Fiat 500 is among the most popular city cars on the market. It is compact, reliable, and fun to drive. Some of its competitors are Kia Rio, Toyota Yaris, Mitsubishi Mirage, and Chevrolet Aveo. But is Fiat 500 a good car?
Yes, Fiat 500 is an excellent car for those who want a compact, economical, practical, reliable, durable, and affordable car. But if you desire a luxurious, spacious, comfortable, advanced, and powerful car, this is not a good car for you.
History of Fiat 500
The first Fiat 500 was produced between 1957 and 1975. It was a pre-war car with a rear engine and four seats. Additionally, it came in two-door saloon and two-door station wagon body styles. The Fiat 500 was also the predecessor of the Fiat 500 “Topolino.”
In 2007, Fiat launched the current model of the Fiat 500, which featured a front-mounted engine and front-wheel drive. What’s more, Fiat 500 is one of the best-selling Fiat models of all time. Fiat 500 is sold in two trims; Fiat Lounge Hatch and Pop Hatch.
Features of Fiat 500
Appearance
The Fiat 500 is a simple but elegant and stylish city car. Its compact size makes it ideal for city driving and parking. However, the interior is lacking as low-quality materials were utilized. Additionally, it is cramped, which makes most people uncomfortable to seat in the rear.
Besides, the Fiat 500 has a wheelbase of 90.6-inches, a length of 139.6-inches, a width of 64.1-inches, and a height of 59.8-inches. With these dimensions, Fiat 500 is one of the smallest city cars on the market. And if you desire a slightly advanced Fiat with top-notch materials and features, consider picking the Fiat 500 Abarth, which is similar to the Mercedes-Benz AMG line.
Performance
The Fiat 500 is fitted with a 1.4-liter inline-4 engine with a 5-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive system. This engine delivers up to 135 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque. Moreover, the car has a top speed of 104 mph and it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 13.8 seconds.
Comfort and cargo space
While the Fiat 500 is a small city car, it is still practical. This is because it can carry up to four passengers comfortably. Nonetheless, the rear seats are quite cramped and not suitable for traveling long distances. Aside from that, the car has enough cabin space for carrying luggage.
The 2019 Fiat 500 comes with a total of 9.5 cubic feet of space before the rear seats. But when the rear seats are folded, this space goes up to 30 cubic feet of space. This makes it a perfect family car and good for picnics and short journeys.
Fuel efficiency
If you want to save cost on fuel, the Fiat 500 is a nice car to have. This is because this car comes with an EPA fuel economy of 28 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and a combined 30 mpg. Additionally, Fiat claims C02 emissions of 88g/km and 53.3 mpg. This means that it does not pollute the environment as much as other fuel guzzlers.
Safety
Fiat 500 may be a compact and affordable car, but it is also safe. Some of the top safety features that this city car comes with are electronic stability control, seven airbags, a four-wheel disc antilock brake system, a rear park assist system, and steel safety frame reinforcement.
Price
The Price of the Fiat 500 varies according to the trim option you select. Additionally, used cars are cheaper than new ones. For instance, the price of the 2018 Fiat 500 Pop Hatch trim goes around $17,540, while the price of the more advanced 2018 Fiat 500 Lounge Hatch starts at $21,290. Used Fiat 500 models are slightly cheaper.
FAQ
Is it worth buying Fiat 500?
It depends on what you’re looking for. If you desire a compact, reliable, economical, practical, and fun car to drive, the Fiat 500 is among the best options. On top of that, the car is efficient and easy to drive around the city. However, if you desire a comfortable, spacious, advanced, and powerful car, this is not the car for you.
What are the common problems with Fiat 500?
The Fiat 500 is small, compact, and fun car to drive. Nonetheless, it has lots of issues that buyers should be ready to deal with. Some of the problems are suspension issues, electrical problems, engine issues, faulty clutch, faulty driveshaft, steering problems, and power issues.
Why is Fiat 500 so unreliable?
The Fiat 500 is so unreliable because of its failing infotainment and power systems. On top of that, this car has several engines, steering, and suspension issues. Regardless, the Fiat 500 can still last more than 200,000 miles if it’s well-maintained. Besides, Fiat 500 spare parts are slightly costlier than the industry average.
Is Fiat 500 good for long journeys?
No, Fiat 500 is not good for long journeys. This is because it is quite cramped and won’t be ideal for long journeys. The front seats are slightly comfortable, but the rear seats are somewhat cramped. Aside from comfort in the cabin, the Fiat 500 can be a perfect car for covering long distances as it is efficient and can cover over 346.5 miles on a full tank.
What Fiat 500 model year has the least issues?
Fiat 500 has had some exceptional models over the years. However, some model years have been pledged with more problems than others. The Fiat 500 model year with the least issues is the 2019 model year. Other models with fewer issues are 2018, 2017, 2020, and 2013 model years.
Bottom line
Driving in the city can be quite a headache. But with the Fiat 500, things have been made easy as its compact, economical, reliable, practical, and fun to drive. Nevertheless, the Fiat 500 also comes with several engine, steering, suspension, and electrical issues that owners should be prepared to tackle. Aside from that, this is one of the best city cars on the market.
