2012 Fiat 500

What's New for 2012

The all-new 2012 Fiat 500 ushers in the return of the Fiat brand to North America.

Introduction

There was once a car so small it made the Mini seem like a Big. A car so cute the animators of the movie Cars did little to transform one into the adorable "Luigi." A car that if you saw one on the streets, you'd swear it was a child's scale replica. That car was the Fiat 500, or Cinquecento en Italiano, and it left such an indelible impression during its 18-year lifespan that Fiat performed a Mini-like resurrection to it three years ago. Now, with Fiat purchasing Chrysler last year, the 500 has been chosen to be the pioneer model to reintroduce the Fiat brand to North America.

The 2012 Fiat 500 certainly has the potential to be the next big (or rather, small) thing. While the original 500 was the size of a Little Tikes Cozy Coupe, the nuova 500 looks far more like a regular car -- albeit a tiny one. Compared to a Mini Cooper, it's 6 inches shorter in overall length and 2 inches narrower. However, it is also more than 4 inches taller, allowing for an elevated seating position that not only increases visibility but creates more interior legroom. The result is a cabin that is surprisingly spacious, with more rear legroom on hand than its British nemesis (not that that's saying much).

Initially, there will be one engine offered: a 1.4-liter 101-horsepower four-cylinder attached to either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic. No, that doesn't sound like a lot of power (and it isn't), but at only 2,350 pounds, the Fiat weighs 218 pounds less than the 121-hp base Cooper, which manages to be reasonably sprightly. Still, we'll keep our hopes up for Europe's hot Abarth 500 model as well as the incredible TwinAir turbocharged two-cylinder that promises fuel economy in the range of 57 mpg.

Like the Mini, the 2012 Fiat 500 promises lots of character and personalization in a price category not usually known for it. There are 14 paint colors, several two-tone interior color schemes and a variety of body graphics (such as Italian green, white and red stripes down the side). It's also competitively equipped, but you could easily leave the dealership with a reasonably optioned 500 for nearly two grand less than the Mini's base price. The 500 barely tops $23,000 when loaded to the gills. Of course, cars like the Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit and Mazda 2 offer more room for even less.

However, as sunny as the skies may seem over the new 2012 Fiat 500, there is an enormous cloud hanging over it. Italian cars are not known for their reliability, and neither are Chryslers. An Italian car built by Chrysler in the same Mexico plant that built the K-Car, the Neon and the PT Cruiser? Doesn't sound like a recipe for a long-lasting, trouble-free product. But the 500 has been sold in Europe for long enough to work out a few kinks, so who knows? We'll keep our hopes up and our ears open to early customer reviews, but buyer beware.

The 500's limited Chrysler-based dealer network is still to be determined, but when the car begins to trickle out onto America's congested streets, this adorable little hatchback could enjoy a reaction similar to that inspired by the Mini half a decade ago. Of course, the 500 has a growing list of impressive other cheap and cheerful small cars against which to compete. But even if the 2012 500 isn't the most spacious or reliable, it certainly has the attributes of "cute" and "adorable" down pat.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2012 Fiat 500 is a two-door subcompact hatchback available in Pop, Sport and Lounge trim levels. Standard equipment on the 500 Pop includes 15-inch steel wheels and chrome-trimmed wheel covers, keyless entry, full power accessories, heated mirrors, air-conditioning, cruise control, a tilt-only steering wheel, a height-adjustable driver seat, a trip computer and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player and auxiliary audio jack. The Convenience package adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, Fiat's Blue&Me Bluetooth phone connectivity and an iPod/USB audio interface. The Bose Premium Audio package adds satellite radio along with an upgraded six-speaker system and subwoofer.

The Fiat 500 Sport gains 16-inch alloy wheels, firmer suspension tuning, retuned steering, slightly different styling, a roof spoiler, foglamps, sport seats, cloth/vinyl sport upholstery and the Pop's two optional packages. Satellite radio is a separate option, however. The Safety & Convenience package (automatic transmission required) includes automatic climate control, a compact spare tire and heated front seats.

The 500 Lounge reverts to the Pop's mechanical tuning and includes its optional packages as well. Also included are 15-inch alloy wheels, exterior chrome accents, foglamps, a fixed glass roof and upgraded cloth upholstery. The Convenience Group adds rear parking sensors, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and heated front seats. The Luxury package adds leather upholstery and upgraded trim. A sunroof and an integrated TomTom navigation system are optional on both the Sport and the Lounge. Dealer-installed accessories like interior ambient lighting and exterior graphics are also available.

Powertrains and Performance

The 2012 Fiat 500 is powered by a 1.4-liter four-cylinder that produces 101 hp and 98 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission is standard on the Pop and the Sport. A six-speed automatic is standard on the Lounge and optional on the other trims. Performance will likely be underwhelming, with an expected 0-60-mph time of about 10 seconds. EPA fuel economy information had not been released at the time of this writing, but based on European reports about the 500, we estimate it will likely have a combined mpg average in the mid 30s.

Safety

The 2012 Fiat 500 comes standard with stability and traction control, antilock disc brakes, a driver knee airbag, front side airbags and side curtain airbags.

Interior Design and Special Features

While the Fiat 500's retro styling screams "Mini fighter," its interior raises the decibels even further. It doesn't possess as many customization options and accessories as its British archrival, but the 500 does offer snazzy two-tone color schemes and plenty of neat little design cues. It also has a more straightforward control layout than the form-over-function Mini. The manual climate controls consist of four knobs and the stereo is high-mounted and easy to read at a glance. If there is one clear demerit for the Fiat it is interior quality that isn't quite up to the Mini's level, but certainly strong for other cars in its modest price range.

Other than the Smart Fortwo, the Fiat 500 is the smallest car sold in the United States. Nonetheless, the high-mounted front seats allow for an impressive amount of legroom even for tall drivers (though it would be nice if the steering wheel telescoped for a better driving position). Backseat legroom is understandably modest compared to other small cars, but it is more generous than what the Mini Cooper offers.

Behind the backseat you'll find only 6.5 cubic feet of luggage space, but here again, it's more than what's offered by the Mini. Lower the backseat and you'll discover a less boxy, less useful space, but it's still good enough to carry the odd bulky item.

Driving Impressions

We have yet to drive a U.S.-spec 2012 Fiat 500, but based on reports from Europe, you shouldn't expect the same sort of entertainment from behind the wheel as you would from a Mini or Ford Fiesta. The steering is rather devoid of feel and lacks the sort of nimble reactions you'd expect from a car that looks the way it does, though the steering has been apparently retuned for North America for better high-speed stability in crosswinds. The suspension has also been altered for our shores with a more comfort-oriented ride, which could be a good thing since the Euro-spec 500 is tuned on the firm side and can react unsophisticatedly over bumps. Europeans are a bit spoiled when it comes to the immense number of quality subcompacts at their disposal, so perhaps we'll have a sunnier view of the 500 when we finally can test it completely.