2013 FIAT 500c
Starting MSRP $19,500–$26,000
By Cars.com Staff
Cars.com National September 20, 2012Vehicle Overview
Ever since June 2009, when Fiat took a controlling stake in Chrysler, it's been all but certain the Italian automaker would bring a version of its 500 to the U.S. It finally arrived for 2012. Closer in length to the Mini Cooper than the Scion iQ or Smart ForTwo, the four-seat 500 competes with all three minicars. A cabrio version, dubbed 500c, is available, and buyers can also opt for a high-performance Abarth version.
(Skip to details on the: 500 Abarth)
New for 2013
Fiat adds a new trim level to the 500 range with the debut of the 500 Turbo, which is powered by a 135-horsepower, turbo 1.4-liter four-cylinder that pairs with a five-speed manual transmission. The car gets a sport suspension and unique styling cues including a revised front-end with smoked headlamps, pronounced side skirts, a liftgate spoiler and a rear diffuser. The 500 is also available with Beats by Dr. Dre premium audio.
Exterior
At 139.6 inches long, the two-door 500 hatchback measures 7 inches shorter than a Cooper. Although it's considerably longer than the iQ or ForTwo, the car's stubby profile looks more like them than the low-slung Mini. Up front, decorative strakes connect Fiat's all-caps logo with a pair of beady headlights, each one etched with the car's numeric "500" inside the bezel. There are vertical taillights in back. Exterior features include:
- Standard 15-inch steel wheels; 15- or 16-inch aluminum wheels available
- Available fog lights
- Available power sunroof
- Available glass roof
Interior
Inside, there's an upright dash with a speedometer and information display inside a circular pod ahead of the steering wheel. A large trim panel covers the dash; it matches the car's exterior color. Levels of customization are myriad: Shoppers can choose from more than a dozen combinations of cabin colors, plus an array of interior accessories from Chrysler's Mopar division. Interior features include:
- Standard cloth upholstery; leather available
- Standard remote keyless entry
- Standard cruise control
- Standard air conditioning; automatic air conditioning available
- Standard CD stereo with MP3 input; Beats by Dr. Dre premium audio available
Under the Hood
The 500 is powered by a 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that works with a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Mechanical features include:
- Standard output is 101 hp and 98 pounds-feet of torque
- 500 Turbo makes 135 hp and 150 pounds-feet of torque
- Sport-tuned suspension and steering (500 Sport, 500 Turbo)
Safety
Safety features include:
- Seven airbags, including front-seat side-impact airbags and side curtain airbags
- Antilock brakes
- Electronic stability system
- Active front head restraints
- Available rear parking sensors
500c
The 500c sports a cloth top with various retraction settings, from a sunroof-like ceiling opening to a completely stowed accordion — rear window and all — perched over the trunk. The roof retracts with the touch of a button at speeds up to 60 mph, but unlike in most convertibles, it doesn't take the roof structure with it. That makes for more of a panoramic moonroof effect than a true open-air experience from the A-pillars back.
Thanks in part to the remaining ceiling structure, there is less cowl shake than a regular convertible. The 500c adds extra reinforcements above the windshield to make up some of the rigidity lost to a convertible top, and the windshield itself is slightly longer to conceal things. The hardtop 500's hatch has been replaced by a pop-up trunk compartment in the 500c, with luggage volume behind the rear seats reduced to just 5.4 cubic feet. The hardtop has 9.5 cubic feet.
500 Abarth
Fiat's Abarth sub-brand returned late in the 2012 model year in the form of the 500 Abarth performance variant. For 2013, an Abarth version of the 500c soft-top joins the family. The 500c competes with performance hatches and convertibles like the Mini Cooper S. A turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder makes 160 hp and 170 pounds-feet of torque.
Exterior changes include dual tailpipes, functional bumper inlets to funnel air to the drivetrain's two intercoolers, a rear spoiler and 16-inch aluminum wheels with painted pockets. Seventeen-inch rims are optional. Inside, the Abarth has bolstered sport seats and red leather stitching along the gauges, gearshift and steering wheel.
Other mechanical changes include a heavier-duty five-speed manual transmission, a performance suspension and an electronic stability system with a partial-off mode that allows more aggressive driving. Back to top
Additional Reviews
Cars.com Expert Reviews
| Joe Wiesenfelder | Cars.com National | October 15, 2011 |
| Cars.com Staff | Cars.com National | September 20, 2012 |
People Who Viewed This Car Also Viewed
Closest Dealers Listing this Car
Featured Services for the FIAT 500c
- Sell your current car quickly and easily on Cars.com.
