Fiat 500 road test car and driver

With a curb weight of about 2500 pounds, the 500 abarth isnt poundheavy its heritageheavy. Its safe to say that this engine better matches the driving dynamics to the cars cheeky. Fiat eases into the world of electrification with a new mildhybrid version of the 500 city car. In government crash testing, the 500 received four stars out of five overall, a rating that consists of four stars in the frontalcrash and rollover tests and five stars in the. The 2017 fiat 500 comes with standard stability control, 4wheel antilock disc brakes and seven airbags front, frontside, driver knee and fulllength sidecurtain. The fiat handles 60 mph well as long as the roads are smooth but it can go 65 or 70 mph if you need it. Fiat 500 performance, engine, ride, handling what car. If youre looking for a sensible, practical town car, the hyunndai i10 or volkswagen up are better choices since they are more spacious, betterequipped and more competent on the open road.

Speaking of, it probably goes without saying that the sixspeed auto. Say goodbye to boring with this adorable scoop of italian gelatothe fiat 500 is ready to brighten up your garage. In addition, the spatial presentation is disconcerting with sounds coming from the dash and shifted away from the driver. Under the hood, though, the new turbocharged base engine delivers 33 percent more horsepower than its nonturbo predecessor. The car, which is based on the ndchassis mazda mx5, goes on sale this summer. Book a test drive first and make sure the fiat model you choose meets your needs. The fiat 500 offers character in place of spaciousness, italian charm in place of performance. It had all the grace of a threelegged wombat, it was tall and long and potbellied. The 500 d arrived in 1960 and ushered in an enlarged 499cc twocylinder engine, this time with 18hp, which powered the little car including our 1996 500 f test model until 1973. Official fiat 500 safety rating the european new car. Sep 23, 2009 giant drives classic fiat 500 car and driver. Fiat showed that a similar level of protection would be provided to occupants of different sizes and to those sat in different positions. Dummy readings indicated good protection of the knees and femurs for both the driver and the passenger.

Leaving out abarths 500 hot hatch, the 500 is only available with a choice of three engines. The 2017 fiat 500e is a small electric car sold only in california and oregon. The 2018 fiat 500 doesnt just evoke the charming little cinquecento of the 1950s, but it represents a car thats been around now for so long without a redesign that its almost a classic itself. The us is too hooked on trucks and suvs for fiats new 500. Jun 29, 2017 the 2017 fiat 500e is a small electric car sold only in california and oregon.

Lets start in town, where the compact 500 is designed to excel. The 2019 fiat 500 combines the latest technology and efficiency within a smart and beautiful italian body. All 2020 fiat 500x models come with a turbocharged 1. You buy the fiat 500 abarth for the intoxicating exhaust note, grippy handling and distinctive style. Shocking longhaul comfort 2012 fiat 500 longterm road test. Its spotthedifference time for fiats facelifted 500. At a basic level it does its small 3,571mm long by 1,627mm wide and easy to see out of thanks to curved apillars that. Still, the abarth is a special car with a ton of charisma. A coupe or slidingcanvas soft top are both available, though in openair form it can get a little pricey. However, as with other cars in its class, the 500s back seat is a tight fit for passengers. Also the model of the car is very nice inside and the music system sounds good and i like the interior of the car. Compared with the regular fiat 500, sport mode gives you 60 more ponies and 72 more lbft.

The fiat 500l is a different breed of disreputable mammal. Credit fiat for not being stubborn with the fiat 500. Technically and mechanically other city cars outstrip it, but emotionally well, thats up to you. Perhaps recognizing that the original 500 was a bit too small to earn big business here in the united states, the fiat brand decided to upsize the cinquecento with cars like the 2017 fiat 500l lounge. Unfortunately, ones listening pleasure is further reduced because the fiat 500 is far from the quietest car on the road and the single din head unit offers but a minimalist user interface. The fiat 500 is slow to stop, so give ample space between you and the car in front of you, especially in stopandgo traffic when the driver behind you tries to push you down the road. Mar 29, 2017 the 2017 fiat 500 comes with standard stability control, 4wheel antilock disc brakes and seven airbags front, frontside, driver knee and fulllength sidecurtain. The styling, the lineup, standard features and, ahem, the price. Pick the best engine and compare performance with similar cars. The tiny 500 goes from pipsqueak to badass as the hotrod abarth, the heart of which is a raucous 160hp turbocharged fourcylinder.

