Fiat 500 (2021) Driving Impression: A timeless city car now improved further

The evergreen Fiat 500 has been on sale locally for 13 years, and with a recent model range refresh, this city slicker doesn't appear to be leaving us anytime soon. We experienced the updated model at its national media launch recently.

Sean Nurse

20 Aug 2021 · 16:00Automotive News

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There are a few products in the automotive world whose badges have taken on a life of their own. Think Corolla, Mustang, Beetle, Golf, 911 and of course 500, to name but a few. Fiat has sold over 2-million of the current generation 500 models since the car was introduced globally in 2007, making this an incredibly popular little car.

Fiat has revised the local 500 line-up, adding new derivatives and updating the spec sheets for those in the market for a budget hatchback that offers more than just basic transportation. We had an opportunity to drive a few derivatives of the refreshed range at the national media launch recently.

Model range explained

The 500 range now consists of four derivatives, the Cult, the Connect, the Dolcevita and the Sport. The entry-level model is the Cult, which is the most basic derivative, with steel wheels with hubcaps, a 5.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, electric windows, airconditioning, a multifunction steering wheel, 7 airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), central locking and split-folding rear seats.

Moving up the range we have the Connect which gets all of the Cult's features but adds a 7.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 15-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, rear PDC, auto airconditioning and electrically adjustable door mirrors. Next up is the Sport model, which is available as a cabriolet too, and adds 16-inch alloy wheels, a sportier body kit, fog lamps and a glass roof. The flagship is the Dolcevita, which is also available as a cabriolet and features different 16-inch alloy wheels, an MTA gearbox(automated manual) with steering-mounted paddle shifters and chrome accents.

Driving 500

At the media event, we had a chance to drive both the Sport and Dolcevita models. The entire range is powered by an 875cc turbocharged 2-cylinder engine that produces 63kW and 145Nm of torque. We started the day in the Dolcevita model with the MTA gearbox, which is a 5-speed manual gearbox with a mechanism that shifts gears for you. We would not recommend a 500 with this gearbox if you are used to a traditional automatic as the gear shifts feel sluggish and gruff.

The gearbox woes aside, we were impressed with the tiny engine, which can sound agricultural at times, but is very punchy when paired with the 5-speed manual gearbox, making the 500 happy to cruise at the national limit. We were also able to register fuel consumption figures of 5.2 L/100km, which is off of the 4.0 L/100km, but still impressive given the mixed driving cycle. The 500 is most at home in the urban environment, where its compact dimensions make it easy to use around town, but what impressed us was how versatile the car can be, feeling surprisingly planted at freeway speeds.

Fiat 500 range pricing

500 Cult 0.9L R 219 900

500 Connect 0.9L R 260 900

500 Sport - 0.9L R 269 900

500 Dolcevita 0.9L R 274 900

500 Sport Cabriolet 0.9L R 319 900

500 Dolcevita Cabriolet 0.9L R 324 900

The pricing includes a 5-year/100 000km warranty while a service plan is an optional extra.

Verdict

There are very few cars that have aged as well as the little 500 has, with the updated model still feeling fresh and relevant nearly a decade and a half later. With competitive pricing and local consumers looking to downsize, the 500 may just experience a renaissance period, despite being quite impractical and not featuring a standard service plan.

Written by Sean Nurse

With a lifelong passion for cars, bikes, and motorsport, Sean knew that attaining a degree in journalism would allow him to pursue his passion, which was to be a motoring journalist. After graduating in 2012, Sean was awarded a bursary from the SAGMJ which allowed him to work for a variety of motoring publications. This was a dream come true for Sean, and after a year of gaining vital industry experience, he was hired as a motoring journalist at a local newspaper and worked his way up to editor. In 2020, Sean joined the AutoTrader team and counts himself lucky to wake up and genuinely love what he does for a living.Read more