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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2012 FIAT 500

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Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2013 FIAT 500

Overview

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2012 FIAT 500 Review

By Jason Allan

KBB Expert Rating: 7.2

Do you like sipping espressos at sidewalk cafés while chatting above the erratic screams of passing motor scooters? If you answered yes, oui or si, Fiat has a car for you and is bringing it to the States. The Italian automaker is returning to the U.S. after a 27-year absence – a move facilitated by its new relationship with Chrysler – this time as the small-car brand under the Chrysler umbrella. On one hand, it's easy to call the 2012 Fiat 500 an Italian Mini Cooper: They're both small cars with big personalities, they both have storied pasts dating back to the late 1950s and neither has been a true player in the U.S. market until their most recent incarnations. But take a quick spin in each, and a peek at their window stickers, and you'll see just how different they are.

You'll Like This Car If...

Combining European style and heritage with a starting price of $16,000, the 2012 Fiat 500 bridges the gap between the sportier, pricier Mini Cooper and the more pedestrian Toyota Yaris. If you like the big personality of the Mini Cooper but would gladly sacrifice some performance for a more comfortable highway ride and a lower price, you'll find the Fiat 500 worth a look.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If you're not smitten by the style of the 2012 Fiat 500, you can get more car for your money in something like a 2012 Honda Fit, 2012 Ford Fiesta or 2012 Mazda2, all of which offer more doors, more room and more standard power.

KBB Expert Ratings

Overall Rating

7.2
Driving Dynamics

7.2
Comfort & Convenience

6.8
Design: Interior & Exterior

8.0
Value

6.8
Safety

6.0

How It Ranks

#3

out of 18

MPG

#11

out of 18

Horsepower

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Consumer Rating

8.7 out of 10

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consumer ratings

What's New for 2012

Available in coupe, cabriolet or high-performance Abarth form, the Fiat 500 is more affordable than a Mini Cooper and more gregarious than a Toyota Yaris. Simply put, the 2012 Fiat 500 offers a new mix of economy and style.

Driving the 500

Driving Impressions Whereas the Mini Cooper is an undersized action hero - as in The Italian Job – the Fiat 500 is more likely to land a part in a festival-favorite romantic...

comedy. The Fiat is definitely fun, just not in a sideways, airborne, car-chase kind of way. But never to be outdone by its closest rival, the Fiat 500 series offers a new performance-tuned, 160-horsepower Abarth edition, which plans to give the sporty Mini Cooper S a run for its money. A big part of the appeal is in how the coupe and cabriolet models combine the advantages of a tiny car with comfortable accommodations and a relatively smooth highway ride. The steering, brake and shift controls all have a quality feel, and the optional 6-speed automatic surprised us with its responsiveness. In fact, given the car's unhurried nature and the fact that its manual transmission offers one fewer gear and superior fuel economy, the automatic will be the preferred choice for many drivers. The 2012 Fiat 500 is tiny and quirky until you drive it. Then, it's tiny, quirky and respectable.

Favorite Features

3-POSITION SOFT TOP
In a conventional convertible, succumbing to an overwhelming urge to drop the convertible top at highway speeds requires an undesirable trip onto the shoulder. Capable of operation at speeds of up to 60 mph, the 500c's power-retractable soft top welcomes sudden high-speed cravings for sun exposure with open arms.

ECO:DRIVE
Plug a USB memory stick into the Fiat 500's glovebox-mounted USB port and the car will upload onto it a variety of trip details including carbon dioxide emissions information. Plug the memory stick into your computer and you'll get personalized tips on how to improve your driving efficiency. In the long run it will prove more novel than useful to most drivers, but it's a cool idea nonetheless.

2012 FIAT 500 Details

2012 FIAT 500 Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

The 500 is roomier up front than you might expect, and just as tight in back as it looks. If you plan on transporting more than two adults on a regular basis, we'd point you toward one of the 500's 4-door competitors. The interior style lives up to the promise of the quirky but fashionable exterior, and we found the materials, build quality and seat comfort impressive for a car with a $16,000 starting price. As the athlete of the group, the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth offers a pair of aggressively bolstered front seats, exclusive red seam stitching and a thick-rimmed, flat-bottom steering wheel. The optional Bose audio system sounds just okay – better than the base system, presumably – and we couldn't navigate via artist or song title while using the USB interface, so we just skipped to the next song.

Exterior

The 2012 Fiat 500 is a modern interpretation of the tiny, rear-engine original that first went on sale in Europe in 1957. While the new model is almost two feet longer than the original, it's still seven inches shorter than today's Mini Cooper. Additionally, the iconic sloping rear end is a big part of the 500's personality, but it doesn't do much for rear headroom. The 2012 Fiat 500 is available in four distinct trim levels – Pop, Sport, Lounge and Gucci, with the 500c convertible offering all but the sport trim. Each model grade is easily distinguishable by unique wheels and fascias, though the Abarth edition is likely to attract the most attention on account of its raucous exhaust note and optional high-contrast accents.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The 2012 Fiat 500 and 500c Pop include a leather-wrapped steering wheel, 15-inch covered steel wheels, a 5-speed manual transmission, Bluetooth, and a 6-speaker audio system with a USB port for portable music players. The range-topping Abarth variant includes a Bose premium audio system, 16-inch alloy wheels, Abarth-tuned suspension, and a leather-wrapped dashboard. Standard safety features include seven airbags, hill-start assist to help prevent vehicle rollback on steep inclines and seemingly all the other advancements we're seeing on new cars in this price range and beyond.

