2019 FIAT 500 Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
byTravis Langness
Reviews Editor
Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.Pros
- Nimble size for easy parking
- Fairly comfortable ride quality for a car of this size
- Lots of personality for the price
Cons
- Disappointing fuel economy given the slow acceleration
- Cramped interior
- Poor rear visibility with the convertible's top lowered
- Abarth model isn't very quick or much fun
What's new
- New 1957 Edition exterior and interior appearance package
- Part of the first 500 generation introduced for 2012
The 2019 Fiat 500 answers a very specific question: What do you buy if you want a tiny car that combines a bit of nostalgia with distinct European styling? As a two-door subcompact, the 500 is certainly small. And with styling cues that clearly harken back to the original Fiat 500 of the 1950s, it's got the nostalgia and styling angle handled. But how does it do as a modern daily driver? That answer isn't as rosy.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 FIAT 500 Pop 2dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 5M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.53 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
$187/mo
500 Pop
vs
$197/mo
Avg. Compact Car
To the 500's credit, it's one of the easiest cars you'll ever park. Its scant dimensions make it ideal for crowded cities, and its nimble nature lends an advantage in traffic. Unfortunately, those same dimensions mean your people-carrying space is limited. Most adults in the front seat will be relatively comfortable, but the back seat is basically a glorified shelf. The trunk is just as small.
Under the hood, the 500 gets an equally tiny turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine. It provides a certain amount of personality that helps the 500 feel eager and spritely around town, but the reality is that the 500 is still one of the slowest cars in the segment. Fuel economy is disappointing as well.
Ultimately, the 2019 Fiat 500 is an interesting option for subcompact shoppers, but it's not our first choice. Competitors are less expensive in many cases and offer more amenities. If you need a bit more space, we recommend looking at four-door subcompacts such as the Kia Rio or the Honda Fit. And if you've got your heart set on a two-door city car, we suggest looking at the standard Mini Cooper or even an electric Fiat 500e, which we prefer to the gasoline-powered model.
Edmunds' Expert Rating
Driving
While it may be nimble and maneuverable, the 500 definitely isn't sporty. Even the Abarth model, with 160 horsepower, can spin the front tires at full throttle but instrumented acceleration numbers are less impressive. It can barely keep up with the base Mini Cooper Hardtop, let alone the Cooper S model.
Comfort
Limitations to the seat and steering wheel adjustability compromise comfort, and the contouring of the front seat will bother some drivers. The lack of adequate elbow padding and the drone of the engine and exhaust further hurt comfort scores. The ride quality is decent enough.
Interior
While the 500's minimalist interior has a certain retro design appeal, it also serves to limit the functionality of many systems. The limited passenger space leaves it trailing rivals by a considerable margin.
Utility
The cabriolet's trunk only measures 5.4 cubic feet, roughly half the capacity of the hatchback model (9.5 cubes). The tiny opening hampers usefulness. It's a struggle to get a carry-on suitcase to fit. Interior storage is minimal, with shallow door pockets and cramped cupholders.
Which 500 does Edmunds recommend?
With only three available trim levels, choosing your particular Fiat 500 should be relatively easy. The entry-level Pop might be tempting, but we think the best pick is the midlevel Lounge trim. It's a significant price difference, but you get lots of extras that make the 500 more livable, such as automatic climate control, leather upholstery, rear parking sensors, and heated front seats.
2019 FIAT 500 models
The 2019 Fiat 500 is a small city car with seating for four, although the rear seats are only suitable for very small children. It's available as a two-door hatchback or convertible (Fiat calls this the 500C) that uses fixed roof rails and a folding center portion. Three trim levels are available: Pop, Lounge and Abarth.