2012 Fiat 500: Up Close
If you’re a longtime KickingTires reader you may remember when I tested a Fiat 500 in the U.K. two summers ago. At the beginning of next year, you’ll be able to buy the little 500 in the U.S. for a starting price of $15,500. While the hatchback receives a number of changes for its American debut, on the whole it remains true to the original.
That’s immediately evident from the 500’s exterior styling, which is essentially unchanged. Like the Mini Cooper that it will compete against, the 500’s styling is unabashedly retro, harking back to the original that debuted in 1957. While the Cooper and 500 share design similarities, they look different enough that they won’t be mistaken for each other.
Likewise, the 500’s cabin is mostly similar to its overseas’ counterpart. The heating and ventilation system has been upgraded for U.S. cars, and Michael Berube, product planner for the 500, cited other minor changes like an armrest for the driver, larger cupholders and more storage space. Even though cabin materials are unchanged, they’re still competitive for this class.
The front buckets have a good deal of seat travel to accommodate different-sized drivers, but sliding the seat all the way back eliminates — not surprisingly — most of the backseat’s available legroom.
I know from experience that you can stuff a few large backpacks behind the backseat, but when you need more room you can fold those seats down. They don’t, however, fold flat with the cargo floor; there’s a small ledge when they’re down. Even though this is a small car, taller folks can walk under the opened hatch without banging their head on it.
At the 500’s debut, Laura Soave, head of the Fiat brand in North America, connected the 500 to shoppers looking to downsize their cars. It’s a good idea for a car like this, but Fiat is extremely late to the party, as Mini had the same message with the Cooper back in 2002. While initial interest in the 500 will likely be high, we’ll have to see whether Fiat can generate the kind of momentum Mini has managed to create.
