Review - 2023 Fiat 500

Designed with tiny European streets in mind, the Fiat 500 is one of the easiest cars you can lean on for driving around town and squeezing into any car park you can find, but is there such a thing as too small of a package for Australian roads?

Let’s take a closer look at the latest Fiat 500 range to see how competitive Fiat’s pint-sized hatchback is when put to the test here in Australia.

Fiat 500 Competition

Starting Price: $27,220

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How Much Does It Cost?

The latest Fiat 500 range is offered here in Australia in a single variant lineup, with the Fiat 500 Dolcevita priced at $27,220.

Keep in mind that this price is subject to change and does not include on-road costs.

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Fiat 500 (DOLCEVITA) Specifications

What Features Does the Fiat 500 Have?

The Fiat 500 Dolcevita comes riding on a set of 16-inch alloys with a two-tone finish, and receives halogen headlights with LED daytime running lamps, halogen fog lights, a chrome grille, chrome rear bumper and exhaust pipe, cruise control, cloth upholstery with a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

You’ll also find a body-coloured dashboard, climate control, heated side mirrors, rear parking sensors, a 7.0-inch TFT instrument cluster and a 7.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto.

Range Features:

• 16-inch alloys with two-tone finish

• Halogen headlights with LED daytime running lamps 

• Chrome grille, rear bumper design 

• Cruise control 

• Cloth upholstery with leather-wrapped steering wheel 

• Body-coloured dashboard design 

• Cruise control 

• Rear parking sensors 

• 7.0-inch TFT instrument cluster 

• 7.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto 

Is the Fiat 500 Comfortable to Drive?

While the Fiat 500 doesn’t impress too much on paper, step behind the wheel and you’ll find it’s keen and eager to get to work, though its urban-friendly nature becomes pretty clear here in Australia.

Under the Fiat 500’s bonnet lies a tiny little 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 51kW of power and 102Nm of torque which is thrown to the front wheels via a five-speed semi-automatic transmission.

On the road, the Fiat 500 doesn’t offer a heap of acceleration with its 0-100km/h sprint timed at 12.9 seconds, though its lightweight proportions make it more fun than you might expect on the road.

Cruising around town is made super simple thanks to the Fiat 500’s zippy handling, with the hatch happy to change directions on a dime in traffic.

The 500’s steering rack remains incredibly light at low speeds, meaning it’s super easy to turn the wheel while squeezing into tight car parks or whipping a quick three-point turn.

Combine that with its pint-sized footprint and you’ve got yourself one mighty impressive city car, with its zippy handling more than making up for its lack of power on the road.

As you might imagine, though, where the Fiat 500 platform begins to struggle is when you hit some of Australia’s rougher road surfaces which can quickly overwhelm the city-focussed suspension package.

Having said that, Fiat knows that the majority of people buying the 500 will have it weaving through city streets where it is an undeniably impressive little package and one of the easiest cars to drive in the urban jungle.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

Fiat’s 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol unit is rated at 4.8L/100km on a combined cycle, making it an extremely fuel-efficient little city hatchback that helps to keep your running costs down on a weekly grind around the city.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

Let’s get real - you’ll have to curb your expectations if you’re after a micro city car that can somehow transform into a family-friendly package.

That said, the Fiat 500 is perhaps one of the best options for singles, young couples or even those with super young kids in tow and, once you’ve stepped inside, it offers a heap of Italian style and charm.

The front of the Fiat 500 does impressively well when tasked with taller drivers thanks to the elevated roofline and low-slung driving position that makes it far more spacious in the front cabin than you might expect.

The cabin layout is super simple though picks up a handful of stylish design tweaks and a body-coloured dashboard for the latest model year which makes for one of the more unique interiors on the market.

Practical touches to the Fiat 500’s cabin include a small centre console that houses a pair of cup holders, a small netted storage area below the gear lever and some smallish door bins on either side of the cabin.

Move to the rear and you’ll find a bench seat designed primarily for kids, with barely any legroom on offer and limited headroom for adults brave enough to weather conditions in the second row, though thankfully, there’s a pair of ISOFIX anchors and top tether mounts to help sweeten the deal for part-time family duties.

Finally, the Fiat 500 has a boot measuring in at just 185L, meaning there’s not a heap of space in the cargo area, though the rear seats fold to unlock 550L of boot space for bulky items.

Is it Safe?

Safety is one area that the Fiat 500’s ageing platform is beginning to struggle to hold up with its competitors.

The 500’s five-star ANCAP safety rating has expired and a distinct lack of active safety tech makes it unable to compete in the world of safety when compared to its main rivals.

As standard, the Fiat 500 receives rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring and seven airbags inside the cabin, though no essential safety tech like autonomous emergency braking or even a rear-view camera.

Our Verdict: Is the Fiat 500 Worth it?

If you’re looking for a charming little city car that’s fun to drive, confident on its feet and runs on the sniff of an oily rag, the Fiat 500 remains a great micro city car option, though increasing price tags and absence of key safety tech makes it less competitive with every iteration.

Don’t forget that if you’re searching for a new car, reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can help find you the best possible price.

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Three-year/150,000-kilometre warranty 
2. 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol, five-speed semi-automatic transmission 
3. Expired five-star ANCAP safety rating 
4. 4.8L/100km combined cycle fuel economy 
5. 185L boot expands to 550L with rear seats folded