Optional Equipment

Whether you opt for a coupe or convertible, a fully loaded 2012 Fiat 500 Lounge includes a 6-speed automatic transmission, leather seats, heated front seats, power sunroof, rear parking sensors, dash-mounted TomTom portable navigation system, Bose audio system and auto climate control. The 2012 Fiat 500 Sport is differentiated by a sport-tuned suspension, 16-inch wheels and a variety of aesthetic touches including red brake calipers and a subtle rear spoiler. The mighty Abarth offers larger 17-inch wheels, 2-tone leather-trimmed seats and your choice of either white or red body side stripes.

Under the Hood

The front-wheel-drive 2012 Fiat 500 is motivated by a small but sophisticated 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine that pumps out 101 horsepower, while the Abarth slaps a turbocharger onto the standard mill for an additional 59 horsepower. Fiat says regular unleaded is okay for the naturally aspirated version, but recommends 91-octane premium fuel. We like the automatic transmission and its extra gear, but it results in about a 10 percent reduction in fuel economy. Although the 500c cabriolet offers the 6-speed automatic gearbox as standard fare, Abarth models are limited to the 5-speed manual.

1.4-liter inline-4
101 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
98 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 30/38 mpg (manual), 27/34 mpg (automatic), 27/32 mpg (cabriolet)

1.4-liter turbocharged inline-4
160 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
170 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 28/34 mpg

Pricing Notes

The 2012 Fiat 500 lineup starts at a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $16,000 and will climb past $27,000 for a fully loaded Abarth. The 2012 Mini Cooper has a starting sticker price of just over $20,000 and can top $35,000 – further demonstrating the differences between the two. The 2012 Ford Fiesta Hatchback ranges from about $15,000 to $21,000. We expect the 2012 Fiat 500 to be a hot commodity for the foreseeable future and for Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to reflect real-world transaction prices close to MSRP. Five-year projected residual values for the 500 fall considerably short of the Mini, but remain slightly higher than Ford's Fiesta.

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2012 FIAT 500 Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.7

Out of 10

Based on 62 Ratings for the 2012 - 2013 models.

Review this car

Value

8.9/10

Quality

8.8/10
Reliability

9.0/10

Performance

8.7/10
Comfort

8.5/10

Styling

8.9/10

Best Car I've Owned

By Letchik (AL) on Sunday, June 16, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 1,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Great gas mileage, fun to drive, lots of features"

Cons: "No rear power outlets"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I've owned the car for a month and have a thousand miles on it. This car is packed with features, fun to drive, and surprisingly roomy! It will seat 4 comfortably, and I've averaged 34 mpg in city driving. Really an amazing value for the price. Highly recommend!"

1 person out of 1 found this review helpful

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Size, Cost, and Design

By Zeus (FL) on Thursday, June 13, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 22,500

10 7.0

overall rating 7 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 7/10
Value: 7/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 7/10
Performance: 6/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 6/10

Pros: "Parking and filling up for gas is the best!"

Cons: "Long distance is not enjoyable"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 6

"I bought this car because of the design, size and fuel economy. I checked out this car at my local dealership and they happened to have a used one with some features I wanted. All of the Fiat's have a standard bluetooth, mp3, etc. etc. I picked the Sport model because it had a few upgrades that I preferred the pleather, bose sound system and rubber floor mats. I really enjoy driving this car, filling up the tank, and the design and parking is fantastic! Pick up on this car is not great but for a four cylinder with sport mode on it's fine. I'd rather have more pickup but that's just how I am and prefer to drive. It seats 4 but if you want two people in the back, you need to move those front seats up and if you're my size 5' 10" then it's a little cramped. Otherwise great car for the price and features! This car is made cheaply meaning, it has plastic everything. For them to keep the price low they used more plastic. The radio and mp3 features are fine, nothing too fancy, but lacks some extra settings you would like such as a shuffle button, and for voice commands, you don't know what they all are."

