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Basic Specs
| Base Price | $15,500 |
| Drivetrain | Front Wheel Drive |
| Curb Weight (lbs) | 2363 |
| City (MPG) | 30 |
| Hwy (MPG) | 38 |
| Horsepower | 101@6500 |
| Torque (lb-ft) | 98@4000 |
| Wheelbase | 90.6 |
| Length (in.) | 139.6 |
| Width (in.) | 64.1 |
| Height (in.) | 59.8 |
More than three years after it formally bowed in Europe, Fiat’s reborn 500 has officially arrived on U.S. soil. Aside from the standard 500, the little Italian subcompact can also be had in quasi-convertible 500c and hot hatch 500 Abarth form.
Fiat hasn’t been officially offered a car in the United States and Canada for nearly 30 years, although the brand has gained some traction south of the border in Mexico. In the U.S. and Canada, however, so the 500 is a monumentally important vehicle for the brand as it hopes to reestablish itself as a player in the U.S. market.
Fiat hopes to learn from both the successes and the mistakes of other small car brands like smart ForTwo, VW’s New Beetle and the MINI Cooper, by offering a wider variety of personalization options.
North American 500s
The 500 – or Cinquecento, as it is known in Italy – saw many changes during its journey across the pond before it was ready for American consumption.
Changes include a redesigned body structure that resulted in additional strength, a re-tuned suspension that is sporty, but not overly firm, over 20 changes to reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), new ABS system, larger 10.5-gallon fuel tank, upgraded heating and cooling, redesigned seats, ease of entry added to seats, re-tuned steering to increase stability and a new Bose energy Efficient Series audio system.
The 500 is powered by a 1.4-liter MultiAir four-cylinder gasoline engine, good for 101 horsepower and 98 lb-ft of torque. Paired to a standard five-speed manual transmission, the 500 returns 30 mpg in the city and 38 on the highway, while opting for a six-speed automatic gearbox lowers efficiency to 27/34 mpg.
The 500 is available in three different trim levels:
500 Pop
If you want a 500 without the frills (or added cost), the 500 Pop includes a manual transmission, 15-inch steel wheels with chrome-accented wheel covers and all-season tires, seven standard air bags, air conditioning, AM/FM/CD/MP3 radio with auxiliary audio input, power windows, power door locks, power heated mirrors, speed control and reconfigurable Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) with trip computer, miles-to-empty, average fuel economy and tire-pressure monitoring display (TPM).
Not entirely bad for a base vehicle equipment list.
500 Sport
For the driving enthusiast who seeks Italian style with a sport-tuned suspension and more convenience features, the new Fiat 500 Sport model adds into the mix stiffer springs, sport-minded shock tuning, steering calibration and exhaust tuning, to deliver a more firm ride with improved handling.
As is the case with the base Pop model, the 500 Sport model also comes with a manual transmission, but swaps in more sporty front and rear fascias with larger honeycomb grilles and flared aerodynamic treatment.
Also added to the Sport trim are unique 16-inch aluminum wheels with Mineral Gray painted pockets and all-season tires, new bodyside sill cladding and a liftgate-mounted roof spoiler for a sporty appearance.
Completing the sport theme are Performance Red painted brake calipers attached to a sport-tuned suspension, chromed exhaust tip and fog lamps. Inside, the new Fiat 500 Sport features unique sport-styled seating in a Gray/Black interior scheme, a Bose Energy Efficient Series audio system with six premium speakers and subwoofer, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, Blue & Me Handsfree Communication technology with USB port and iPod control capability.
500 Lounge
The 500 Lounge is the "Limited" model of the range, loaded with premium amenities including the all-new six-speed automatic transmission with driver-selectable gear changes, front- and rear-fascia chromed accents, chrome mirror caps, fog lamps, fixed glass roof, 15-inch aluminum wheels with all-season tires, premium cloth seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, Sirius satellite radio, Bose Energy Efficient Series audio system with six premium speakers and subwoofer, security alarm, Blue & Me Hands-free Communication technology with USB port and iPod control capability.
Key Competitors
Small, cute-as-a-button coupes like the 500 range from the truly small smart fortwo and Scion iQ to the larger, fine-handling MINI Cooper.
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- General
- Body Style: Hatchback
- Size: Sub-Compact
- Market Segment: Economy
- Weight: 2363 lbs
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- Exterior
- Length: 139.6 in.
- Width: 64.1 in.
- Height: 59.8 in.
- Wheelbase: 90.6 in.
- Ground Clearance: 4.1 in.
- Front Track: 55.4 in.
- Rear Track: 55.0 in.
- Weight Distribution: 64/36
- Drag Coefficient: 0.35
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- Interior - General
- Seats: 4
- Passenger Volume: 75.6 cu. ft.
- Cargo Volume: 9.5 cu. ft.
- Cargo Volume (Seats Folded): N/A
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- Interior - Front Row
- Volume: 43.8 cu. ft.
- Leg Room: 40.7 in.
- Head Room: 38.9 in.
- Shoulder Room: 49.4 in.
- Hip Room: 47.9 in.
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- Interior - Second Row
- Volume: 30.2 cu. ft.
- Leg Room: 31.7 in.
- Head Room: 35.6 in.
- Shoulder Room: 46.4 in.
- Hip Room: 42.6 in.
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- Propulsion
- Fuel Type: Gas
- Engine Type: 1.4L I4
- Power: 101 hp @ 6500 rpm
- Torque: 98 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
- Transmission: 5-Speed Manual
- Highway Fuel Economy: 38 mpg
- City Fuel Economy: 30 mpg
- Forced Induction: None
- Direct Injection: No
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- Chassis
- Layout: Front Wheel Drive
- Front Suspension: Strut-Type
- Rear Suspension: Torsion-Beam
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- Wheels
- Front: 15" Steel
- Front Tires: 185/55R15 BSW
- Rear: 15" Steel
- Rear Tires: 185/55R15 BSW
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- Trailering & Hauling
- Trailer Weight: N/A
- Payload: N/A
- Tongue Weight: N/A
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