of a crossover?
What's new for the 2019 Fiat 500X?
And now the Fiat 500X has recently received a mid-life refresh with updates to styling, interior, equipment and the debut of a new family of turbo petrol engines. On the outside, there are new LED daytime running lights, LED headlights and rear lights, while the cockpit has also been updated to integrate more technology, improve ergonomics and refresh interior trims.
In Ireland pricing kicks off at €21,795, and the 500X comes in three trims or flavours: Urban, City Cross and Cross.
The Urban model comes with a decent standard specification including 16-inch alloy wheels, leather steering wheel, body-coloured dashboard, air conditioning, cruise control and an electric parking brake. There’s also safety equipment like Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Speed Assist and Lane Assist driving assist systems standard on all versions, as is the Uconnect 7-inch touchscreen, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
The City Cross (from €23,395) adds a few more aesthetic bits including 17-inch alloy wheels, satin chrome inserts, body-coloured door mirrors and front and rear grey skid plate. There are also front fog lights, a 3.5-inch colour TFT monitor, automatic climate control and rear parking sensors.
The range topper is the Cross as tested here (from €24,995) with 18-inch alloy wheels, roof bars and dark tinted rear windows. Inside, it adds TomTom navigation to the 7-inch touchscreen, along with Parkview rear parking camera, dusk sensor and front armrest.
There is a choice of 14 different colours, including the new tricoat Ivory, metallic Blue Italia and Techno Green.
The interior of the Fiat 500X
Inside the Fiat 500X is a colourful and cheerful place. The body coloured dash panel is a classic touch of the 500 family and a lot of the switchgear is shared between the two cars. The plastics are mostly hard around the car but there is some more soft touch panelling also and overall quality is not a problem. You sit surprisingly high in the 500X also so there is a nice commanding driving position too.
The 500X is a compact vehicle so by its nature the interior space is not that much more accommodating than your average supermini. Four will be comfortable inside and the boot is very good for this class of vehicle at 350 litres.
The new engine line up for the Fiat 500X is petrol only, but the big news is that Fiat has introduced two new turbo petrol units to the range. Buyers can choose from a three-cylinder 1.0-litre powerplant that delivers 120hp and 190Nm of torque and is paired with a six-speed manual transmission, as well as a four-cylinder 1.3-litre engine with 150hp and 270Nm of torque, combined with a six-speed dual clutch automatic transmission (DCT).
There is also an entry level 110hp 1.6 E-Torq, combined with a manual transmission.
On the road in the Fiat 500X
My test car was a Fiat 500X Cross 1.0-litre 120hp turbo petrol model with a list price of €24,995. These small 1.0-litre turbo petrol engines are ideal for this size of vehicle, and it’s no different for the Fiat 500X. There is plenty of power and refinement is also good across town and motorway, with no vibration at all coming through to the cabin. Over a week of driving my fuel consumption averaged at 7.1l/100km and motor tax is €280 per year for this model.
Elsewhere, the Fiat 500X is an easy drive with light steering that makes it great for urban environments. On the motorway it’s very stable and composed, with only very rough road surfaces catching it out. The 500X is sadly not as fun to drive as the Fiat 500 city car, with the taller SUV body making it feel a bit more clumsy in corners. But for this class of vehicle, it’s all perfectly adequate.
The Fiat 500X takes many style cues from the 500 city car, which is a good thing. Putting it in a larger and more practical body with chunky crossover style should make it searingly popular. However the compact crossover segment is vast and it’s easy for the 500X to be overlooked. Yet this cheeky Italian is stylish and comes well-equipped, while the new 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine really feels like it belongs here. And though there may be a few niggles, with that face it’s impossible to be angry with the 500X for long!
Caroline Kidd
Model tested: Fiat 500X Cross 1.0 120hp
Price: €24,995 (Range starts at €21,795)
Engine: 1.0-litre turbo petrol
Power: 120 hp
Torque: 190 Nm
0-100km/h: 10.9 seconds
Top speed: 188 km/h
Economy: 5.8-6.0 l/100km
CO2 emissions: 133-139g/km
Motor tax: €280 per year
Orders Open For The New Fiat Tipo S-Design
Fiat is adding a new trim level to the Fiat Tipo hatchback range. The Tipo S-Design gets a number of styling and equipment upgrades and starts from €22,995 for the 1.4 T-Jet 120hp petrol.
