Like the new Volkswagen Beetle and BMW Mini currently on sale, Fiat’s new 500 minicar has been designed to reignite the nostalgia and the glory days of carefree motoring in Europe during the 1950s and ‘60s. Marking the 50th anniversary of the launch of the original 500 ‘Cinquecento,’ the new 500 offers the same shapely bubble car appearance and sticks to the basic formula of a low-cost town car with plenty of character. For those readers not old enough to remember, the 500 harks back to the days of post war Italy’s ‘motorization for the masses’ when a number of economical models including VW’s Beetle and the iconic Vespa scooter became prevalent. Back then, anyone on an average salary could own the 2.97m, 500-odd kilo, rear-engined and air-cooled, twin-cylinder minicar. As for its modern-day offspring, the 500 is similar in its name and aesthetics only. The engine is now mounted in the front of the chassis with drive sent to the front wheels, and the cylinder count is up to four from the original’s two and is cooled by water instead of air.
Sharing its platform with the Panda hatch, the new 500 measures an identical 3.5m in length and its weight has more than doubled compared with the original. The 500 also picks up most of the Panda’s mechanical package including its front McPherson strut suspension, which gives the cute hatch an agile and pleasant driving experience on mixed surfaces.
The famous 75hp Multijet 1.3L oil-burner assures adequate performance for the type of car, even if it’s a bit lazy below 2,000rpm. Because of the pint-sized engine, the 500 requires plenty of downshifts to keep it huffing along, but the slick gear changes from the five speed box and the extra urge is reward in itself for the extra work. The tested fuel consumption was 37.6mpg (6.25L/100km), which isn’t as good as we suspected considering more powerful turbodiesel models from the likes of BMW and Audi are getting more than 50mpg (4.7L/100km).
The lines of the retro styled exterior continue into the cabin, which features a large singular instrument cluster as an obvious throwback to the original model. The circular dial comprises not only the speedometer but it also features a semicircular tachometer. Though it may be beautiful to look at, a quick glance while driving can cause confusion as your eyes try to focus on the correct dial. Some nice touches like the glossy body-colored dash insert and chrome highlights give the car a more upmarket feel, but there’s no overlooking the rough plastic that encases the bulk of the dashboard and the door innards. Despite this, there’s no rattles or squeaks, even on the bumpiest of roads.
The famous 75hp Multijet 1.3L oil-burner assures adequate performance for the type of car, even if it’s a bit lazy below 2,000rpm. Because of the pint-sized engine, the 500 requires plenty of downshifts to keep it huffing along, but the slick gear changes from the five speed box and the extra urge is reward in itself for the extra work. The tested fuel consumption was 37.6mpg (6.25L/100km), which isn’t as good as we suspected considering more powerful turbodiesel models from the likes of BMW and Audi are getting more than 50mpg (4.7L/100km).
Styling and Interior
The lines of the retro styled exterior continue into the cabin, which features a large singular instrument cluster as an obvious throwback to the original model. The circular dial comprises not only the speedometer but it also features a semicircular tachometer. Though it may be beautiful to look at, a quick glance while driving can cause confusion as your eyes try to focus on the correct dial. Some nice touches like the glossy body-colored dash insert and chrome highlights give the car a more upmarket feel, but there’s no overlooking the rough plastic that encases the bulk of the dashboard and the door innards. Despite this, there’s no rattles or squeaks, even on the bumpiest of roads.
