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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  Another Happy Camper - 2012 Fiat 500
  By lovinmyfiatt - October 8 - 8:28 pm

  I also bought my Fiatt on a whim which is very unusual for me. I had done a lot of internet research and was ready for a change. One drive of the Fiatt 500 and I was sold. I loved the variety of colors, the nimble handling, the pick up and the dealership was decent. One thing that was very important was to buy fun with comfort and this car delivers. Its small, but you are not sitting on the ground. I am 5 ft. 6 and its just an even turn and sit to be in the drivers seat. My driving is about 70/30 highway/city and I am getting about 35 to the gallon. Then final deciding factor will be how it handles the roads in the winter, otherwise I am 100% happy.

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  The Manny Pacquiao of the car world - 2012 Fiat 500
  By shabba2 - October 2 - 2:20 pm

  Easily the best decision Ive ever made on an impulse. While looking at the Sport model, this Abarth was left behind by the original buyer. I snapped it up as I overheard him declining to buy it after ordering it. Lets see, this car goes like stink, gets phenomenal gas mileage (Im averaging 38 on the highway at 75 mph), looks like nothing else, is built well, is very uncommon, is surprisingly comfortable on any sort of trip, has standard options that most cars would not in this price range, has an exhaust that makes a Ferrari jealous, and its priced perfectly. Abarth is like the Carroll Shelby of the 500 world. They took something that was nearly perfect and made it perfect.

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  Looks and fuel economy...without the gimmicks - 2012 Fiat 500
  By moparornocarr - September 18 - 7:23 pm

  I never pictured myself as a Fiat guy. We got it as a rental when we were on vacation, and after that my mind was made up. Its sporty looking on the outside and the inside (Sport model), it has a great sound system, and it has been extremely reliable. Of course it also gets excellent fuel economy without gimmicky buttons or hybrid technology, which Im not sold on. I average around 40 mpg hwy on my daily commute to work, which is well above the 34 EPA on my automatic. Overall, I would recommend this to anyone looking for a car thats fun to drive, turns heads, rides smooth and gets great fuel economy, look no further.

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  Youre paying for FUN! - 2012 Fiat 500
  By websmack - September 16 - 12:07 pm

  Loads of fun. For a tiny car its comfort and ammenities are unsurpassed. It takes 15 minutes to get fueled because people run over to look and ask questions and pet it lol. I dont know how long it will last, how reliable it will be, but its a blast to own it. I cant even pick one favorite feature there are so many: auto sunroof, Boze sound, TomTom, Sirius Sat, colorful instrumentation, retro style. Wow. No car in this price range has all of that.

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  The Design Standard City Car - 2012 Fiat 500
  By dwink9909 - August 31 - 9:05 pm

  I only have a few hundred miles on my Fiat 500 Pop hatchback, but my initial impression and every bit of available research and feedback tell me that Fiat has hit the mark with this Americanized version of their hit European city car. Even at 6 5" and 240 pounds, I fit easily in the cabin and like everything about the driving and pedal positions, clutch, shifter, steering and all the features, from steering wheel controls to "sport" mode selection. My Fiat handles well, both at highway speed and close quarters city driving. It reminds me of my 1970 VW Beetle, but with modern handling technology and almost twice the horsepower. Like the Beetle, its an incredible bargain as well.

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  Fabulous Dynamic Car! - 2012 Fiat 500
  By patrizia007 - August 16 - 6:13 am

  After research and test driving many different vehicles, I bough a Fiat 500 Sport with all of the options, including power sunroof. I was close to getting the Prius C or Mini Cooper, however, the Fiat just was superior to them in many ways. I absolutely love the style and feel of this small car. It is peppy and responsive in my city/suburban driving. Although the interior is small, I like it that way so Im not driving a lot of car bulk on the road. The Fiat sits high up with other cars, making you level with other drivers, so it is safer. I wanted a small, quality, fuel-efficient car that stood apart from the rest of the pack on the road. The Fiat 500...classy, unique, perfect.

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  Fun little commuter car - 2012 Fiat 500
  By f360f1 - August 15 - 9:02 am

  I bought my 2012 Sport as a replacement for a string of Volkswagens, most recently a GTI, mostly because I wanted something a little different and I was impressed with the design. The 500 has not disappointed so far. I get more compliments/questions about it than any car other than my Ferrari. I have had no problems with it so far, although I have only had it for about a month. It is fun to drive, recognizing that it underpowered and one really has to rev it to make it go. I am getting great mileage -- a real 33 mpg driving to work in city traffic if I drive like an old lady 31 or so otherwise.

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  Feeling Regret - 2012 Fiat 500
  By kiehen - May 30 - 11:26 pm

  Back in June of 2011 when I bought my 500, I cant even tell you how excited I was. I had been waiting for these to hit the States for several years. Loved (and still do love) the retro look. Efficient and fun to drive? Most definitely. Quality is where the 500 falls short. I understand cheap materials. Those are to be expected. The unexpected? I just scheduled my 8th service visit. It pains me to say that I have started looking at the best way to get rid of this car with the least amount of loss. With 13,000 miles on it, it acts like a car with 100,000, and that simply doesnt work. Amazing concept, questionable execution. Wish it werent so! My dealers attitude is no help.

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  5-STARS for the 500 - 2012 Fiat 500
  By bill_s_in_az - May 18 - 6:02 pm

  2.5 months 2300 miles 40.7mpg on 87Octane Had to adjust the headlights downward, but that was the only issue. Rado/CD/USB media/Bluetooth all work great! ECO Drive download to PC to monitor efficiency is nice if you want to save the universe. Key fob remote range is very short :( 5M trans very easy to use even in stop light traffic. Cold AC! My F-150 (17.5mpg) sits while I cruise all over town. I used to consume 2 gallons a day, so now Ill save enough to break even at initial cost, current driving distance, and gas prices-- all in about 16 years, but it will be so much fun!!!

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  Quick, Nimble and Fun Ride - 2012 Fiat 500
  By peden500c - April 30 - 9:29 am

  We purchased the 500C in November and have driven 6,000 with no problems. The rides comfortably, is very nimble and accelerates nicely to stay with the traffic. It is not a race car but very sporty. This car cruises the highway at 75 mph and accelerates well throughout the entire range of the speedometer. Driver visibility is excellent as the car sits higher than others of its size. Front seats accomodate all but the largest passengers. Rear seats are cramped for adults but just right for kids. This is a very fun car to drive and park. Its also easy to get in and out due to its height. Overall the car seems well made and we have had no maintenance issues.