Overview & Reviews

Something of an Italian answer to the VW Beetle, the original Fiat 500 was produced from 1957 through 1975 and featured a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine of just 500cc (a half-liter) in size. Among the 500's (or Cinquecento's) lovable traits were its diminutive yet space-efficient body that made maneuvering in crowded European cities a snap, an available large fold-back canvas sunroof and a small appetite for fuel.

Arriving some  50 years after the introduction of the original, today's Fiat 500 boasts many of the traits that made its forebear so beloved. The contemporary Fiat 500 has cute retro styling along with a surprisingly roomy cabin for its small footprint. Marking Fiat's return to the United States after a 27-year hiatus, the 500 is something of a United Nations approach to car building, as this Italian car is built at a Fiat-owned Chrysler plant located in Mexico. Though that may put long-term reliability into question, what we do know is that this little car's personality fits its cheeky looks.

Current Fiat 500
The Fiat 500 is available in both coupe and convertible body styles. The convertible, though, is actually more like a coupe, with a huge, roll-back cloth sunroof.

The standard 500 comes with a 1.4-liter 101-horsepower four-cylinder matched to either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic. As the Fiat 500 weighs just 2,350 pounds -- a few hundred less than a base Mini Cooper -- performance is actually fairly peppy.

The Fiat 500 Turbo and GQ Edition gain a turbocharged version of the 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 135 hp and 150 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual is the only transmission available. Those looking for the spiciest meatball should consider the 500 Abarth. With 160 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque, its turbocharged 1.4-liter four sends the Abarth to 60 mph in a quick 7.1 seconds. The five-speed manual is the sole transmission offering here.

The standard Fiat 500 coupe comes in Pop, Sport, Lounge, Turbo and Abarth trim levels, while the convertible comes in the Pop, Lounge and Abarth variants. Standard feature highlights for the base Pop trim include full power accessories, air-conditioning, cruise control, a tilt-only steering wheel, a height-adjustable driver seat and a six-speaker sound system. The luxury-themed Lounge adds 15-inch alloy wheels, exterior chrome accents, foglamps, a fixed glass roof (hatchback only), upgraded cloth upholstery, Bluetooth phone connectivity and an iPod/USB audio interface. The Sport, Turbo and Abarth models upgrade with features that are mainly performance-related. Two special-edition models, the GQ and the 1957, were introduced this year, offering mainly cosmetic flourishes.

In reviews, we've been impressed by the 500's smooth and willing engines and slick-shifting manual transmission. Though the steering feel is somewhat numb, the 500, especially the Sport version, provides agile handling along with a compliant ride quality, besting the Mini Cooper in the latter respect. The Abarth is a different animal entirely -- a 500 with an attitude by way of its spirited acceleration, snorting exhaust and athletic handling. This little dynamo should have strong appeal to enthusiasts, as it provides massive driving entertainment in a tiny package.

Though the 500 is 6 inches shorter in length and 2 inches narrower than its chief rival, the Mini Cooper, the Fiat 500 is substantially taller (by 4 inches). That translates into better outward visibility and respectable leg- and headroom, especially for rear seat passengers. The interior is cheerful-looking, especially when optioned with the two-tone coloring, and the controls are easy to operate. Despite the Fiat 500's small size, seating comfort is surprisingly respectable for drivers of all sizes, though tall folks should avoid the sunroof, as it significantly reduces headroom.

Used Fiat 500 Models
The current-generation Fiat 500 was introduced in 2012. Besides the Turbo and Abarth convertibles being unavailable that first year, changes since then have mostly been limited to shuffling of trim level content. The 1957 and GQ special edition models debuted in 2014.

User Reviews:

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  little one - 2012 Fiat 500
  By Richie.C - October 30 - 3:58 pm

  Roomy enough inside for 2 average adults,simple radio with steering wheel controls ,mine has the power sunroof,really nice dont see alot these in brooklyn ny awesome city car,parking is pretty much point and park.Power is not the best ,but runs better on 93 octane in sport mode and helps that its a 5speed manual.If you want a 2 door compact car thats simple and goes a long way on 15 bucks of gas and isnt a mini or smart car,this ones good.

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  Better than a Honda - 2012 Fiat 500
  By Dave - October 18 - 3:13 am

  Very reliable. No mechanical issues. A great, fun little car. Tony hasnt even had to fix it once! If FIAT keeps making them like this, poor Tonys going to go broke.

