Fiat 500 2016 review

It's time for you to go - it will be funny, - said the boss. "You're incredibly tall and he's really tiny, we want to see you standing next to him and then trying to squeeze your legs into him," he said. So, like some kind of circus freak, I headed to the presentation of the new Fiat 500. The one that looks like a scoop of ice cream, a retro version of an Italian car from the 50s, yes, the same one. But having driven about a thousand kegs at a time not too long ago, I knew the only place I would be crammed into would be on a plane to Melbourne to drive it.

This new 500 is indeed an upgrade of the previous one. It's actually the same car that first went on sale in 2008, and it's an upgrade upgrade, but Fiat calls it the 500 Series 4.

What has changed this time? Style, lineup, standard features and, ahem, price. It seems like a lot has changed, but it really isn't.

Fiat dropped the S from the middle class, leaving only two trim levels, Pop and Lounge, upscale. You should also know that Fiat has raised the starting price to $500. The Pop hatchback is now $18,000 or $19,000 per ride. That's two thousand more than the previous Pop and $5000 more than the $2013 exit price. Conversely, Lounge now costs $1000 less at $21,000 or $22,000. Pop and Lounge versions with a retractable roof add another $4000.

New standard Pop and Lounge features include a five-inch screen, digital radio and a voice-activated steering wheel. Air conditioning in two trims has been replaced with climate control, and both now have LED daytime running lights.

Pop gets new cloth seats and swaps steel wheels for alloy wheels on the previous Lounge model. The Lounge now has satellite navigation and retains the seven-inch digital instrument cluster.

500 is a small car. It's not a little clown car like the original 1957 model is less than three meters long.

The Pop retains its 51kW/102Nm 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, but it's 0.2L/100km more efficient with the standard five-speed manual for 4.9L/100km combined. The Lounge drops the 0.9-litre turbocharged petrol twin and gets the more powerful 74kW/131Nm 1.4-litre four-cylinder that was previously in the S model, and continues with the previous 1.4-litre six-cylinder 6.1L/100km combined. speed manual.

The Dualogic Automated Guide costs an additional $1500 and is available at Pop and the Lounge stores. With this transmission, claimed combined fuel consumption is reduced to 4.8 l/100 km for the 1.2 and 5.8 l/100 km for the 1.4.

The styling update is minor - there are new headlights, taillights and bumpers, but there are 13 colors to choose from. Two of them are new - pink Glam Coral and maroon Avantgarde Bordeaux, pictured above.

On the way to

500 is a small car. It's not a little clown car like the original 1957 model, which is less than three meters long and 1.3 meters high, but at 3.5 meters long and 1.5 meters high, you still feel a little out of place on the highway.

The plane seat was really cramped, but not in the 500s. Even those in the back are surprisingly spacious. It is these unexpected inner qualities that save the 500 from the mundane - and this is the key to this car, it is different and fun. From the retro-inspired dashboard to the seats and door trims, it's a treat.

The Auto Dualogic, with its slow and awkward shifts, honestly needs to make a concession in favor of something smoother.

This also applies to how he rides. Both engines lack power: the 1.2-liter is underpowered, and the 1.4-liter is just adequate. In the city, this is not so noticeable, but it was noticeable on the country roads along which the launch started.

But then again, what saves this car is that it is a pleasure to drive, it handles well, the steering is direct and precise.

We thought the previous version was made up and the ride doesn't seem to have changed much despite Fiat telling us the suspension has been retuned. The Pop also gets larger 257mm disc brakes up front, up from the previous version's 240mm anchors.

However, the Dualogic auto, with its slow and awkward shifting, honestly needs to make concessions in favor of something smoother. The instructions improve the connection you have 500 and are more in line with its nature anyway.

The Model 500 also has a high level of security. There are seven airbags and a five-star crash test rating.

Fiat is indeed pushing the boundaries with its entry price increase, but they know there are people willing to pay more for something that "defines" them better. But the 500's appeal isn't in affordability, which was the goal of the original 1950s cars. Today, the 500 attracts buyers because it is unique, cute, and fun.

Does the updated 500 bring enough value to justify its price? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

Click here for more pricing and spec information on the 2016 Fiat 500.