Just a year ago, if you were interested in a mid-priced European car, your options were limited to the Volkswagen lineup, with prices slowly climbing into the stratosphere, while reliability still rested somewhere near the center of the Earth, or Scandinavia's entry-level all-wheel-drive snowbunnies from the likes of Volvo and Saab. If you had about two years to kill, you could sign the bottom of the waiting list for a MINI. Fiat, with some help from the newly restructured Chrysler, is looking to fill this gap by ending their twenty-seven year absence on American soil. First up from the Italianate automaker is the new-to-us 500, or Cinquecento, as it's called back in the old country. This itty-bitty hatch makes a good first impression, but how does it fit in here in the big-ol' US of A?
Approaching the car for the first time, a serious concern is just fitting into it. Pictures just don't do justice to the tiny footprint of the 500. Weighing in at 2434 pounds in the fun-sounding Pop trim with the 6-speed automatic transmission, the car is two hundred pounds lighter and over a foot shorter than the other iconic adult go-kart, the esteemed MINI Cooper. This waifish, 5' 10" guy had no difficulty with ingress/egress, but headroom is definitely tight on models equipped with the optional panoramic sunroof. While the 500 does have a backseat, it's best reserved for grocery bags or amputees; legroom is nil. Lift the hatch around back, and one is greeted with 9.5 cubic feet of space, a decent amount of cargo room for a subcompact; Should one buy a few more cases of gelato and olive oil than expected, the rear seats fold down to 'kinda-flat' in a pinch, opening up 30 cubes of space, about that of the decidedly less-trendy Ford Escape.
Cozying into the tightly-bolstered front seat lends the driver a view of the quirky, two-tone retro dashboard. A large expanse of color-keyed material brings the outside paint in, and chrome details surround the high-quality switchgear. Window controls are on the center console, something to get used to in the drive-thru line if this layout is unfamiliar. The meaty steering wheel and heavily-dampened glovebox give the car a BMW feel, but the plastics on the dash and door panels scream Fisher-Price. Should the unthinkable happen and the 500 is turned into a pancake, seven different airbags are available to cocoon you and your passengers from imminent doom. With a five-star rating on both the US NHTSA and the EURO-NCAP crash test, it has proven safer than many larger cars on the market. With 10 different interior options available, in both fabric and leather upholstery, the 500 is sure to have something for everyone. The mint green accents worked quite fittingly with the cream fabric on the tester vehicle.
On the outside, the Fiat 500's look is enough to incite awe and 'Awwws' in passer-by. Although the car has been on sale in Europe since 2007, its huggable demeanor is brand new in The Land of the Free. Up front, a stubby hood is home to two large round headlamps, and two smaller, dimple-like units. A chrome moustache takes the place of a grille, and is echoed in chrome mirrors, door handles, and tailgate trim. The minuscule 15 inch wheels do not look out of place on a car this size, nor do the jewel-like taillights. Outward visibility is quite good, with no huge blind-spots. To aid even more, the side mirrors feature indents to further expand field of view.
The 1.4L Multiair engine is good for 101 horsepower and 98 lb-ft of torque, leading to a 0-60 time of around nine seconds. It's no Ferrari, but the 500 is fun to drive, and the high-revving engine keeps up on the highway. The cushy suspension takes bumps and imperfections in the road like a champ, but the steering is about as direct as a pile of wet spaghetti. Seats sit up high to give the impression of a larger car, and help with predicting the road ahead. Hit the 'Sport' button on the dash and the car really comes alive, with a much firmer driving experience sure to put anyone in a better mood. That mood will last all the way to the gas station as well. Fiat has engineered the car to be as efficient as possible, paying off with a 30/38 mileage rating.
Starting at $15,500, the Fiat 500 is one gigantic bargain. During my tests, the car held up well in day-to-day driving, and its expected to be a hit in major cities where space is at a premium. Fiat is still in the process of rolling out its dealer network, so it may be a while before there's one on every corner. The 500 goes through the motions with a larger than life presence that works just as well on American roads as it does back home in Florence.
MINI Cooper? Fuggedaboutit!
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