When you see a Fiat 500 on the road, what’s your reaction? Can you feel the corners of your mouth stretch upwards, even just a little? That’s the 500 effect for you. It’s hard not to find the 500 terribly adorable with its little shoebox-size chassis mounted on four wheels and wrapped up in a perfectly retro look.
In the past, depending on the version of the 500 they drove, the width of the driver’s smile likely varied with the type of engine found under the hood, ranging from bored amusement to naughty grin.
For the longest time, the revived Italian legend was a little flavourless — unless you upgraded to a turbo or, even better, to an Abarth. Fiat has finally played its cards wisely and made a good decision for the tiniest member of its family.
This year, FCA made the excellent decision of flushing out the naturally-aspirated 1.4-litre engine and made the turbocharged engine standard. I wholeheartedly support this decision because, the way I see it, the Fiat 500 is meant to be fun. It’s small and a bit inconvenient unless you don’t have anything bigger than a purse to carry. But what it lacks in convenience, it has to potential to make up for in fun, something the past entry-level model lacked. Not anymore.
The 1.4-litre, four-cylinder turbo engine cranks out a healthy 135 horsepower and 150 lb.-ft. of torque — a 34-hp increase over the former base engine and a welcomed addition. I was glad FCA chose to offer the most stripped down (and affordable) version of the model on the press fleet because it meant putting the tiny engine to the test with a proper manual transmission.
Hilariously, the gearbox in the 500 only has five speeds — a rarity nowadays in a world where the few manuals left can count on six slots while automatics get seven, eight, 10, infinite gears to supposedly improve fuel economy. If you want to be a stick in the mud and spoil some of the fun, there is an available six-speed automatic transmission. But if you ask me, it’s worth pulling the stick out and learning to use it just to fully enjoy the little Italian classic.
Fuel economy wise, the little bugger has a bit of a drinking problem. I’ve averaged 8.1L/100km which is consistent with the manufacturer’s number but thirsty considering the size of the car.
The version I drove is the 500 Pop Urbana Edition which adds a few, minimal styling cue including an upgraded set of wheels, black trims around the headlights, super cloth buckets seats with silver stitching, and a black instrument panel bezel. It doesn’t sound like much, but it’s just enough to slightly elevate the look of the car and at $495, the package won’t make you break your piggy bank.
While, of course, at 135 hp, we’re not looking at hair-raising numbers, the 500 is so tiny that this is just the power it needs to be a perfect treat to drive. Handling-wise, the pocket-sized hatch was surprisingly more comfortable than I anticipated. Granted, the bumps still feel a little rough, but the dampers do a really decent job so that ultimately, it doesn’t feel like the road is giving you a spanking.
The interior of the car is well designed and laid out. The seats are surprisingly high, which means that though the car handles a bit like a pronominal go-kart, you’re not sitting on the ground.
The 500 Pop I drove starts at $22,495 and comes already equipped with a lot of the features most people want to see in a car nowadays including air conditioning, backup camera, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity and streaming, wheel-mounted controls, keyless access, and USB ports.
Despite being the entry-level model, the Pop comes equipped with a full U-Connect infotainment system which remains to this day one of the most user-friendly systems out there. If you wish to add navigation and satellite radio to the already generous menu, the option costs a reasonable $595.
While the materials are far from ranging in the top tiers of quality, the mix of glossy, soft, and matte surfaces creates an ensemble that feels more premium than it really is.
Of course, if you’re on the market for a 500, you should know what to expect. In case you don’t be aware that though there are a claimed five places in the car, let’s call it was it is: a two-seater with a place to put a purse and a coat. If you want to keep your friends, don’t offer anybody to ride at the back unless they’re willing to lounge across the backseat.
While for the longest time I was a little underwhelmed by the Fiat 500, I strongly believe FCA did a good job ousting the old base engine and narrowing the choices down to two turbos. It finally gives the 500 the pep its personality deserves.
The specs
- Model: 2019 Fiat 500 Pop Urbana Edition
- Engine: 1.4L Multiair I-4 turbocharged
- Transmission: five-speed manual
- NRCan rating (Le/100km city/highway): 8.5 / 7.1
- Price: $22,495 base, $25,475 as tested, including freight
- Competition: smart fortwo, Chevrolet Spark
- Standard equipment: Power windows, front one-touch down: power locks, rear cargo shelf panel, cloth seats with manual driver’s height-adjustable seat, Media Centre with auxiliary audio input jack and two USB ports, rear-view mirror with microphone, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and cruise controls, driver and front-passenger seat memory return, seven-inch thin film transistor display, Body-colour instrument panel bezels, Uconnect 3 multimedia centre with five-inch touchscreen, hands-free communication with Bluetooth streaming audio, Alpine Premium Audio System, air conditioning with micron filter, 12-volt power outlet in centre console, 16-inch polished aluminum wheels with Mineral Grey pockets and 195 / 45R16XL Pirelli tires, Tinted windshield and glass windows, tinted windshield and windows, chrome exhaust tip and exterior door handles, sport spoiler, remote keyless entry, electronic stability control with hill start assist, traction control and electronic brake-force distribution, parkview rear back-up camera