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  A smile that lasts a lifetime - 2012 Fiat 500
  By Joel - October 8 - 11:39 am

  First off, my car was purchased on a whim I didn’t do any research before buying it. I didn’t need the car as I already had an suv. I was bored one day drove down to the Fiat store and the rest is history. I bought a 2015 brown fiat 500 pop. 101 hp, now it does feel underpowered in automatic mode, but I drive it in the manual mode all the time and I get better response time. So I think 101hp is manageable. I commute between towns which is about 90 miles one way. I average 36mpg on the commute! Bout $20-25 fills the tank which gets me about 364 miles give or take. The engine is stock for now, I am playing with the idea of trading it in for an Abarth. However, for what the pop offers, it’s a solid car! I use the pump under the drivers seat all the time to fill my tires with air, I love the convenience of this on board pump. Blue tooth is very handy to have when driving. I feel safe driving the car, it handles turns like a go cart! Plenty of storage with the back seat down. I fit a 55” tv in it once for a local move I made, desperate times call for desperate measures! Cup holders are a bit annoying, but it’s a small car, so I guess this is the best I’ll get out of the car. Vehicle is cheap on repairs! If your mechanically inclined like me, you can save money doing things yourself. I get comments all the time, regarding how cute it looks, or how does it handle, is it good on gas? I would for sure buy the car again! I have not been stranded once other than to replace the battery. Ac blows cold and quick, it does help to have tinted windows. I also have a VW Golf TDI, which our performs my fiat, and gets better mpg, but whenever I drive my fiat there is just this smile I get that’s lasts a lifetime!

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  Eye Catcher - 2012 Fiat 500
  By Laveda Darby - June 9 - 9:23 pm

  The car is small but it is great on gas and it serves it purpose. If I get another car it will be a Fiat I love the car.

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  Endearing, comfortable and surprisingly reliable - 2012 Fiat 500
  By Ed the Fiat Owner - April 22 - 6:08 am

  This purchase was originally meant to be a stylish toy, a cheeky weekend companion with a full-length cloth sunroof. Yet its incredibly convenient for any drive that requires a parking spot hunt or commute. Heated leather seats are upright and comfortable, good sound system and Sport driving mode make it more fun. Top down, it makes me smile and only exposes me to as much nature as I choose. Exterior sounds are muted when the insulated top is closed, and Ive seen no leaks in five years. The trunk opening is narrow, but reasonably sized. The engine sounds a bit agricultural, but it scoots when needed. Fog lights are helpful, and the A/C is powerful. Gas mileage reflects my eagerness to toss the car around, and the visibility with the top down is poor. Switchgear is more stylish than substantial, but I love the use of color and materials. If Fiat adds a backup camera and some additional tweaks, Id certainly buy another. The only issues in five years: three resets of the top mechanism (remedy is thoroughly described in the manual), a squeaky seat frame, occasional scraping of the front end on speed bumps, and a complete battery failure after five years. Overall, fewer trips to the dealer than my Honda and Toyota!

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  As good as my GTI Autobahn - 2017 Fiat 500
  By Marc - April 13 - 6:35 am

  Car is wonderful, as much fun as any car Ive owned. Enjoy driving it as much as if not more that my GTI. Enough power for this light car. Manual tranny great. Ride and handling great. The Abarths extra power must ,(I have the non turbo) be a real treat in this Italian tomato on wheels. Mine is red,adorable. Highly recommend good quality throughout.

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  There are no boring trips in an Abarth! - 2012 Fiat 500
  By Seth Simon - February 5 - 8:53 am

  This is a niche car and not for everyone, and thats why its a special. A Camry or an Accord are for everyone, and when you make something to please as many people as possible you end up with middle of the road blandness. Thats great for some, not for Abarth owners. This is a performance car based on a relatively humble small European city car, originally designed for dense urban areas. So, yeah, if you have 5 kids and two dogs, guess what? Its not a car for you. If you like space, fuel and technological efficiency, are concerned of your footprint on the planet but really like to drive, then an Abarth may be for you. It oozes character, it sounds fantastic and I love that it doesnt look like its angry and wants to kill you, like so many other cars on the market. Its actually pretty comfortable for long trips, and despite its compact exterior dimensions, it has a lot of space, more than a Mini. Im 5-10" and 190lbs and I can sit comfortably in the rear seat behind myself. Its easy to park and cheap to fill the tank, and no one get s annoyed at you when you pass them. Try doing that in a BMW or Mercedes. I considered a Ford Fiesta ST, but was turned off by the four door-only bodystyle, and although objectively it was a tad more refined than the Abarth in some areas, it just didnt feel special, and certainly wasnt as much fun to drive. The quality of materials is not on par with say, a Lexus, but then it doesnt cost Lexus money. Ive had mine for two years and the only issues Ive had were a burned out light bulb in the cruise control switch and a faulty tire pressure monitoring sensor. Nothing squeaks or rattles. Overall, Ive been very very happy with this car.

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  Looks arent everything - 2012 Fiat 500
  By Abigail - January 5 - 6:02 am

  I bought this car used at two years old with 24,000 miles. The car runs well and has not given me any engine trouble thus far. The problem with this car is that it is cheaply made. For example the first to happen was that the plastic hubcaps broke off and rolled away while I was driving it and all in a short period of time from one another. The rear view mirror started wobbling and bobbing while I was driving. Weve now had to rig it to stay still. I wont touch it in fear that it will brake. The armrest has zip ties holding it in place. The "leather" thing to the shifter is not attached to the base anymore. And the worst thing is that the front vents to the air conditioner do not work anymore. It is like theyre blocked. We have that rigged, as well, to have some air conditioning considering we live in the desert. To add to the vents not working the instrumentation for the air conditioning is faulty and now only has a choice of 2 speeds (1 and 3) and off. I cannot wait to get rid of this vehicle, but I will be upside down on it when I trade it in because what I owe is more than what it is worth.