Styling updates include grille with glossy black trim, which continues around the edges of the fog lights and on the mirror caps. It also encases the Bi-Xenon headlights, which make their first appearance in the Tipo range. There is also new diamond cut 18-inch alloy wheels, tinted rear windows and body coloured door handles.
The new Fiat Tipo S-Design It is available in a choice of five colours including the exclusive new Street Grey.
Inside, the S-Design model has new 'Techno' leather and fabric seats with double stitching that extends to the gear knob and steering wheel. Glossy black accents highlight the dashboard and Tecnico Grey fascia, which spans the entire width of the passenger compartment.
Standard equipment includes the next-generation UconnectTM 7-inch HD LIVE infotainment system, fitted with high-resolution 7-inch touchscreen, and Apple CarPlay and Android AutoTM to allow drivers to access their phone's functionality while in the car.
The Fiat Tipo S-Design is also available with the 1.6 Multijet 120hp diesel from €24,745.
The Fiat Tipo S-Design hatchback is in showrooms now.
Fiat Ireland Adds Brian Reynolds Car Sales To Dealership Network
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Ireland has added Brian Reynolds Car Sales, Drogheda, to its dealer network as its newest sales and aftersales partner for both Fiat passenger car and Fiat Professional brands.
The family-run business has been appointed to represent Fiat in Drogheda, providing customers across both County Louth and County Meath an accessible new home for Fiat. The newly refurbished showroom will stock the full Fiat passenger car range including the iconic Fiat 500 and its family of vehicles: 500X, 500L and 500L Living, plus the C-segment Tipo range and Panda and Punto city cars.
Fiat Professional’s range, including the Fiorino, Doblo, Talento, Ducato and Fiat Fullback pick-up, will all be available at Brian Reynolds Car Sales.
Brian Reynolds Car Sales has been in business since 1989. The company became a Mazda dealership in 2004 and has built a strong tradition of putting customers first. It has won many awards for sales, aftersales and customer service, and is now looking forward to bringing these attributes to this new partnership.
“This is a really exciting time to be part of the Fiat brand in Ireland,” says Alan Reynolds, Dealer Principal, Brian Reynolds Car Sales. “We are thrilled to be on board with the franchise and are looking forward to putting Fiat back to its strong position in the Louth/Meath area.
“I’d also like to extend a warm welcome to all our future Fiat and Fiat Professional customers, and urge them to drop in to see us at our showroom on Matthews Lane, Drogheda, to test drive this fantastic range.”
“We are delighted to add Brian Reynolds Car Sales to our Fiat network and bring the brand back to the important Drogheda market,” adds Paul Hunt, Managing Director, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Ireland.
“This appointment represents a significant step in our plans to expand and strengthen the Fiat dealer network across Ireland. The location and accessibility will ensure customers in both Louth and Meath can now sample the Fiat range.
“We are confident that, in the Reynolds family, we have secured a partner and team that will deliver the highest levels of service to Fiat customers both current and new to the brand.”
Following on from this appointment Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Ireland will now focus on further network expansions across the counties of Galway, Kildare, Westmeath, Wexford, Sligo and Mayo.
Fiat 124 Spider Review
There was a danger that Fiat were becoming too dependent on cute city cars and cheap hatchbacks but Fiat finally has a sports car back in their range that’s just not sensible at all. The Fiat 124 Spider is a classic two seat roadster with a folding fabric roof, and is inspired by the 1966 original of the same name.
If the new Fiat Tipo is the practical, sensible part of the Fiat brand, then the 124 Spider is the emotional part. It’s the type of car that will make you part with your cash not for sensible things like value for money or boot space, but because it’s a sexy, low slung roadster that will make you a younger and better-looking version of yourself just by association.
