By Ian Strachan
The Fiat 500 is probably best known as Italy’s favourite small car. But in the UK, it’s better known as the car Peter Kay drove in the classic comedy series Car Share, writes motoring editor Ian Strachan.
My Fiat 500L test car didn’t have a monkey in the back seat. But there’s room for several monkeys and a couple of zookeepers. The Fiat 500 has got seriously large for a small car.
The Fiat 500 seems to have become ubiquitous from a standing start. Suddenly they are everywhere. Of course it could be that they’re just more noticeable – standing out from the vast crowds of small cars which look very much the same. The 500L does lose a little bit of the quirkiness of its smaller predecessors. Even with attractive red and white two-tone paint, it blends in with the crowd a bit easier than its small older sister.
The design of the 500L is still retro, well-balanced and eye-catching, with classic Fiat cues from yesteryear. It doesn’t quite have the same tortoise-shaped profile as the original 500, but it retains a cute front end.
Inside, the design is attractive as well as practical and nicely laid out, and there’s a surprising amount of leg and headroom in the front. As with all cars of this size, rear seating is a little cramped for monkeys with longer legs, but luggage space is respectable for a small car.
From the range of engine options I test drove the 1.4 120 bhp petrol version in Cross trim level which comes in at £19,445. The 500L range starts at £15,285 for the entry level 1.4 petrol Pop Star (what happened to good old-fashioned S and SE?). Specification as standard in the Cross trim level includes 17 inch alloys, automatic lights, rain-sensing wipers, electric windows and door mirrors, automatic start/stop, rear parking sensors, cruise control with speed limiter, dual-zone climate control, front fog lights, rear parking sensor and a good DAB radio/Bluetooth/MP3 system with seven inch touchscreen.
The 1398cc petrol engine has more than enough power to propel this small, light car. The six-speed manual gearbox is slick and precise. It returns fuel consumption of 42.2 in mixed driving, which is nothing to write home about. An indicator on the dashboard tells you the optimum time to change gear for best economy.
Ride and handling are comfortable and confident with good composure. Steering is taut and precise, and the car feels substantial and well-behaved, even when cornering at speed.
My test car came with a range of extras including bi-colour paint with contrast black roof (£700), tinted rear windows and ambient interior lighting ((£200), heated front seats (£600), TomTom navigation system (£250) and front arm rest (£100)
The 500L is becoming increasingly popular. And it’s still quirky enough to give you more smiles to the gallon than most small cars.
