2012 FIAT 500: So nerdy, it’s cool

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/02/2012 (5354 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

My friends Rod and Jane Cayer bought a Fiat 500 last spring. In fact, I’m reasonably certain they were among the first in town to lay the money down for one of these cute little Italian-inspired jobs.

We’re all members of the Riff Raff Car Club, a rag-tag bunch of old-car aficionados who have a penchant for rusty and dusty rides from the past. In the summer months, Rod and Jane ride around in a variety of cool old cars, and they even own a pair of Vespa scooters.

But they needed a fuel-efficient new car that also fit their eclectic tastes for everyday driving. And by all accounts the couple is totally thrilled with the purchase of their little Fiat and couldn’t be happier with the car’s reliability, economy and style.

That testament alone makes the Fiat 500 monumentally better than any Fiats from the past. It would be remiss not to mention the acronym that has haunted Fiat for all eternity: Fix It Again Tony. Not quite as haunting as Ford’s Found On Road Dead, but less than flattering, to be sure.

Fiats of the past, in my opinion (and I’m certain a few of my Italian friends will hate me for this) were junk. I know — my brother had one. His old Fiat Spider may have had shiny red paint but it was a horror on wheels. (See Willy’s Garage). The fit and finish was on par with a pedal car and, depending on who was pedaling, it was about as fast. Finding parts was an absolute nightmare and doing even the smallest repairs required the hands of a dwarf surgeon.

When Chrysler resurrected the Fiat name here in Canada my first thought was, WHY? All that changed when I finally drove one. As much as I wanted to hate this car, it became apparent in very short order this Fiat version, which is built in Mexico, has come a long, long way.

Our Fiat 500 tester was fitted with Lounge trim and loaded with surprising features for such a small car, including heated seats a power sunroof and rear park assist. Standard goodies include power locks and windows, cruise control, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, and a split folding rear seat.

With a price tag of more than $22,000 with options and a thirst for premium fuel, it isn’t exactly an economy car, but I suspect that wasn’t what Fiat was going for when they joined up with Chrysler to build a 500 for us Canucks. If the goal was to build a fun little car that tools around town with style and grace, they hit the nail square on the head.

Under the hood there’s a 1.4-litre 16-valve four-cylinder engine that makes 101 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 98 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000. The six-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and the suspension and brakes are on par with other small cars.

Because it’s so short, tossing the 500 into a corner, even with front-wheel drive, will bring the back end swinging out with just enough force to bring a smile to your face and a giggle from your co-pilot.

Inside, the car is like a fancy Italian restaurant, bright and airy with loads of colour. The seats are comfortable, the fit and finish is great and, even though it’s a really small car, the doors close with a satisfying thud. The gauges are laid out a bit weird for my taste, and I found the controls for the heating and the stereo a bit confusing at first. But by the end of my week with it, none of that was a concern.

Perhaps the ultimate test of the Fiat 500’s styling came when I took our 19-year-old daughter, Katelyn, for a ride. “This car is so nerdy, it’s cool,” concluded our teenage hipster.

Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with the Fiat 500, and now understand why my friends bought one. It’s a fun-filled little car that looks remarkably different from just about anything on the road, it’s great on fuel (even with the recommended premium) and, although it isn’t a Ferrari, it’s spirited enough to keep you grinning from light to light.