Name: Fiat 500 Review
Item: Fiat 500
Author: Gumtree.com

The Fiat 500 has thrilled customers as a stylish hatchback since its arrival onto the UK market in 1957. After charming urban car owners for over 50 years, it returned re-modelled in 2014. The all-electric 500 followed in 2020, bringing with it a newly designed interior and subtle tech features to keep that retro aesthetic feeling fresh. The latest iteration of the Fiat 500 reminds city car-owners that it’s not only unique in appearance but offers a pleasing and easy drive around tight urban streets.

Discover the Fiat 500’s range of trims in detail at the Fiat 500 model page.

What we think about the Fiat 500

The Fiat 500 is an urban car that makes a bold statement thanks to its charismatic and retro aesthetic.

Pros

Cheerful exterior with stylish interior

Economical engine specs

Ease of parking and handling, particularly in urban surroundings

Cons

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Cramped driving position

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Noisy at motorway speeds

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Lower than average safety rating

The Fiat 500 2015 update saw it revamped with a newly designed interior, adding a modern twist to its retro stylings. Its small engine trims are ideally designed for urban environments with a 0.9-litre and 1.0-litre hybrid petrol engine available on the UK market. The Fiat 500 thrives on city streets, where its fuel economy can truly shine.

Driving performance of the Fiat 500

Our Driving Rating8 / 10

Provided it’s kept on city streets, it’s hard not to love the nimble feel of the Fiat 500. The handling is agile and light – maybe a little too light at first if you’re more familiar with a bigger car, so do allow some adjustment time to the steering. It accelerates eagerly to 30 mph, but you’ll find its performance will start to wain as it drifts over 60 mph. It’ll glide just fine down the motorway, but be prepared for the noise both inside and out that comes with the journey.

Safety and reliability of the Fiat 500

Our Safety Rating6 / 10

The biggest disappointment of the Fiat 500 is its lower than average safety rating. The Euro NCAP scored its pre-2009 models a glowing five stars, but the 2017 model was tested under newer and more rigorous controls that led to the 500 only achieving a three-star crash test score. This result is predominantly due to the lack of advanced safety tech inside the Fiat 500, which is also not available as an added extra. Despite the lack of high-tech features, it does pack nine deployable airbags so should you need protection, it’s there.

Under the bonnet of the Fiat 500

Our Engine Rating8 / 10

Fiat offers a choice between its 85 bhp TwinAir petrol engine and its 70 bhp Mild Hybrid alternative. The TwinAir trim is a 1.0-litre petrol engine, that’ll do 0-62 mph in approximately 11 seconds and can reach a top speed of 106 mph – though you’ll hear the car’s performance begin to waver at nearly half that top speed. The Mild-Hybrid is a three-cylinder, 1.0-litre petrol engine boosted by electrical assistance. The deceleration energy is stored to boost the car’s performance as needed to save on fuel, while its engine’s 70 bhp will still reach 62 mph in just under 14 seconds.

What you'll find in the Fiat 500

Our Design Rating8 / 10

It’s hard not to be charmed by the Fiat 500 – a retro three-door beaming with more personality than its compact size would suggest. Its agile and light frame is available in a range of eye-catching trim colours, so you are perfectly placed to make a statement on the streets. The proportions are elegant, and its LED headlamps are compact yet efficient. Its legacy as a slick city car remains intact thanks to Fiat’s latest design updates.

Comfort and interiors in the Fiat 500

Our Comfort Rating7 / 10

The retro style of the Fiat 500’s exterior continues through to its interior, and its latest model is more spacious than before. Comfortable upright front seating provides excellent support but the backseat legroom remains very tight. Despite the tight space, the 500 accommodates drivers of different sizes with an adjustable front seat and steering wheel as standard – helping you find just the right balance of headroom, legroom and driving comfort. The boot provides 185 litres of space, not a bad return for such a compact car.

What features you'll find in the Fiat 500

Our Features Rating7 / 10

Fiat has managed to squeeze some of the latest tech into the dashboard, with a centrally mounted seven-inch touchscreen where you can toggle through the in-car sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A selection of fabric trims is also available for the interior, allowing you to personalise the character of your 500. The automatic transmission operates in the form of buttons, rather than a stick – though they are placed in the same position as the previous stick, freeing up some space in the front cabin area.

What fuel efficiency to expect from the Fiat 500

Our Fuel Consumption Rating8 / 10

The latest mild-hybrid version of the Fiat 500 has excellent fuel economy, claiming to offer 53.5 mpg and low CO2 emissions of 88 g/km – using 20% less fuel than the previous models. If you prefer the TwinAir petrol engine, you can expect to see an average of 51.4 mpg while emitting 106 g/km of CO2. In reality, if you’re only using the 500 as a city car these figures should be easily achievable on a regular basis.

Running costs of the Fiat 500

Our Cost Rating8 / 10

The Fiat 500’s excellent fuel economy is balanced by an unfortunate record for unreliability. There have been a number of recalls in the past, mainly related to steering, braking and seat belts. Fiat has always been quick to take care of any issues relating to recalls in the past – and with their current promise of a three-year warranty, their emphasis on high-quality service continues. If you’re looking for a used 500, make sure to check that any problems relating to a recall have been thoroughly checked by a Fiat dealership.

Our verdict of the Fiat 500

4 / 5 Gumtree rating

A stylish city car that feels right at home on the narrow streets of Britain's urban jungles.

Fiat 500 Review