Read daily updates on our longterm road test of the 2012 fiat 500 sport and follow along as our editors live with this car for a year. Its not as sporty as the mini cooper, but the fiat 500 is nimble and eyecatching. Fiat 500 fiats retroupdate for the car that put italy on wheels is an instant object of desire whose talents on the road are just as enviable as its looks, says john simister tuesday. Except for a new spoiler, sidesill ground effects extensions, and. The passenger compartment of the 500 remained stable in the frontal offset test. May 17, 2018 the 2018 fiat 500 doesnt just evoke the charming little cinquecento of the 1950s, but it represents a car thats been around now for so long without a redesign that its almost a classic itself. Top 10 bestselling mpg cars of 2015 first half on the way to the selfdriving car advanced driver assistance adas technology. Fiat returns to the american market with the tiny 500. The 2012 fiat 500 abarth may be small smaller than even a mini cooper but its a heavy car. The fiat 500e is the black sheep of the fiat chrysler automobiles family. Sep 10, 2018 the fiat 500 offers character in place of spaciousness, italian charm in place of performance. Actually this is essentially the same car that first went on sale in 2008 and its an upgrade of an upgrade of an upgrade, but fiat calls it the 500 series 4. Forever cute and oozing with italian character, the 500 maintains its appeal for those who dont want to sacrifice style just because they don.

Built to appease the state of california and its zeroemission mandates, the 500e electric car has been a thorn in fca ceo sergio marchionnes side. Side ratings are assigned by the institute based on a test conducted by fiat chrysler as part of side crash test verification. The fiat 500 city car has the iconic exterior, comfortable interior and offers a wide choice of personalisation possibilities. The fiat 500 is a good car but i dont like the fact that when i sit still my car shakes even without it having issues, fiats 500 are good cars if youre taking long road trips but not if you have a. Forever cute and oozing with italian character, the 500 maintains its appeal for those who dont want to sacrifice style just because they dont have a lot of money to spend on a new car. Take sergio marchionnes advice and spend your ev dollars elsewhere. Giant drives classic fiat 500 car and driver youtube. After my original drive of the fiat 500 sport and then going with a friend to purchase one, i thought i had experience in the 500. You also get a 7inch touchscreen, apple carplay and android auto, and heated power mirrors. Institute of highway safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety. The 500 offers lots of safety kit and ranks well for overall reliability.

But if youre styleconscious then there is no small car to match the fiat 500 for image or personalisation. Four trim levels pop, pop star, lounge and s are on offer, plus numerous special editions. Zippy around town and easy to park, this twodoor subcompact seems. I love the car because is small reliable and good on gas. The fiat 500x was introduced in the 2016 model year and is derived from the jeep renegade. The fiat 500 was first introduced in 1957, lasting through until 1975 and the name didnt reappear until 2007 when the brand released this small hatchback. We test the 2017 fiat 500c interior and technology its charming, retro exterior still stands out in traffic even though it hasnt changed much since the car was introduced in 2011. Fiat was brave enough to let us test the car on some pretty beatenup buckinghamshire roads, and its noticeably smoother on the smaller wheels. A ninespeed automatic transmission and allwheel drive are standard. Just how much has the refreshed bestseller improved. Fiat 500 road test nimble handling and a freerevving engine make the funky, retrostyled fiat 500 microcar engaging to drive. Fiats 2019 124 spider, 500 abarth are absolute hooligans. But no one buys a fiat 500 for the performancewell, maybe those interested in the hot abarth model doas the diminutive city car is more of a fashion accessory.