The version in question was the 500S TwinAir, a snappy little runner with a 0.9L petrol engine offering 85hp and a lot of smiling attention.
The 500S has a few tweaks in styling detail for the current version, but overall there's not a lot of essential change over the car that was introduced in 2007 and has since charmed its way into markets across Europe and around the globe.
Fiat has always had a reputation for building small cars well, and knowing its market as that. But even they were probably overwhelmed at the response to a car they hoped would take some of the ownership of a segment dominated by the more expensive BMW Mini. In many respects they don't compare, but it's fair enough to suggest that it's the same kind of buyer is attracted to both, albeit with different value pockets.
The company cleverly expanded the buyer base by offering a constantly growing list of marketing versions, many of them allied to prestige fashion brands such as Gucci and Diesel.
The S version under review is visually strong, with bright colours available which account for a lot of that aforementioned smiling attention.
The 500, in whichever guise, is very comfortable for a couple of people, less so for any more in a fairly confined space behind. But it is by its nature a car for a pair more than a family. I have experience over the last few years of taking variants on long distances and finding it no hardship.
The controls are well placed and work neatly especially the gearshift which is precise, short, and easily used in fun.
The engine in the review car — there are other options, including the very familiar 1.2 petrol which has been around in one guise or another for a range of Fiat small cars — was the one which has been an overall winner of the Engine of the Year Awards in the past. There is also a 1.3 diesel.
I admit that I came to it with a little unease, having an impression that it was a noisy little thing (though I suspect that memory related to a much older 2-pot from Fiat). I shouldn't have worried, it's actually quite a refined little unit.
It does need a particular way of driving though, to get the best out of it. Mainly using a bit of extra welly. On the car there's an 'Eco' button which changes some of the engine and controls response characteristics, and I found it much more comfortable to drive in the sportier mode. I'm sure this had ramifications for the fuel consumption, and it did mean that I was driving more 'push on' in traffic than I might otherwise do, but it all worked out quite well.
All the things I have liked about the 500 in the past are still there. A cheerful car, thanks to its cute looks. A solid car, which I find Fiat has always provided. And at least in its specifications, pretty economical.
The 500 prices start at €13,150, and max out at €20,000 for the diesel. You can have an S spec 1.2 petrol for €15,750 while the review Twinair variant goes a tad over €17,000. That's not cheap for a little car, but you're probably paying for the buzz. Literally.
