Fiat 500 (2008-present)
Stylish and fun to drive, the Fiat 500 has more character than most cars - but isn't the most practical city car option
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
Weaknesses
Fiat 500 prices from £4,500 Finance from £0 per month
Cute looks and a cheeky sense of fun have made the Fiat 500 a huge sales success. With retro styling that calls to mind the classic lines of its 1950s predecessor, the Fiat 500 makes you feel like you’re weaving around scooters on the winding streets of Rome every time you take a trip to Tesco.
Alternatives such as the Skoda Citigo, Volkswagen Up and Kia Picanto may be cheaper and more sensible, with larger interiors and the feeling that you’re driving a bigger, more sophisticated car, but the 500 will put a wider grin on your face.
That's partly because of its design, but also thanks to its small dimensions and light steering, which makes it easy to dart around town in. The more expensive TwinAir petrol engine adds more character because it needs to be worked hard, engaging you in the driving process more than most small cars, however, as a result, it might not be as economical as you would expect. As it only has two cylinders, the engine makes a distinctive thrum.
The 500 can cope with longer journeys at motorway speeds but the constant engine noise and slightly bumpy ride can detract from its charm and start to wear you down.
Considering its tiny size, the 500 is surprisingly roomy, but few adults will volunteer to sit in the back, while the lack of a middle rear seat is also restrictive. If you need a small car with space and practicality, then the boxy Fiat Panda is a better bet, along with the previous generation of Hyundai i10.
For the full Italian summer look, the convertible Fiat 500C offers an open-topped experience, while there are plenty of special editions available with unique styling and interior feel. The Collezione has extra chrome trim, two-tone grey seats and an optional two-tone paint scheme; Colour Therapy cars are bright with white wheel covers and a pool ball-style gear knob; speedboat-inspired Riva versions have a mahogany dashboard, ivory leather seats and a special 'Sera' blue paint.
The 500 was given five stars for safety when independently crash-tested by Euro NCAP in 2007. It has Isofix attachments for child seats in the back but doesn’t offer the latest equipment, like automatic emergency braking. Do bear in mind, however, that the crash test has become far more challenging since 2007, so cars receiving five stars more than a decade on are likely to be much safer than the 500 in reality.
A newer version of the Fiat 500 was introduced in 2020 and is available in electric-only form, and is on sale alongside 1.0-litre hybrid versions of the outgoing model which are available for a limited time.
FIAT 500 ELECTRIC BUYERS' GUIDE
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Key facts
Warranty: Three years/60,000 miles | Boot size: 185 litres |
Width: 1,627mm | Length: 3,571mm |
Height: 1,488mm | Tax (min to max): £105 to £145 in first year, £140 thereafter |
Best Fiat 500 for...
- January 2008 Fiat 500 goes on sale in UK
- December 2008 Fiat 500bydiesel special edition launched with denim-effect fabric
- February 2009 Gets fuel-saving Start Stop technology
- October 2010 30,000 Fiats, including some 500s, recalled for airbag issue
- May 2011 Fiat 500 byGucci special edition launched with white or black Gucci paint and leather seats
- August 2012 Fiat 500 Colour Therapy special editions include bright paint, white wheel covers, pool ball gear knob and air conditioning.
- September 2015 Fiat 500 is updated, with minor design weaks to lights; Uconnect touchscreen and improved interior quality
- June 2016 The Fiat 500S is reintroduced, with sportier looking bumpers, tinted windows and a standard 7in touchscreen
- July 2016 Fiat 500 Riva special edition goes on sale, with mahogany dashboard, ivory leather and special 'Sera' blue paint.
- January 2018 Special-edition Mirror models come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The tech is added to 500S versions too.
- March 2018 Fiat 500 Collezione special edition has extra chrome highlights and two-tone paint option
- September 2018 Automatic versions and more powerful 105hp TwinAir engine are no longer produced.
- October 2018 An autumn edition of the 500 Collezione is launched, with burgundy and grey paint and copper-coloured wheels.
