Fiat 500 is one of the best small city cars in the market. Thanks to its elegant and slim design, low gas mileage, and affordability. But is the Fiat 500 a bad car?
It depends on what you’re looking for. Some people may find the Fiat 500 good, while others may consider it to be a bad car. If you’re looking for a reliable, compact, efficient, and affordable car, the Fiat 500 is a good car for you. But if you need a luxurious, spacious, safe, and advanced compact city, then this is not the car for you.
Are Fiat 500 expensive to maintain?
The Fiat 500 is neither cheap nor expensive to maintain. This is because it costs between $400 and $530 to maintain annually. The cost varies according to the Fiat 500 model you own. Besides, this is similar to most subcompact cars that cost an average of $456 to maintain annually. So, some Fiat 500 models may be cheaper to maintain, while others will be slightly costlier.
What is the cost of maintaining the Fiat 500?
As stated above, the cost of maintaining the Fiat 500 will depend on the Fiat model that you have. On average, it will cost you around $400 to maintain the Fiat 500, $500 to maintain the Fiat 500X, and $640 to maintain the Fiat 500L.
Some of the parts that you should be ready to replace as the Fiat 500 puts on several miles are pressure plates, door locks, steering system, and interior electronics. Before that, you may have to replace ignition coils and sparks.
What is the high mileage for Fiat 500?
Even though Fiat 500 comes with slightly above-average reliability, some model years are less reliable than others. So, it is important to select the right Fiat 500 model year if you intend to use it for years. Besides, Fiat 500 with over 150,000 miles is considered to have high mileage.
This is because most Fiat 500 models start experiencing serious engine and transmission issues after clocking over 150,000 miles. Hence, if you’re planning to buy a used Fiat 500 model, ensure it has less than 140,000 miles.
However, it is also vital to understand that some cars with fewer miles, i.e. 60k miles can have more serious issues than those with over 150k miles. If a car is poorly maintained, mileage doesn’t matter as it will tend to register more problems than a car that is well-maintained, regardless of the miles on the odometer.
Is Fiat 500 a safe car?
The original Fiat 500 model is among the safest Fiat 500 models ever created. It scored a maximum of 5-star ratings in Euro NCAP crash tests in 2007. Nonetheless, the latest models are not as safe as the original ones. In 2017, the Fiat 500 models were again tested where they scored a meager 3 out of 5 stars.
Aside from scoring low in terms of safety, they also received surprisingly low 66% and 49% scores for adult and child occupant protection, respectively. It is one of the worst scores in the class. Nonetheless, the Fiat 500 also comes with considerable safety features, such as hill-hold assistance, seven airbags, a hydraulic brake assistant, skid-reducing anti-lock brakes, and electronic stability management.
How long does the Fiat 500 last compared to its competitors?
The Fiat 500 is one of the most durable cars in its class. When properly maintained, the Fiat 500 can last for more than 250,000 miles. It has the same lifespan as the Mini Cooper ad Smart Fortwo, but the Honda Fit is considerably more reliable as most of them clock over 300,000 miles.
Do Fiat 500 rust easily?
No, Fiat 500 models don’t rust easily. This is because they undergo an exceptional standard of rustproofing during the manufacturing process. The procedure includes an E-Coat ad underbody corrosion protection.
Regardless of the sturdy construction, no car lacks rust issues. Hence, some of the areas you should look out for on your Fiat 500 are the sunroof frame and tailgate under the rear spoiler.
FAQ
Does Fiat 500 have problems?
Yes, Fiat 500 comes with several problems that different users have reported over the years. Some of the issues that users might experience during ownership are braking problems, transmission failure, steering failure, suspension problems, bad clutch pressure, and premature ball joint failure.
Is Fiat 500 good for motorway driving?
Yes, Fiat 500 is pretty good for motorway driving. It can hold very well just like most of its rivals. Nonetheless, users should be ready to deal with road and wind noise as they cruise on the motorway. So, if you’re not bothered by wind noise, you will enjoy driving this car on the motorway.
Are Fiat 500 fuel efficient?
When compared to similar cars in its class, you will discover that the Fiat 500 is not very efficient. This is because it has an EPA rating of 24 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and a combined 26 mpg. This is quite lower compared to Honda Fit with a rating of 29 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway, and a combined 31 mpg.
Is Fiat 500 good for off-road driving?
No, Fiat 500 is one of the worst cars for off-road driving. While it is agile on the highway ad fun to drive in the city, the Fiat 500 performs dismally on bumpy roads or rough terrains. So, if you’re looking for a small car for off-road driving, stay away from the Fiat 500 as you will be very disappointed.
Is a used Fiat 500 a good car?
It depends on the condition the car is in. If the car is well-maintained and driven properly, the Fiat 500 can be a good used car. But if the owner hasn’t maintained it well, it may prove to be problematic. A well-maintained Fiat 500 can last over 200,000 miles. This is based on the average of 15,000 miles per year.
Final thoughts
Fiat 500 are neither very good nor bad cars. It all depends on what you’re looking for in a small city car. The Fiat 500 is an excellent small car for people who desire a compact, reliable, affordable, ad fuel-efficient city car. On the contrary, those looking for a luxurious, high-performance, powerful, ad advanced compact car may see it as a bad car.
