The Fiat 500 (Type 312) is a retro-styled, three-door A-segment city car that single-handedly revived the Fiat brand upon its launch in 2007. Heavily inspired by the 1957 original, it shares its platform with the Fiat Panda. It received a major facelift in 2015 (Series 4), bringing updated infotainment (Uconnect), revised bumpers, and LED daytime running lights. While its packaging is compromised by its design (cramped rear seats, small trunk), it remains a massive commercial success due to its timeless charm, maneuverability, and the bulletproof reliability of its entry-level engines. It is available as a hatchback and a cabriolet (500C) with a sliding canvas roof. Global Rating: 7.5/10.
The Fiat 500 is the quintessential modern classic city car. If you buy it for its intended purpose—urban commuting—and choose the right specification, it is a fantastic, low-cost companion. The golden rule is to buy the 1.2 8V FIRE engine (or the newer 1.0 MHEV) with a manual gearbox. This combination is incredibly reliable, cheap to run, and easy to fix. Avoid the Dualogic automatic transmission at all costs due to its poor driving dynamics and high failure rate. Similarly, avoid the 0.9 TwinAir (too fragile) and the 1.3 MultiJet diesel (DPF issues) unless you specifically drive long highway distances, which defeats the purpose of a city car. North American buyers should look for well-maintained 1.4 MultiAir models with strict service records.