Small car, big car

Article By: Jason Woosey – Cars in Action

Some call him Lewis while others preferred to christen him Luigi. All we know is that the newest member of our long-term test family will inspire some interesting, if somewhat heated, discussions during its stay at 18 Bruton Road.

Many of us feel that it is rather overpriced for a vehicle its size, while others formulate a passionate defense, mooting its iconic status and ability to wrench at the heartstrings as more than justifying its premium positioning. For now we’ll leave the aforementioned writers’ ancestral roots to your imagination.

Needless to say, this latest retro incarnation of the Fiat 500 caused quite an uprising in Italy when it was unveiled there in 2007. They didn’t go as far as declaring a public holiday, but the festivities that went down sure suggested such a move was appropriate.

The original rear-engined ‘Chinky-chento’ 500 that was first launched 50 years earlier stole the hearts of every Italian it came across, and many Europeans too. Even the mother of Fiat’s CEO, Luca de Meo, suggested that the company build a new 500.

And so a mother’s, and nation’s, wish was granted with the creation of this retro city car, but it’s a very different proposition. It might retain the adorable styling blueprint of the original, yet it’s aimed at a completely different audience. Cheap and rudimentary has given way to sophisticated and expensive, and if BMW can pitch its heart-string-tugging Mini at the premium market then why can’t Fiat, you might ask?

The new 500 sure has the makings of a premium city car. While some might consider it a tad feminine, it has an undeniable cool factor and some funky-looking finishes in its feature-packed cabin. Whether that’s all worth the R180 000 price tag is something we’ll have more debates about in future, also as we monitor its durability, but for now we’re enjoying life with this little Fiat.

Apparently there are 500 000 different ways to option up your 500, with all kinds of extra trimmings from racing stripes to wheels and interior kit, but Fiat never entrusted us with that choice. But we’re still smitten with what they’ve given us. Our black baby is a 1.4 16V Sport, which means it’s decked out in some racy apparel and motivated by the same 74kW engine as its Panda 100HP cousin.

That engine may have underwhelmed us a bit in Panda incarnation, but mated to the 500′s slightly lighter shell, it leaps off the mark with surprising vigor, and against our clock at altitude, ran from 0-100km/h in an impressive 10.7 seconds.

This little car is no boutique hatch — it’s good fun to drive. With its grippy 15-inch wheels pushed to the far corners and suspended on stiff coils, it’s really agile around the bends and the steering is satisfyingly communicative at most speeds. A fair amount of engine noise adds to the sporty atmosphere, although some might like it a bit quieter. The boutique crowd is also unlikely to appreciate that suspension, as the ride is quality is rather hard.

So far this little 500 has proven to be a satisfying and easy steer, though there are downsides. Its proportions limit you to a sit-up-and-beg kind of driving position, and it doesn’t have the steering reach adjustment you’d expect at this price level, although the height adjustment of the that and driver seat should satisfy most needs. At least the seats are quite supportive. Boot space and rear legroom are on the tight side, but as good as you could expect for a car falling into these proportions.

The generous specification in this version of the 500 does mitigate the high price to an extent. You get a hill holder, a good sound system with USB connectivity and a Bluetooth communications system with voice recognition, but you have to pay extra if you want leather seats, climate control or a sunroof.

Luckily Fiat has left nothing to the options list when it comes to safety — they’ve stuffed seven airbags, including a driver’s kneebag, into this little five-star NCAP-rated car, as well as a few active safety features like ESP stability control and the obligatory ABS and EBD.

Sure, our new baby comes with a steep asking price for its size, but Fiat has packed a lot of car into that little space.