- 2019 The range receives an overhaul, with new trim levels introduced along with exterior and interior updates. Pop Star and S models are discontinued and replaced by Star, Rockstar and Sport.
- February 2020 The Fiat 500 mild-hybrid is launched throughout the trim range with prices starting at £12,665.
- March 2020 Fiat announces a new electric-only 500 model, and continues selling the outgoing model in mild hybrid form.
- January 2021 Connect, Dolcevita and Sport join entry-level Pop to make a new four-specification range.
- March 2021 Google partnership brings 'Hey Google' voice control capabilities to the 500 mild hybrid from £16,005.
Understanding Fiat 500 car names
- 500
- Engine
- 0.9 TwinAir
- Trim
- Lounge
- Gearbox
- Dualogic
- Engine
- Fiat 500 engines are small and the size is given in litres - just 0.9 in this case. Some of the petrol engines have two cylinders instead of the normal four, and are called TwinAir. The 1.2 engine is a conventional four-cylinder petrol motor and does not carry a specific name. An earlier 1.3-litre diesel engine is badged MultiJet.
- Trim
- You can get the 500 in four basic trim levels (Pop, Pop Star, Lounge and S), but Fiat has offered numerous special editions over the years, often in collaboration with fashion brands.
- Gearbox
- Dualogic is Fiat's name for the 500's automatic gearbox.
Fiat 500 Engines
Petrol: 0.9 TwinAir, 1.2, 1.0 mild hybrid
If you're looking for a low-cost Fiat 500, then the 1.2-litre petrol engine is the least expensive choice. BuyaCar prices start at £5,000 or £0 per month. It's reasonably quick and quiet when driving around town, but it can feel cumbersome when accelerating to motorway speeds, while overtaking requires an element of pre-planning. In terms of fuel economy, you can expect around 40mpg, according to the Equa Index, which estimates real-world fuel economy based on public road testing. The 'Eco' versions on sale since 2009 added new tech (such as Start Stop, which turns off the engine at traffic lights) to try and boost efficiency, but economy gains were marginal.
For a bit more money, Fiat's tiny 0.9-litre, two-cylinder ‘TwinAir’ engine puts a bit more fizz into the 500. You'll need to work it harder to get the best performance (which is part of the appeal), but the reward is a surprising level of acceleration coupled with a satisfying exhaust burble. Prices start from £4,500 or £0 per month on BuyaCar,, while fuel economy figures are claimed to be around 45-50mpg.
A more powerful 105hp version of the TwinAir engine was available until mid-2018, and there are plenty of deals for that model available on BuyaCar. There was also a diesel option for a short time, which was the most economical Fiat 500 by far - achieving up to around 60mpg which is ideal if you're regularly making long journeys, but very few diesel Fiat 500s were sold, and used car stock is equally sparse.
An additional option was introduced in 2020 when Fiat launched the 500 mild hybrid. This makes use of a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine paired with a small, self-charging electric motor and a 6-speed manual gearbox. In terms of performance, it's a mixed bag. This engine produces 70hp and helps the 500 from 0-62mph in 13.8 seconds and to an eventual top speed of 104mph. Emissions are reduced, with Fiat claiming CO2 emissions of 88g/km, and fuel economy sits at around 53.3mpg.
| Fuel | Official fuel economy | Power | Acceleration (0-62mph) | Top speed | |
| 1.2 | Petrol | 53.3mpg | 69hp | 12.9sec | 99mph |
| 0.9 TwinAir 85hp | Petrol | 60.1mpg | 85hp | 11sec | 107mph |
| 1.0 | Hybrid | 53.3mpg | 70hp | 13.8sec | 104mph |
Fiat 500 Trims
Pop, Lounge, Sport, Star, Rockstar, Red, Dolcevita, Connect
At the most basic level, Pop trim models come with 14-inch steel wheels and a modest amount of in-car equipment. Central locking and start stop are convenient, but there's nothing of real luxury to speak of. Safety tech in this entry level 500 is also acceptable with driver's and passenger side airbags, LED daytime running lights and a tyre pressure monitoring system. It's primitive, and if you can afford to you might be temped to look a little higher in the range.
