The Fiat 500 is the epitome of cool. When it comes to retro hatchbacks, no one can do it better than Fiat. They seem to straddle the line between contemporary style and retro feel whilst having some good modern features too.
However, there are still some issues with the 500, mainly relating to its performance and interior that make it hard to choose as a daily driver, despite its stylish exterior and cool factor. Below are some of the reasons the Fiat 500 is awesome and perhaps a few reasons why you may not want to buy one.
10 Why The Fiat 500 Is Awesome - Styling
One thing that can always be said for the Fiat 500 is that it looks cool, it's still as iconic and retro looking as ever regardless of the model you choose. Its 60s styling stems from its small and compact shape, the rounded front lights and a few interior details like the dash and gear shifter.
There are few cars out there in a similar category that truly capture the essence of what it is to be a compact city hatchback like the 500 does. Although its style hasn't changed very much over the decades, it's all the better for it and is surely the best looking city hatch still.
9 We'd Never Buy One - Lack Of Space
However, there's a compromise to all of that compact styling, and that's the lack of space. It can be argued that anyone interested in the Fiat 500 will be well aware of how small it is, and it should come as no surprise that there is little space available.
Still, this doesn't deter from the fact there will come a day when you cannot fit everything you need into the trunk of your 500 or when your friends are complaining about the lack of legroom in the back and this may make you re-think your choice. It can be said that there are certainly some roomier hatchbacks on the market, for sure.
8 Why The Fiat 500 Is Awesome - Gasoline/Electric
One of the coolest features on the newer Fiat 500 is that it's available as an electric car too. Times are changing in the car industry, and part of that change comes in the form of more electric vehicles on the road. For Fiat this was a smart move as making an electric version of arguably their most popular car seems like a no-brainer.
For customers, this creates a new option for those looking for an electric vehicle specifically and a cool, compact EV like the 500 was almost destined to exist. It seems like a match made in heaven, as it's contemporary retro chic coupled with the modern use of electric power fits perfectly with what the 500 is all about. However, for those not so keen on electric power quite yet, Fiat are still making gas powered 500's for the foreseeable future, so there are plenty of options available.
7 Why We'd Never Buy One - Reliability Problems
Italian cars, and Fiats especially, have been seemingly plagued with reliability issues and practicality problems for as long as anyone can remember and unfortunately, the 500 is no different.
Some common faults of past and present 500's include problems with oil leaking into the coolant system and oil and fuel contamination. With the 2014 and 2015 1.6-liter models, the engines would regularly fail to produce the power needed to effectively climb hills due to software issues. There have even been issues with premature wire wear below the steering column and problems with power steering loss.
6 Why The Fiat 500 Is Awesome - Handling
Besides the styling, the Fiat 500's best feature is perhaps it's ability to turn quickly and make sharp turns with ease. This is down to the car being so small and lightweight compared to other hatchbacks.
This makes the 500 fun to drive despite not being very powerful. It's maybe best compared to classic Minis from back in the day. The Fiat has plenty of grip available and because it's low powered, it should be fairly easy to control even for less experienced drivers.
5 Why We'd Never Buy One - Lack Of Power
However on the subject of power, although the 500 is great for zipping around city streets, it certainly leaves a lot to be desired in terms of acceleration and top speed.
A whole lot in fact as the Fiat 500 cars, depending on year and model, range from between 68-135 hp with 0-60 mph times of anywhere between 9.7-13.4 seconds. If someone is looking to do a little weekend racing with their car, the 500 should best be avoided, as there are still many capable hatchbacks out there with more than double the power of most powerful version of the 500. The only exceptions to this are the Abarth versions of the 500, although they are much more expensive than the standard models.
4 Why The Fiat 500 Is Awesome - Well Priced
The Fiat 500 is seen as something of a fashion statement in a lot of places. They are almost as much an accessory as they are a car to some people, and this may lead you to believe that the Fiat 500 is expensive to cash in on all of that hype.
Fortunately, the 500 is no more expensive than some of its competitors and, in some cases, is even slightly cheaper. Fiat 500 prices are comparable to rival Mini's, Hyundai's and some French options from Peugeot and Citroën. However, except for the Mini, most of these fail to capture the same feel and style of the 500, making them less desirable. It's possible to get 2019 models of the Fiat 500 for below $13,000 which isn't too bad at all.
3 Why We'd Never Buy One - Low Electric Range
Although it was a great move to give one of the newest 500 models electric power, it is perhaps slightly underwhelming in terms of range, especially when compared to competitors in a similar vain.
As an example, the Renault Zoe and the Peugeot e-208 both surpass 200 miles in range, with the Peugeot managing 211 miles and the Renault managing 245 miles. Meanwhile, the 500 falls slightly short of this at only 199 miles. Although fine for most people, those looking to invest in the electric 500 may want to look elsewhere.
2 Why The Fiat 500 Is Awesome - Many Available Options
Adding to the style aspect of the 500 is the wide of options available for the trims. The 2019 model had 3 trims named Pop, Lounge, and Abarth. The Lounge trim came with 14 different color options.
Both the Pop and Abarth variations came with a 5 speed manual transmission, whereas the Lounge came with a 6 speed Automatic. There were also available interior color options too, meaning you could have a completely unique 500 if that's what you desired.
1 Why We'd Never Buy One - Dated/Cheap Interior
However, despite the cool exterior and the available customization options, the interior leaves a lot to be desired in many ways. First of all, don't expect any high quality and expensive materials on the dash. Most buttons, even on newer models, come with an outdated look and a cheap plastic feel.
The infotainment system, especially the one shown here, also looks fairly outdated with a tiny screen and huge screen bezels. It looks like something from the early 2000s, and unfortunately, it seems Fiat didn't give the same care and attention to some interior aspects of the 500 as they did to the outstanding exterior.