Reviews > Fiat > Fiat 500
Fiat 500 review 2024
Fiat 500 2015 (15) (1)
Fiat 500 2015 (9) (1)
Fiat 500 2015 (12) (1)
Fiat 500 2015 (10) (1)
Fiat 500 2015 (11) (1)
Fiat 500 2015 (8) (1)
Fiat 500 2015 (14) (1)

Quick overview

  • City-friendly size
  • Still looks great
  • Easy to park
  • Fun to drive
  • Cramped rear seats
  • Tiny boot space
  • Not as settled on motorway as some rivals
  • Average safety equipment

Fiat first offered the retro-styled 500 in the UK in 2008, and it has changed subtly in many ways over the years. There’s also a full electric version with its own unique looks and drivetrain. For this petrol-fuelled model, which also comes as a Convertible with folding canvas roof, Fiat now uses a 1.0-litre petrol engine with mild hybrid technology to keep it in the hunt for city dwellers’ business.

The 500 is definitely at its best around town, where the compact dimensions mean it can bob and dive through congested streets with blissful ease. All of the controls are light to use and there’s just something so essentially right about the feel of this car as it nips along. It’s just right – not too quick, not too slow, just the right size, and with a shot of style that’s like a welcome espresso every time you drive it.

There are drawbacks to the 500, though. Its small size means the cabin is really only fit for two people, with the rear seats merely adequate for very young children. The boot is similarly afflicted and makes even a Mini seem like a generous load lugger. There is also the small matter of the Fiat’s dynamic ability, which was fine when the car was first launched in 2008 but now lags well behind the class best.

However, all of this will not stop plenty of people choosing the Fiat 500 on its looks alone, and it is a very attractive small car. Inside, there’s more tech and comfort than ever before, so it’s not all outdated with the 500, and anything that makes you enjoy driving has to be a good thing.

Prices

There’s a very simple pricing structure for the three main trim levels of Fiat 500, especially as all of them come with the same engine and gearbox configuration. The range starts with the Pop model that costs from £14,675. From there, you move up to the Dolcevita, which is £1500 more at £16,175. If you prefer the Dolcevita Plus, it’s another £1500, so it comes in at £17,675. Bucking this trend is the 500 RED, which costs £17,175 and helps support the RED charity. A bit of legwork on the internet can net you a saving of up to £2000 on the price of a brand new Fiat 500 Hybrid. Shop for a nearly new example and you can save as much as £4000 for a car with less than 5000 miles on the clock and less than a year old. A three-year old Fiat 500 Hybrid with typical mileage will come in at around £9500.

Infotainment, comfort and practicality

The overall architecture of the Fiat 500’s cabin has not changed, despite more than one update and facelift in its long production life. As a result, the cabin offers no more space than it did when the car was first unveiled back in 2008. This means the driver and front passenger are offered sufficient space to feel comfortable and not be rubbing shoulders as they head off. There’s also a good amount of leg and headroom in the hatchback model for those in the front, but the entry-level trim does without driver’s seat height adjustment. Fiat also only allows the steering wheel to be adjusted for angle, not reach, which can force a compromise between arms and legs.

From the driver’s seat, all-round vision is good, helped by the diminutive scale of the 500. Rear parking sensors are standard on all but the entry-point Pop trim, though you can almost peer over your shoulder and see the rear bumper in the Fiat. Turning attention back to the dash, the gear lever sprouts out of the middle of the main console, so it sits high and close to your left hand. There’s also a button next to the gear shifter that you can press to lighten the steering assistance when parking. In front of the driver, the main binnacle could be a little clearer to read as the speedo is teased round the edge of the dial, while in the middle is a digital display for various functions such as fuel level and engine temperature. However, it does look very stylish.

In the middle of the dash, there are simple rotary controls to operate the heating and ventilation. They are magnificently simple to understand and it makes you wonder why a car maker would opt for anything else. Every Fiat 500 now comes with air conditioning of some description, so it’s quick to demist on frosty mornings or cool when it’s warm outside. The Pop model comes with a 5-inch display screen as standard to work the stereo and it has Bluetooth to link with your phone for hands-free calls. Move up to the other trim levels and this is improved to a 7-inch touchscreen that works with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. It’s well positioned to be within easy reach and the graphics are clearly read, though it can suffer from glare in bright conditions.

Tip the front seats forward and you might wonder how anyone is going to fit in the back of the Fiat 500. There is enough room for two kids to sit back here, but that’s about your lot Adults will find it much too cramped to travel any further than very short hops. There are also Isofix child seat mounts in the two rear seats, though lifting your beloved into their seat will be a challenge for your lower back due the narrow gap through the doors and over the front seat when it’s tipped forward.

The rear seats are better viewed as supplementary storage to the 185-litre boot. It’s small even by city car standards, but the rear seat split 50-50 and tumble forward. However, this still leaves a step in the boot floor and maximum capacity is 550-litres all in.

Which 2008 Fiat 500 model should you buy?

With the 500 Pop, you get red paint as the only no-cost choice, along with 14-inch steel wheels, plain fabric upholstery, and a 5-inch audio display in the centre of the dash. The Pop also has air conditioning, but after that you really need to spend on optional extras to improve specification. As a result, the Dolcevita is a better bet as it comes with 15-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, and the 7-inch infotainment touchscreen. It has a sunroof, too, as well as cruise control and two-tone white and black upholstery to look a lot smarter. Choose the Dolcevita Plus and it adds 16-inch alloy wheels, sat-nav, and climate control in place of air conditioning. As for the RED version, it has unique black upholstery, red-painted door mirror covers and front grille bar, and 15-inch alloy wheels with red centre caps.

Value for money: how much does a 2008 Fiat 500 cost to buy and run?

Owning any of these 500 Hybrid models will not tax your finances too much thanks to average fuel economy of 61.4mpg for the Pop and Dolcevita Plus models, while the Dolcevita and RED come with combined consumption of 60.1mpg. The Pop emits 105g/km of carbon dioxide, while the other three produce 106g/km. As a result, they all pay £170 for first-year road tax, followed by £165 for subsequent years at current tax levels.

Verdict: Should I buy a 2008 Fiat 500?

Finding fault with the Fiat 500 can feel like pointing out negatives with a kitten. It seems wrong, but there are objective downsides to this Italian city car. There are better city cars out there, and the evidence is generally stacked against the Fiat on most counts. Yet, there is still a lot to draw in buyers thanks to the Fiat’s cute looks and low running costs, helped by the mild hybrid power.

There is a feel-good factor to owning and driving the 500, and it still cuts a dash around town even if it’s been in production since 2008. That’s a mark of the car’s essential rightness of design. However, if you need to carry more than one passenger or decent amounts of luggage, or travel further than the suburbs regularly, the Fiat is a less appealing prospect.