The new 124 Spider shares much of its underpinnings with the Mazda MX5 but all the body panels are different. These two cars look uniquely different, but the Fiat is softer and more retro next to the Mazda’s sharp lines and angled approach. Inside the cabin wraps around you and the quality is good. These two roadsters are made in the same factory in Japan and this is the best quality Fiat I’ve seen. Infotainment is provided via a 7” screen that’s controlled by a rotary dial on the centre console.
Entry Classica models start from €32,395 and include air con, cruise control, and keyless engine start. Lusso models start at €35,195 and add satellite navigation, rear parking sensors, 17-inch alloy wheels, heated leather seat, automatic climate control, and front fog lamps. Lusso Plus is priced from €36,695 and adds adaptive LED headlamps, auto lights and wipers and a nine-speaker BOSE sound system.
The cabin has a ‘tight’ feel, especially with the roof up, and there is limited storage. There’s no glovebox but there is some small locked storage behind the two seats and the boot has a capacity of a meagre 140 litres.
The Fiat 124 Spider is all about the driving. You’re positioned low in the car and your legs are stretched out in front of you. You can hear the Fiat’s 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine working every time you change gear or accelerate, so it’s a very raw driving experience and it is quite noisy. You can feel the road underneath you, but the 124 Spider is comfortable for every day use.
The 1.4-litre engine produces 140hp, 240Nm of torque and 0-100kmh is achieved in 7.5 seconds with a top speed of 215kmh. I found the engine to be responsive and the turbo gives you a lovely thrust of power every time you change gear and accelerate.
The 124 Spider has classic rear wheel drive handling so it floats around corners with real grace and elegance. Surprisingly there’s not that much feedback coming from the steering, but because it’s quite a heavy set up you still feel connected to the road.
There are few things in life that hold as much promise as a red, two door, low slung, Italian sports car. The Fiat 124 Spider is not practical, but it’s fast, it’s fun and it’s raw, and that’s the innate charm of this car.
Model tested: Fiat 124 Spider Lusso Plus
Price: €36,695 (Range starts at €32,395)
Engine: 1.4-litre turbo petrol
Power: 140hp
Torque: 240Nm
0-100km/h: 7.5 seconds
Top speed: 215km/h
Economy: 44.1mpg
CO2 emissions: 148g/km
Motor tax: €390 per year
Caroline Kidd
Fiat Tipo Review
Since the demise of the Fiat Bravo, Fiat has been missing from the popular C-segment. To fill this gaping hole in their portfolio, Fiat has gone back in time to resurrect the Tipo name and launch a new compact car trio: say hello to the new Fiat Tipo estate, saloon and hatchback.
Fiat is not trying to evoke nostalgia for 1980's hatchbacks with retro design cues and PR spiel about resurrecting a classic. The 2017 Fiat Tipo is designed to be a budget compact car, that will give buyers ‘more for less’.
To that end, Fiat are launching the new Tipo in Ireland at superbly good value pricing. The saloon starts at just €16,745, the hatchback at €17,995, and the estate (station wagon) at €19,245.
It screams bargain. But is it just too good to be true?
The Fiat Tipo is certainly very presentable from the outside. There is nothing of the flamboyant Italian about it, which is a little disappointing if you like that sort of thing, but it has a reassuringly steady, sensible design that will appeal to the masses. You won’t stand out but you could do far worse.
The cost saving measures to bring this car to market at such low pricing are revealed a little more when you get inside. The design makes it easy to interact with the controls and switches, but there is an abundance of cheap, dull-looking plastic. There is some more shiny material on the inside of the doors, but that’s not really a success either. Altogether it’s more functional than plush. A 5” Uconnect touchscreen with Bluetooth connection and navigation sits in the centre of the dash but it is a bit on the small side.
The Tipo redeems itself being generously sized for its stature. The rear legroom is very good for this class and though the middle seat is not the most comfortable place to sit, the legroom is not impinged by any clumsy high transmission tunnel, and headroom is also very good all round. The boot is 440 litres in the hatch, 520 litres in the saloon and 550 litres in the estate model, all large volumes for this class of car.