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Very happy with the Abarth

By bertfw (FL) on Wednesday, June 12, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 10,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 8/10

Pros: "Fun to drive, incredible sound, draws attention"

Cons: "adequate mileage, could be more comfy"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I first saw the Abarth on Britain's television series Top Gear in 2009. I really liked the styling of the car and when I learned that Fiat would once again be coming to the USA I was hoping that the Abarth would make it to our shores. I've had my Abarth for nearly one year now. First the good. This car is a blast to drive! It's rated at just 160hp and 170 tq, but the sound it makes is inspirational and once the turbo spins up it feels wonderful. It handles quite well to, although given how high you sit you wouldn't expect it. I've driven an Abarth around the infield track at Daytona Speedway a few times and you'd be surprised at what this little car can do. I get compliments about this car all the time, even though Fiat has been selling in the USA for a couple of years. Very few people know what the Abarth is, so if you want a car that is a bit special this will do the job. Often I'll park somewhere and watch as people check the car out, it's definitely an attention-getter. Now for the not-so-great. First off, the mileage in an Abarth is not going to be what you can get in a regular 500. The main problem is the lack of a 6th gear for highway driving. If you stick around town I have no doubt that, with care, you can break the low 30s - but take a few trips on the interstate each month and you'll be in the high 20s. And if you often fall prey to the siren song of the exhaust, you'll be in the mid 20s. I've managed 28MPG overall in the year since I got the Abarth. My other main issue with the Abarth is the position of the steering wheel. If my legs were a bit shorter and my arms a bit longer, I'm sure I'd be perfectly happy, but as it is this car could really use a telescoping steering column. I will say that the Abarth seats are far more comfortable than the seats were in my Fiat 500 Lounge, especially for trips in the triple-digit mile range. In summary I'm very happy with the car and it has delivered exactly what I expected from what I had researched about the Abarth. If you want something a bit different that draws a lot of positive attention and is a lot of fun to drive, this is a great car. It can easily work as a daily driver. If you plan on taking a lot of long trips however, you might want to look elsewhere."

1 person out of 1 found this review helpful

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So disappointed with mpg and interior quality

By rdtx (TX) on Wednesday, May 29, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 8,200

10 4.0

overall rating 4 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 4/10
Value: 6/10
Reliability: Not Rated
Quality: 3/10
Performance: 8/10
Styling: 1/10
Comfort: 1/10

Pros: "fun to drive in town"

Cons: "poor interior design and quality; backache seats"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 1

"2012 Pop: Seats are soooo uncomfortable; Steering wheel does not telescope so after my 45 mile commute, my shoulders hurt from reaching or I have to sit with my knees in my chest (and I'm a 5/6" woman); the dash panel cover reflects light day and night making it almost impossible to read. However, it is fun, fun, fun to drive. I drive flat Texas highways and I only average 32.5 mpg. I'm excited when I get 34 mpg out of a tank. And as a commuter, I have to fill up the little 10 gal tank multiple times a week. This is definitely an "in town" and not a commuter car. Prior to this Fiat I drove an Audi A6 and a Ford pickup. Both doors and the dash began to rattle after only 1500 miles and most of the "soft" interior is literally cardboard. I can not address body or mechanical quality yet since I have just had my first oil change. I have to admit that I regret this purchase overall."

5 people out of 5 found this review helpful

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2013 500 Abarth Cabrio

By droy (CA) on Wednesday, April 10, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 600

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 8/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Performance, Ride, Fun, Value, Build Quality"

Cons: "Steering Wheel needs telescope feature"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"This car needs is a telescoping steering wheel and passenger seat adjustment should offer same settings as the driver seat. It takes a bit to get used to sitting "on" the seat vs. sitting "in" the seat, but overall a really fun car for my daily commute of 60 miles in Southern California traffic. Very solid, and quiet on the freeway. Love the exhaust note around town. Yes cup holders are small so I bought an Abarth cup for 8 bucks it fits great. Skip the auto climate control, it works OK but for 800 bucks you get the same effect using the standard heat & a/c controls. The Beats stereo system is great and the Blue & Me works well. I also skipped the Tom Tom because I have a Garmin and I prefer to keep it on the left of the instrument cluster vs. the factory settings of on the right side."

7 people out of 7 found this review helpful

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Fantastic Value

By Music Dude (FL) on Saturday, April 06, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 12,700

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Quality of construction, fuel economy, reliability"

Cons: "Rear seat room"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I bought my 2013 Fiat 500 Sport 5 speed to replace a 2009 Mini Cooper S Clubman. After owning the Mini just wasn't confident that it would hold up long term without having to take out a second mortgage to pay the mechanic. At under 30K miles, I had to have the following done: timing chain and tensioner and front brake pads along with regular routine maintenance. When I traded the car in at 32K, the car was indicating that it needed rear brake pads in another 10K miles. So, going from a 27,000 car to a 19,500 car would be painful, right? Not at all. I have features in tis car that the Mini did not have- 7 speaker Beats Audio with satellite radio and climate control. OK I gave up the power of the turbo in the Mini for the 101hp Fiat, but I am now averaging 39 MPG on my daily 120 mile round trip commute. Highway manners/handling are excellent, and the sport seats are very comfortable, even on long trips. The brakes are excellent, and the steering is very responsive. Fit and finish is excellent and the paint quality is far better than one would expect of a car in this price range. I have had no unexpected service visits, and the built in computer indicates when routing maintenance is requires. My oil change light came on around 8000 miles. While it does have rear seats, think of them as emergency seating only. With only 101hp on tap, expect to downshift from 5th to 4th for speedy passing. I'd buy this car again in a heartbeat."

14 people out of 14 found this review helpful

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