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Fiat 500: retro look is contemporary winner

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31 March 2009

Fiat 500 1.2 Lounge road test report

Fiat 500 1.2 Lounge 3dr

Fiat 500 1.2 Lounge 3dr

What is it?

Fiat’s version of the MINI, the 500 is the most desirable little car on the road at the moment. Faithfully recalling the 50s motoring icon that motorised Italy, the modern 500 is usefully bigger and packed with equipment and safety kit. This is the 1.2-litre version with a 69bhp engine in good value Lounge specification.

What’s hot?

  • Those retro looks – uniquely original, thoroughly modern
  • Fixed glass roof floods interior with light
  • Interior detailing is a delight: chrome handles, body-coloured facia
  • High specification: Bluetooth, steering wheel mounted controls, USB port
  • Along with air conditioning, alloys, leather steering wheel
  • Low 10% company car tax with 119g/km emissions
  • And 55.4mpg fuel economy
  • Build quality feels far superior to Fiats of memory
  • Wide range of appealing colours and customisation accessories
  • Sheer fun factor and smile-per-mile driving experience

What’s not?

  • City steering button – which lightens up steering for parking…
  • …is just gimmicky. You’ll lose all road feel
  • Out of its urban element, 500 is boomy on motorways
  • It’s only a four-seater, and rear headroom is tight
  • Ride gets choppy on poorer surfaces

What you need to Know?

P11D Value: 9410
Monthly Rental*: 193 (CH)/£220 (PCH)
Tax Band when posted: 10%
Monthly BiK: 16 (20%)/£31 (40%)
Engine: 1.2-litre 4-cyl
CO2 Emissions: 119g/km
Power/torque: 69bhp/76lb ft
Economy: 55.4mpg

Monthly contract hire (CH) and personal contract hire (PCH) rentals generated by Concept Vehicle Leasing. Based on a 36 month lease at 10,000 miles a year.

Business Car Manager Road Test Rating

Driving the Fiat 500 is a daily dose of motoring delight. The MINI might be a better drive, but the Fiat 500 captivates with its simple charm, sophisticated specification, and low running costs. The Fiat 500 is a winner from the sparkle of its detailed chrome styling to the hard-headed appeal of the £35 road tax, 10% company car tax and 55-plus mpg.

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Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton is an award-winning journalist and the founder of Business Car Manager (now renamed Business Motoring). Ralph writes extensively about the car and van leasing industry as well as wider fleet and company car issues. A former editor of What Car?, Ralph is a vastly experienced writer and editor and has been writing about the automotive sector for over 35 years.

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