The engine range is also quite extensive. The petrol Tipo range comprises of a 95hp 1.4-litre, a 120hp 1.4-litre turbo and the 1.6-litre 110hp ‘e-TorQ’ that comes with an automatic gearbox. There are two turbo diesel engines for new Tipo: a 95hp 1.3-litre and a 120hp 1.6-litre.
My test car had the 1.6-litre diesel with 120hp and a 6 speed manual gearbox. It’s got bags of power and there’s always more in reserve so even in sixth gear on the motorway a squeeze of the throttle yields quick acceleration without having to drop a gear. Motor tax is €180 per year while this engine will return a claimed 76.3mpg in the estate version. There is a coarse edge to the engine note under hard acceleration and when taking off in first and second gear, but once cruising noise is not an issue.
The Tipo holds the road well. The steering is too light for the car to be hugely engaging to drive but there is enough resistance to cover ground quickly and safely, and it doesn’t lean too much in the corners. Refinement on the motorway is good: road and wind noise are kept to a minimum. Ride comfort is less impressive because there is a constant little quiver underneath you even when the road ahead looks smooth.
Available in three trim levels, Pop, Easy and Lounge, entry level cars come with air con, Bluetooth, and four electric windows, while Easy trim adds 16” alloys, 5” Uconnect touchscreen, cruise control, front fog lights and rear parking sensors. As an introductory offer, Fiat Ireland are offering the Easy trim cars at the same price as the Pop version.
The Fiat Tipo lacks the polish of more expensive rivals, never really shaking off the budget beginnings, but it’s not trying to be anything other than a sensible car. Aspirational types should look elsewhere, but the high standard spec, sub-€20,000 pricing and generous interior space makes the Fiat Tipo impossible to ignore if you are looking for a compact car that’s good value for money.
Model tested: Fiat Tipo Station Wagon Lounge 1.6 120hp
Price: €23,495 (Range starts €16,745)
Engine: 1.6-litre turbo diesel
Power: 120hp
0-100km/h: 10.1 seconds
Economy: 76.3mpg
CO2 emissions: 98g/km
Motor tax: €180 per year
Caroline Kidd
FIAT 500 Collection Goes On Sale
FIAT Ireland has launched the new FIAT 500 Collection. It includes two new special editions of the iconic city car, one red and one white.
Based on the new FIAT 500 Lounge, the Collection features a number of styling and equipment enhancements for just €150 more than the FIAT 500 Lounge on which it's based.
They will also be very exclusive, with a limited run of just 24 specimens coming to Ireland!
The new model is available in white or red with contrasting detailing. White models have a red dashboard, red key cover and a chrome-finished gear shifter. As well as red mirror caps, red side mouldings, larger 16-inch alloy wheels with centre caps with red detailing. For red cars, these details are all offered in contrasting white.
Power comes from the popular 69hp, 1.2-litre petrol engine.
Standard equipment includes seven airbags, remote central locking, electric front windows and mirrors, touchscreen Uconnect infotainment system with Bluetooth, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, LED daytime running lights, air conditioning, panoramic, fixed glass sunroof, rear parking sensors, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, front fog lights, and chrome styling kit.
Priced at €16,250, FIAT claim that this special edition is equipped with up to €725 worth of additional equipment for just €150 more than the Lounge model on which it’s based.
What does Changing Lanes think of the Fiat 500?
At Changing Lanes we are very fond of this little Italian city car. We have been lucky to test drive it a number of times. The Fiat 500 is chic, cute and easy to drive. The 1.2-litre engine is basic but adequate. This is a small car but it's cheap and so much fun. The 500 has been a great success for the brand ans spawned a number of limited editions like this one , which add more gear at a great price.
Fiat has also expanded the 500 range to include larger, more family oriented models like the Fiat 500X compact crossover and the Fiat 500L MPV.
The brand announced new hybrid versions of the Fiat 500 in spring 2020, showing that this little Italian icon is moving with the times. Bravo!
