It has been 27 long years since new FIATs were last sold in the United States. A lot has happened in the meantime, and one big change was the acquisition of Chrysler by FIAT after the American automaker dipped into bankruptcy. As the first salvo in its triumphant return to America, FIAT has chosen its 500 small car, which has been its perennial answer to Volkswagen’s Beetle. Although the new FIAT 500 is undeniably cute inside and out, we discovered in our test drive that cuteness isn’t its only asset. The FIAT 500 is both a hoot to drive and surprisingly roomy.
The first thing you notice about the FIAT 500 is its narrow, upright exterior style, straight out of a street scene of a ’60s Italian movie. But what you’ll discover is that the interior style offers the same quirky yet easy-to-live-with style. We like the round speedometer-tachometer combination that encloses a discrete digital readout panel, and the sound system was a study in simplicity. In addition, we think the materials, build quality and seat comfort are impressive for a car with a $16,000 starting price. They seem to have the quality and style of a higher-priced European car.
The Fiat 500 is available in three distinct trim levels -- Pop, Sport and Lounge -- all of which are easily distinguishable by unique wheels and fasciae. The base Fiat 500 includes air-conditioning; power locks, windows and mirrors; cruise control; and a five-speed manual transmission. Among the most desirable options is the six-speed automatic transmission. Standard safety features include seven airbags plus electronic stability control. A fully loaded FIAT 500 Lounge could top $25,000.
