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. The four-seat Fiat 500 competes with subcompact cars like the Mini Cooper, Scion iQ and Smart ForTwo. A cabrio version, dubbed 500c, is available, and buyers can also opt for a high-performance Abarth model or, in California, the fully electric 500e.
(Skip to details on the: 500c, 500e, 500 Abarth)
The Fiat 500 and 500c get a revised front passenger seat with an armrest and seat-position memory. The seat also sits 1 inch lower for additional headroom.
- 15-inch steel wheels; 15- or 16-inch aluminum wheels available
- Power-adjustable heated side mirrors
- Rear spoiler
- Chrome exhaust tip
- Available fog lights
- Available power sunroof
- Available glass roof
- Cloth upholstery; leather available
- 50/50-split folding backseat
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel with stereo and speed controls
- Remote keyless entry
- Air conditioning; automatic air conditioning available
- CD stereo with MP3 jack and USB port; Beats by Dr. Dre premium stereo available
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Available TomTom navigation system
- Base 101-horsepower, 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine
- Available 135-hp, 1.4-liter four-cylinder (Turbo)
- Five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission
- Sport-tuned suspension (500 Sport, 500 Turbo)
- Front-wheel drive
- Seven airbags
- Antilock brakes
- Electronic stability system
- Active front head restraints
- Available rear parking sensors
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 side-pillar structure with it. That makes for more of a panoramic moonroof effect than a true droptop experience.
- 101-hp, 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine
- Five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission
- Trunk compartment in place of hardtop’s hatchback cargo area
- High-performance Abarth version offered
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The 500e is a battery-electric version of the 500 hardtop intended for sale initially in California only. Fiat says the car’s range is 87 miles in mixed driving and more than 100 miles in the city. Powering a 111-hp electric motor, the thermally managed lithium-ion battery pack can be recharged within four hours when fully depleted by using a 240-volt Level 2 charging setup (sold separately). On a normal household power outlet, Fiat says it takes less than 24 hours to recharge the battery.
- Unique aerodynamic components
- 7-inch screen in instrument panel with EV information
- TomTom navigation system with EV-specific features
- Push-button transmission
- 12 days of rental car usage a year, for three years, included
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Fiat’s performance-oriented Abarth model comes in 500 hatchback and 500c soft-top form, and it competes with sporty hatches and convertibles like the Mini Cooper S. Its turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine makes 160 hp and 170 pounds-feet of torque.
- Dual tailpipes
- Functional bumper inlets for engine’s two intercoolers
- Rear spoiler
- 16-inch aluminum wheels; 17-inch rims available
- Performance suspension
- Bolstered sport seats
- Heavy-duty five-speed manual transmission
- Electronic stability system with partial-off mode
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