Caroline Kidd
Fiat 500 Review (2016)
Caroline reviews the 2016 Fiat 500.
Scroll down to read the review or watch my Fiat 500 video review!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeJCS8PSSzE]
The Fiat 500 needs little in the way of introduction - it’s a modern icon. But 2008, the year the 50’s Italian icon was relaunched, seems like a long time ago now, and as the car ages Fiat faces the challenge of how to move the design forward without upsetting the core market.
So they’ve taken a very gentle approach for this latest model update so the 500 still looks very much like a 500. However, according to Fiat there are 1,900 new components.
If you look closely there are some visual changes - some new lights front and back including LED DRLs in the shape of the ‘0’ from the 500 logo, squarer edged bumpers, and a new 3D effect grille. But I'm pleased to say the 500 is still cute as a button.
You can make your 500 stand out from the crowd now with new ‘Second Skin’ personalisation options - factory-fitted themed graphics that add more wow factor, for example “Comics”, which has a cool two-tone appearance of black-yellow or black-red. There are new alloy wheel designs and two brand new colours, “Glam Coral” pastel and “Avantgarde Bordeaux” metallic, which bring the total number of colours available to 13.
Inside the 2016 Fiat 500
The interior of the 2016 Fiat 500 has lost none of its retro charm with familiar body coloured panels and circular instrument binnacle. But it now looks even better than before with a new centre console design where the new Uconnect infotainment system now takes centre stage. The 500's interior is one of the brightest, most fun and playful interiors around and can’t but make you feel a bit happier than you were when leaving the house.
However, there are a few problems that have not been addressed with this update. The standard speedometer is not the easiest to read and the seating position could be awkward for you because the lever to adjust the seat height doesn’t really move the rear cushion up and down properly, it tilts it instead, which is a bit weird.
And remember this is a small car, fine up front for driver and passenger but rear space is snug with just two designated seats and the boot is also on the small side at 185 litres.
There are three trim levels available for the Fiat 500 and standard equipment on Pop includes LED daytime running lights, electric windows and mirrors, Uconnect and steering wheel-mounted audio controls. Step up to Pop Star for air con and alloys and to Lounge for front fog lights, a panoramic glass sunroof, rear parking sensors, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and a more advanced Uconnect system.
What are my options?
The engine line-up for the 2016 Fiat 500 has been carried forward so there’s the 1.2-litre petrol, with 69bhp, two TwinAir turbo petrols with a bit more power (85 and 105bhp), and a 1.3 litre diesel (95bhp), which is actually the only diesel you will find in this segment.
My test car had the basic 1.2 litre, 69bhp petrol engine. It is modest in terms of power and performance - fine at urban speeds but it’s slow to pick up pace out of town and if you meet any steep hills you will be dropping gears rapidly to maintain that pace! But this engine is the bigseller in the 500 range and the pricing keeps the car cheap and cheerful. The turbocharged units are more powerful but they do have their own peculiar noise, which you will find irritating or irritating.
Little has changed in the way the 500 drives, which is largely a good thing because this is a genuinely fun little car to drive. Nothing to do with outright power of course, but it has good grip and road holding ability, the body feels nice and rigid, and the steering is direct and accurate.
Is the Fiat 500 any good?
But if there is to be a chink in the armour it’s the ride comfort - not the 500’s strong point. But this was really only an issue for me on the motorway – and you can excuse it because the car is not designed for motorways. It just never really settles, there’s this feeling of constant movement underneath you, which can grate on a long journey.
But you can forgive it some more when you look at the pricing and start thinking about how cool you will look behind the wheel for so little money. The 500 range starts at €13,450 for your basic 1.2 litre in Pop trim. Pop Star models start at €14,400 and Lounge models start at €15,800. The cabrio is available from €16,450.
The Fiat 500 is not the perfect small car, some are more spacious and some a bit more comfortable. But in terms of pure desirability, presence and style, the 2016 Fiat 500 leads the way and there are few cars that move in such fashionable circles with the same sort of pricing as the 500.
Need more space? Read our review of the Fiat 500X!
