Hybrid power keeps petrol Fiat 500 going

Ted Welford finds the charming Fiat 500’s age has now got the better of it

What is it? The 500 was Fiat’s twentieth century icon until 1975. Following the revival of the model in 2007, Fiat still sells 400,000 of these city cars every year, despite many rivals. What’s new? Fiat has now released a new electric 500, which should also be a hit with its sub-£20,000 starting price making it one of the cheapest EVs, but there is also Fiat’s new 500 Hybrid. It’s not a full hybrid, but rather a petrol engine with a small electric motor, battery and belt-integrated startergenerator. So does it succeed? What’s under the bonnet? Only available with a sixspeed manual gearbox, this new mild-hybrid petrol engine develops just 69bhp, with 0-60mph taking 13.6 seconds, but around town it’s fine. The mild-hybrid system includes regenerative braking and the engine can ‘switch off’ while coasting to improve fuel economy. What’s it like to drive? The Fiat excels in urban areas, as at 3.5m-long it remains tiny, is a doddle to park and has great visibility and brilliantly light steering. However, ride quality is poor while the driving position leaves a lot to be desired, and refinement is also poor. How does it look? With its scope for personalisation, bubble-like shape and cool retroinspired design, it offers bags of charm. A range of trim and liveries add to the appeal. The 500 still looks fresh despite the only real design changes since 2007 being some new lights, fresh alloy wheel designs and updated bumpers. Some subtle ‘Hybrid’ badging is fitted as part of this update. What’s it like inside? The cool colour-matched dashboard is a particular highlight. There’s a clear instrument cluster, with an optional central seveninch TFT display. A seven-inch touchscreen is also fitted, and while not the best available, it’s simple to use and gains Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A panoramic glass roof is a nice touch. However, other areas feel cheap, with hard and scratchy plastics littering the cabin. It’s small even by city-car standards, with a dinky 185-litre boot and compromised rear space. What’s the spec like? Prices for the Fiat 500 start from £13,020 for the Pop-spec car, which includes air conditioning, a DAB radio and a speed limiter. But our choice is the £14,750 Lounge model, which adds a touchscreen, leather steering wheel, rear parking sensors and a glass roof. The top-spec Launch Edition is £17,150, which includes satellite navigation, 16-inch alloy wheels and special seats made from recycled materials. But at that price, you can buy a far more accomplished supermini. Verdict It’s a testament to the 500’s cool retro design, easy-to-drive nature and quirky interior that it continues to be popular. It’s appealing use around the city and the Hybrid system means it will be cheap to run. But its ageing design, poor ex-urban driving experience and cheap cabin make this Fiat tough to recommend. Consider the electric model instead…