Overview & Reviews

Fiat is one of the earliest and grandest names in automobiles, dating from the establishment of Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino ("FIAT") in 1899. During the early years, its racing cars were the envy of every nation. Later on, the Fiat Topolino ("Little Mouse") was as famous as the Volkswagen KDF (subsequently known as the "Beetle") in the 1930s and '40s. The 1950s saw Fiat put much of Italy on wheels with the hugely popular 500, sparking the "Italian Miracle," a renaissance of European consumer products.

Sadly, the company's fortunes in the United States were mixed. Here, the Fiat 1500 won over a fair share of enthusiasts in the mid-'60s, and the early-'70s saw the Fiat 850 (Spider and Coupe) become popular among college students. Yet the Pininfarina-designed Fiat 124 sports car did the most to keep the Fiat image alive in America, as cars like the front-wheel-drive 128 and midengine X1/9 ultimately failed. Even Lancia, Fiat's premium brand, withered quickly after an introduction in the mid-'70s. Ultimately, Fiat's poor reputation for quality and its inability to cope with ever more stringent emissions regulations led the Italian company to pull out of the U.S. market altogether in 1984.

In 2000, General Motors acquired a stake in Fiat as part of a joint venture to create a new generation of small, affordable cars for Europe. GM's financial troubles led to the unraveling of this agreement in 2005, but Fiat had invested the GM money wisely in new air emissions technology. When the bankruptcy of Chrysler took place in 2008, Fiat saw an opportunity to return to the U.S. In 2009, Fiat acquired a controlling interest in Chrysler.

The Fiat 500, debuting for 2012, was the first of Fiat's new generation of cars to come stateside. Staying true to its lineage, the new 500 is very small, nimble and stylish. In addition to the 500 coupe, there are also the 500 convertible and hot-rod 500 Abarth to further tempt those looking for a small car with plenty of personality. More recently, Fiat has expanded its lineup with the fully electric 500e and the family-friendly, four-door 500L.

User Reviews:

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  500xcellent! - 2017 Fiat 500x
  By motoraway - June 1 - 9:27 am

  Im a little biased to the Fiat brand having owned a 128 Sport Coupe in the 70s and currently a 2012 500 Abarth. The 500x was something I wanted but had to do a little arm twisting to get my wife on board. We traded her Jeep Wrangler Sport in and I believe we were both happy to say goodbye to what was probably the most uncomfortable vehicle weve owned. Weve sacrificed a little space moving into the 500x but aside from that we really love this vehicle. The ride is really comfortable, handling is precise, acceleration is adequate and its a treat to drive. Thats one thing about my Fiats that set them apart from all the other vehicles weve owned. Plain and simple, they are fun to drive!

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  My Favorite car out of dozens! - 2016 Fiat 500e
  By Jon Sanserino - May 29 - 11:30 pm

  I bought this car because 95% of my driving is short range for shopping, post office, etc. when I am not traveling out of the country for business. Also - the dealer and government incentives made the lease price so low, the car was essentially free - the lease is about the amount I paid for gas monthly. I truly did not expect to fall in love with this little car! It makes me smile every time I drive it. It is amazingly quiet and solid, and very quick. You really need to watch your speed. It brakes very well, and also handles better than expected considering it has hundreds of pounds of batteries in the floor. Whenever someone new gets in, the first thing they say is "Wow - its nice! And its roomier inside than I expected!" It is usually just me and a dog, or the two of us, but we have had 4 people in the car to go a short way to dinner, etc. The fact that there is NO SOUND except the (excellent) radio turning on when you "start" it, still takes some getting used to. The seats are surprisingly comfortable considering that they are so small and thin. Totally adequate for the car. The sound system is better than my Acuras. The NAV is a simple TomTom system, but it works, and it has nearby charging stations pre-programmed in. The Bluetooth works perfectly as does the climate control system. This little car really is well equipped with everything except a backup camera, but the rear bumper is about 10" behind the rear window so it isnt a serious issue, and it has the parking sensors anyway. Yes, there are a few little ergonomic issues about the car that frustrate me, and the steering requires real attention on the freeway, but in general, for what it is intended for, this is what everyone should be driving around town. I have owned around 50 cars, and this will be the one that will be hardest to let go of. GREAT WORK FIAT! And thanks to Fiat of Glendale for making the purchase so easy.