If you're looking for more features, Lounge trim brings the 500 into the 2020s. Along with tidy and up-to-date styling, Lounge models add 15-inch alloy wheels and rear parking sensors and a chrome finish on the outside. Inside, standard tech includes a seven-inch touchscreen display with Bluetooth and digital radio, while Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are also on tap. The Lounge interior includes additions such as air-conditioning, cruise control, heated door mirrors, and a height adjustable steering wheel and drivers seat. Mild hybrid Connect models offer a similar level of kit to Lounge trim.
For an £170, you could instead go for Sport spec, which offers an alternative door mirror colour in place of the chrome finish on the Lounge.
Star models were new for 2019 and brought a new collection of tech including an additional seven-inch instrument cluster display. You'll also get 16-inch alloy wheels, body-coloured door mirrors, chrome trim and a glass roof.
At the top of the range, we have Rockstar trim. You get everything as it is in Star models, but additional styling features include even more chrome and tinted rear windows.
A special series model, the Dolcevita, brings some fanciful luxury to the range. It's only available in an exclusive white colour and includes 50/50 folding rear seats, dual-zone climate control and a number of exterior styling motifs to help other identify that you're driving a special Fiat 500.
If you would like something striking, the Fiat 500 Red is about as bold as it comes. Not only is the entire car painted in bright red, the interior is also hit with a red dashboard insert and red trim on the seats and floor mats. Red models are also fitted with the same seven-inch media system, anti-lock brakes, cruise control, hill start assist and stability control for easy driving in all weathers.
Fiat 500 Reliability and warranty
The Fiat 500 isn't the car to choose for long warranty cover. The standard three year / 60,000 mile protection that comes when new is well short of the five years offered by Toyota and Hyundai, and the seven years from Kia.
Owners love the way that the car looks but some are frustrated with minor niggles, according to the latest Auto Express Driver Power satisfaction survey. It was ranked 60 out of 75 cars for reliability in the 2018 poll, with electrical faults the most common issue.
Another comprehensive poll, the JD Power dependability survey, which focuses on older used models, also scored the Fiat 500 poorly. It was below average for reliability, which may mean that an extended warranty is a wise investment.
Used Fiat 500
The Fiat 500 is in demand, but its popularity means that there's also a high level of supply, bringing affordable prices and plenty of choice.
There are currently 99 Fiat 500s available on BuyaCar, with prices ranging from £4,500 to £15,976 for nearly-new models.
The car is particularly affordable on finance, thanks to that high level of demand, which ensures that it retains its value well. Monthly finance payments start from £0 per month.
Updated cars are easily identified by their "hollow" rear-lights, which have a body-coloured panel in the middle of each cluster. These cars, sold since September 2015, had numerous minor updates to improve quality and efficiency. There's not a great deal of difference to lower-specification cars but more-expesive Lounge cars did gain a touchscreen as part of the improvements.
The standard air conditioning on Pop Star cars is a big advantage over the entry-level Pop version, and does mean that you're likely to pay more - Pop Star models start at £6,495 and £0 per month on BuyaCar. And unless you're keen to retain that car's classic-looking cream-coloured radio, then the higher-specification Lounge model, with a touchscreen, Bluetooth and sunroof, will prove tempting, considering prices are only a little higher, starting at £4,500 or £0 per month on BuyaCar.
The Mirror special edition cars guarantee you Apple CarPlay and Android Auto software (as do most 500S cars built in 2018). Riva models feel expecially luxurious with a mahogany dashboard.
Other Editions
- Fiat 500 and 500C Electric review (2020-present): models and trim levelsThe Fiat 500 Electric is one of the most affordable and desirable electric cars right now - available in hatchback and convertible form