2011 Fiat 500: Cinquecento, il mio amore!

Launched in Europe in 2008, the Fiat 500 makes its North American debut this spring. If Chrysler’s predictions are correct, most units of the Cinquecento sold in Canada will be sold in Quebec, where more than half of the country’s Fiat dealerships are located. And many Fiat dealers are hoping that the public will respond very enthusiastically to this little car.

I met several Fiat dealers when they were taking possession of their 500 models, and they were extremely excited. Personally, I had my doubts, since the Italian manufacturer left Canada somewhat dishonourably a little less than 30 years ago and the newcomer had me feeling sceptical – at least until I drove it.

I must admit that this little Italian, revised and corrected by American engineers and assembled in Mexico, really won me over. Its shape is pleasant and elegant, but there’s more to it than that. If I’m smitten by the Cinquecento (500 in Italian), it’s thanks to its execution and handling.

More than meets the eye

Unfortunately, Italian products all too often feature a nice, unique design but then wind up disappointing you with sub-par finish and assembly, not to mention a flagrant lack of reliability. In the case of the Cinquecento, the stylists came up with a stroke of genius. Indeed, probably even more than for the Mini and the New Beetle, they managed to integrate the key features of previous models to make a product that’s both original and modern.

The little chrome accents, the familiar front grille, the curve of the tail section... All these elements combine to make a car that you just want scoop in your arms and squeeze like a teddy bear. Inside, the passenger compartment is well crafted and the dashboard is a benchmark in terms of simplicity, elegance and efficiency. You won’t find an indicator in the middle of the dash, a flower pot or a crazy driving position on this baby. Here, balance is key. My test car’s body was mother-of-pearl and the dashboard trim was the same colour. This colour scheme is truly striking. Moreover, I was immediately struck by the very substantial steering wheel. With its thick rim, the steering wheel doesn’t make you feel like you’re in a microcar. Several controls are at your fingertips (on the spokes), such as the radio volume, cell phone and other frequently used controls.

But the centrepiece is undoubtedly the main indicator dial that includes a speedometer, rev-counter, fuel gauge and thermometer. It also includes a trip recorder, emergency brake warning light and other equally important information. At first it takes some getting used to, but once you understand the system, quite frankly, it’s great.

Considering my football player physique, many people were wondering how I was going to manage to get in, but rest assured, this car is very roomy. Getting in to the front seat is easy, and the head and leg room is excellent. People of all sizes will be fine. In fact, it’s one of the rare automobiles that I test drove this year in which I had to move the seat forward to find a good driving position. I usually have to move the seat as far back as possible to find the setting that suits me. Note that only the height of the steering wheel can be adjusted in this Fiat.

Naturally, the back seats are not made for football players, but even then, this little Italian is surprising. First of all, a handle located on the upper part of each seat lets you move the seatback forward and tilt it toward the front to make getting in easier. Once the seat is in place, it’s a tight fit in back, but you can manage a certain distance without being too uncomfortable. Furthermore, the rear bench has a 60/40 seatback and folds down easily. The baggage hold, it’s proportional to the dimensions of the car, but it’s still acceptable.

A strong impression

I once had the opportunity to drive the previous version of the 500. It had an air-cooled engine located in the rear and it had suicide doors. In addition, the plastic in the passenger compartment was frighteningly fragile, while the front seats looked like lawn chairs. The modern version looks nothing like this model. Indeed, I was impressed by the quality of the assembly and finish, and the materials were very high quality for a car with a starting price of about $16,000. Moreover, the front seats were quite comfortable.

As a general rule, microcars are equipped with a very small displacement engine that rev like a sewing mill and offer little in the way of performance. Considering this car’s origins, we fully expected that type of engine, but were dead wrong. The 500 is powered by a nice 1.4-litre four-cylinder that produces 101 hp. This engine capacity and power correspond roughly to the drivetrain in the Mazda2, which is a bigger, heavier model. Our test model came with a six-speed automatic transmission with a manual shifting mode. Bear in mind that the standard equipment includes a five-speed manual gearbox.

Before getting into what it was like to actually drive it, this Fiat is offered in three versions on the Canadian market: Pop, Sport and Lounge. The first is the most economical version and its suggested retail price is $15,995, while the Lounge is the best equipped, which explains its $19,500 price tag. As for the Sport version, it goes for $1,000 less than the more posh model. It’s also important to note that this North American version has been modified and revised in order to adapt it to our uses and our climate. They are assembled at the Mexican factory that produces the PT Cruiser, a vehicle recognized for its solidity, reliability and manufacturing quality.

Balance

As said before, I didn’t have very high hopes when I got behind the wheel of this little Fiat trying to make a name for itself in North America, but I was pleasantly surprised. The engine is relatively quiet, its torque is well distributed in all gears and its power, while not spectacular, is very sufficient. I must also add that the six-speed automatic does an excellent job. When you engage the Sport mode by pushing a button on the dashboard, the shifting is faster and the steering is less assisted. That makes the car more fun to drive.

An automobile with such a short wheelbase often has trouble with the holes and the bumps in the road, but overall, this suspension is surprisingly comfortable. Note that the handling is also respectable, it holds the open road irreproachably well, and that the car appeared very stable even through strong crosswinds on the highway.

Basically, the whole line of this little Italian adapted for North American conditions won me over. This microcar is fun to drive, economical and an impressive city car. What remains to be seen is whether it will be reliable in months and years to come. As for our press car, it seemed solid as a rock and its engine purred like a kitten. Let’s hope that this lasts over time...