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  Great Car for the Money! - 2016 Fiat 500
  By Ashley Stanley - May 13 - 10:01 am

  The new 2017 500C Pop is the same as the 2016 500C Easy. I ended up purchasing the 2016 Easy, because there was one in a color I liked at the closest dealership. This model is an extremely affordable way to have a convertible, manual transmission, cruise control, great climate control, and bluetooth (U connect is super user friendly, Ive never had a vehicle with bluetooth and started using it the day I bought the car). I have enjoyed shifting gears in my 500C IMMENSELY, and Im sure the experience is similar in the 2017 Pop. I honestly dont miss all the extras the lounge offers, because Im not a fan of leather seats (freezing in the winter when I leave for work around 6:20 A.M.). I also love the simple knobs for A/C and heat, as well as the interior air filter, etc. The design of the interior is simple and intuitive. Plus, the 500C offers the best of both world in practicality and owning a convertible.

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  Whirrrrrrr whistle growl pop burble - 2012 Fiat 500
  By Arthur Abarth - April 11 - 4:19 am

  Overall this thing is good for basic transportation for someone who likes to drive. Set your expectations low, the interior is not primo, but if thats what you want then save up for something more upscale. The interior has some character but is definitely basic. The seats are sporty and the fabric feels robust. Racing Stripes, Racing stripes! How did they get inside my car again? The seats have a single red stripe going longways, Ill keep em. I use this car to commute through city streets and park it on the curb. Those big rims will get scratched, hail will damage the steel roof and eventually someone will drive their car into my car followed by driving their car away. Such is life. This is a more fragile car than anything Ive had, the intercoolers are in the edges of the front bumper, meaning a fender bender will cost f$ht dollars. The brake calipers are within fingers reach of any passerby. Putting new tires on will scratch the rims very badly if you dont go out of your way to find a specialty shop. All that aside, this car rocks. It makes a unique exhaust sound, seems like it has never made the same sound twice. whirrrrr, whistle, growl, pop burble. Rippin through the corners and being a tiny car, 5 speed rowing and being such an unconventional car. Plenty of room for the average person and whatever junk the tote around with them, maybe even room for a friend.

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  own 2014 fiat 500L trekking - 2014 Fiat 500L
  By boris - February 11 - 10:12 am

  my trekking is great , for now i have 51k and i have not any problem. just changing oil and regular maintanance .

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  great car - 2012 Fiat 500
  By larry kritzell - October 27 - 1:03 am

  its very small , so if you are not crazy about small cars and if you are 6ft 3 in and 240 lbs with a lard bucket rear end you should look elsewhere . its the most fun on 4 wheels that I have ever had !

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  Fun to drive - 2014 Fiat 500L
  By Firas Musleh - April 23 - 11:13 pm

  Little beast. Fast small engine. Great fuel economy. Amazing handling and traction. Fun to drive. I love it.

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  When you need a simple and efficient car - 2014 Fiat 500e
  By Eric - March 13 - 10:13 am

  Having originally leased a 2016 FIAT 500e, when it came time to find a new vehicle due to high mileage driving, I did not hesitate getting a previous year model, since electric is the way to go, and I have enjoyed good reliability and efficiency with the Fiat 500e. When looking at previous vehicles, you just need to factor technology and bluetooth as upgrades needed.

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  Loaded 500L White - 2014 Fiat 500L
  By bill crockett - January 7 - 10:04 am

  Very reliable- I have driven it R/T to New Orleans from Memphis numerous times with not one problem.

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  Zippy Electric Vehicle - 2016 Fiat 500e
  By Califas - August 17 - 10:59 pm

  The 500e has a better response than the gas-powered version. It handles better, has the best pickup and go, and is so fun to drive. I wanted to lease an electric vehicle so I wouldnt have to pay for parking in my citys parking meters and garages (my city has an incentive to lease/purchase EVs) especially as I work downtown and must pay to park. Its a dream to drive and park, and recharges when you break, so it becomes a game to get as much mileage from a charge as possible. So far, Ive had no problems with the car at all. The lease is up the end of the year, and Ive become spoiled with having an EV; its wonderful not to pay for gas, oil, or smog check! I hope to continue with either leasing or owning another EV. At least in California, this is the way to go especially as the state has a pay back money incentive to own/lease an EV.