Caroline Kidd
Model tested: Fiat 500 Lounge 1.2-litre
Price: €15,800 (500 range starts at €13,450)
Engine: 1.2-litre petrol
Power: 69bhp
0-100km/h: 12.9 seconds
Economy: 60.1mpg
CO2 emissions: 110g/km
Tax band: A3 (€190 per year)
Fiat 500 Arrives In Ireland
Fiat launched the new 500 to the Irish media on Monday at Weston Airport in Lucan, Co. Dublin and they’re billing it as ‘the icon reloaded’.
On the surface of things it doesn’t look much different from the petite 500 remake that first arrived here in 2008.
But according to Fiat, there are 1,900 new components to enhance and refine an already very successful 1950s-inspired retro recipe.
How successful exactly? 1.5 million have been sold in over 100 countries since launch in 2007 and sales have increased year on year - even as the car has aged. From an Irish perspective, the market may be small for 3-door city cars like the 500, but just under 2000 of them have found homes here.
The marketing for the Fiat 500 is very much aimed at the young, social urbanite, yet interestingly Fiat’s own sales data shows that the average customer is a bit more middle-aged - 45 to be exact – but predictably female.
What's new for the next Fiat 500?
Image and styling are naturally very important to Fiat 500 buyers and with the success of the current model, Fiat decided not to get too creative in the design studio when it came to updating the car. The most noticeable changes to the styling are the addition of new LED daytime running lights in a circular shape (like the zeros of the 500 logo), new bumpers with squarer edges, and a 3D-effect grille with chrome-like buttons on the Lounge version.
At the rear there are new 'empty' tail lamp clusters with ring-shaped illumination and body-coloured centres.
There are new alloy wheel designs and two brand new colours, “Glam Coral” pastel and “Avantgarde Bordeaux” metallic, which bring the total number of colours available to 13.
New ‘Second Skin’ personalisation options have also been added to the 500 range. These are factory-fitted themed graphics that add more wow factor, for example “Comics”, which has a cool two-tone appearance of black-yellow or black-red.
Inside the updated 500
The interior still has the retro vibe with coloured dash panels and large round instrument binnacle. There’s more choice inside in terms of colour schemes and seat fabrics, though some of it is dependent on the trim level of the car. The Uconnect infotainment system is now standard across the range, with steering wheel-mounted audio controls and USB / Aux-in ports on all cars.
Available as a hatchback or cabriolet, there are three trim levels for the Irish market: Pop, Pop Star and Lounge. Standard equipment includes remote central locking, electric windows and mirrors, Uconnect, steering wheel-mounted audio controls and LED daytime running lights. An electric roof with heated glass rear screen is standard on the cabriolet.
Step up to Pop Star for air con and alloys, and to Lounge for a panoramic fixed glass sunroof, rear parking sensors, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and front fog lights. Lounge models also have a more advanced Uconnect system with Bluetooth hands-free calling and music streaming, voice recognition and an SMS reader for reading text messages.
What are my engine options?
In terms of engines, there is a choice of three petrols and one diesel: a 1.2-litre 69bhp petrol , 0.9-litre TwinAir turbo petrol with 85bhp or 105bhp and a 1.3-litre 95bhp turbo diesel.
At the launch I sampled the 1.2-litre 69bhp and TwinAir Turbo 105bhp. The TwinAir is predictably quick but it likes to let you know it’s working, so the noise will be either irritating or endearing. The 1.2-litre feels flatter through the gears, and the lack of power could get frustrating out on bigger roads - but it’s fine at low speeds around town.
The key to the Fiat 500 is pricing. The hatchback range starts at €13,450 for the 1.2-litre petrol in Pop trim. The Pop Star range starts at €14,400 and Lounge models at €15,800. The cabrio is available from €16,450.
Yes the Fiat 500 is a small car with a small boot. But in terms of pure desirability, presence and style, you won’t find many that move in such fashionable circles and can match that sort of pricing.
Caroline Kidd
Watch out for a full road test of the Fiat 500 coming soon!