Fiat 500 is an adorable-looking small city car. Besides, it is also fun to drive, practical, efficient, affordable, and reliable. But like most cars, this unit comes with several engines that make it somewhat challenging to pick the right car. So, which Fiat 500 engine is the best?
Fiat provides petrol, diesel, and hybrid engines. However, some engines were discontinued and are no longer in use, while others have been retained and even improved. Popular Fiat 500 engines are the 0.9-liter TwinAir Turbo I2, 1.0-liter GSE Firefly I3 mild hybrid, 1.2-liter FIRE I4, 1.4-liter FIRE Multiair I4, 1.4-liter FIRE TurboJet I4, and 1.3-liter MultiJet I4 engines.
The Fiat 500 0.9-liter TwinAir Turbo I2 petrol engine is the best engine. This is because it is very responsive, reliable, and efficient. It is also much more eager to pick up the pace compared to the 1.0-liter or 1.2-liter engines. It also delivers up to 104 hp and 107 lb-ft of torque. It also comes with a top speed of 117 mph, which is excellent for its size. It can also accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 11.0 seconds.
History of the TwinAir engine
FCA launched the Fiat 500 with three Euro5-compliant engines. These included one diesel and two petrol engines. The first engine, which was the 1.3 MultiJet was fitted with a diesel particulate filter. Despite the Fiat 500’s name, which originally corresponded to the engine’s displacement, the lowest displacement is around 1242 cc with 69 metric horsepower.
After the success of the 1.3-liter engine, the first TwinAir engine was unveiled in 2010 at the Geneva Motor Show. Unlike the previous engine, the TwinAir engine was smaller with a turbocharged two-cylinder with 85 PS. Despite its size, this engine outperformed the former engine and it was awarded the Best New Engine in 2011 and was marketed as the “world’s greenest petrol engine.”
Later on, a naturally aspirated version of the TwinAir engine was introduced and it featured a larger bore and longer stroke, with a displacement of 964 cc and a higher compression ratio. Last but not least, the 0.9-liter TwinAir engine with 105 PS was unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Which is the fastest Fiat 500 engine?
In terms of speed, you will have to look for the Fiat 500 1.4 Abarth Esseesse I4 Turbo engine in the Abarth 595. This engine is not only fast but as well as powerful. It produces a maximum of 158 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque. It can also accelerate from 0 to 62 in just 7.4 seconds with a top speed of 135 mph, making it one of the fastest engines in the segment.
Why did Fiat introduce the Fiat 500 Mild Hybrid petrol engine?
Fiat introduced the Mild hybrid petrol engine to assist reduce carbon footprint and costs for its customers. What’s more, the Fiat 500 hybrid engine uses a three-cylinder, 1.0-liter GSE Firefly I3 engine boosted with electrical support.
Unlike the petrol and diesel engine versions of the Fiat 500, the mild hybrid engine is not very powerful. This is because it delivers up to 69.06 hp and 68 lb-ft of torque. So, it is not the best choice for a person looking for a more powerful engine. Nonetheless, it is very efficient and will help the owner to reduce overall car costs.
Despite not being very powerful, the Fiat 500 mild hybrid engine can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just 13.8 seconds, which is pretty good. It also sounds great with thrust and character. And since there’s regenerative braking, the hybrid battery will recharge on the way.
The best part about the mild hybrid system in the Fiat 500 is that it is perfectly integrated d won’t cause a lot of issues. This allows the drivers to drive the car without any worries.
FAQ
What is the most powerful Fiat ever?
Even though Fiat has had some outstanding models and engines over the years, the Fiat Freemont still stands out as the most powerful Fiat ever. This car featured a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 petrol engine that delivered up to 283 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. This engine was utilized between 2011 and 2019.
Are Fiat engines reliable?
Surprisingly, Fiat engines are more reliable than some notable car brands from Japan, Europe, and the USA. Fiat engines were recorded to have one problem per 85 cars. This is surprisingly better than mainstream car brands like Nissan, Ford, and Land Rover. On the contrary, car brands such as Honda, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Jaguar, and Volvo offer more reliable engines than Fiat.
What is the most reliable Fiat car?
The Fiat 500 may be considered to be a reliable car according to Fiat standards, but it is nowhere close to the Fiat Panda. Fiat Panda is by far the most reliable Fiat model. That’s one of the reasons it was the best-selling Fiat model in 2021. It is also the most popular Fiat model in Italy at the moment.
Which Fiat 500 model year is the best?
The best year for Fiat 500 is the 2018 ad 2019 model years. These years have recorded the least number of problems, while the 2012 and 2013 model years are the worst years. So, if you’re in the market for a quality used Fiat 500 model, try to avoid the model years with issues and go for the more reliable years.
How many miles is a Fiat 500 engine good for?
If the Fiat 500 is well-maintained and repaired, it should easily clock 200,000 to 300,000 miles. But if it is not well cared for, clocking over 150,000 miles will be a problem. Aside from proper care and maintenance, good driving habits should also be exercised. Overall, the Fiat 500 should be able to do at least 200,000 miles.
Bottom line
If you’re looking for a reliable, high-performance, and dependable engine from the Fiat 500 series, the 0.9-liter TwinAir Turbo I2 petrol engine is the best option. Apart from performing better than other Fiat 500 engines, it is also responsive and fuel-efficient. So, you will end up spending less on repairs and maintenance.