Test drive: Fiat 500 Lounge 0.9 TwinAir, the king of the city

This week in Highmotor’s road test section we have with us one of the most popular and beloved models on our streets.

We are talking about the Fiat 500, the small Italian city car that, thanks to its design and character, has managed to win the favour of the public. We tested it with its most exotic engine, a 0.9 TwinAir with 105 CV.

The reborn Fiat 500 saw the light in 2007, after previewing its design in 2004 with the Trepiuno concept. Due to the great reception that the Trepiuno received, the Italian brand had to produce a similar model, which gave rise to the 500 we know today. It was launched on 4 July, exactly 50 years after the launch of the original model.

Its reception has been brilliant from the very first moment. The 500 has been a real lifeline for Fiat, which has found in the small city car an almost endless goldmine, one that keeps bringing in sales after sales. As proof, the production planned for the model’s first year (58,000 units) sold out in three weeks.

Until 2014 the 500 was sold without any kind of modification, and that year saw the launch of the model’s restyling, which improved its image, freshening it up and adding more attractive details.

Exterior design

The exterior design of the Fiat 500 still retains the basic lines of the model launched in 2007, which in turn reinterpreted perfectly the lines of the model from the 1950s. The 500 now offers a more modern image thanks to the redesign, which has changed aspects such as the front end and the light clusters, making them more attractive. The dimensions do not change: 3.55 metres in length, 1.63 m in width and 1.49 m in height.

The design is updated just enough to refresh its image while keeping its essence

The front is the part that changes most. The bumper now incorporates different chrome mouldings, along with a lower grille with a 3D finish and chrome dots. The main headlights keep their size, but in the case of halogen lighting they now fit an elliptical projector instead of the previous parabola. Xenon headlights are not modified.

The smaller lower light performs the functions of daytime running light and high beam. The daytime lighting has changed its appearance, as the edge of the headlight is now illuminated using LED technology. The alloy wheels now feature redesigned patterns and sizes ranging from 14″ on the wheel-trim versions of the basic trims up to 16″ on some variants, such as those shown in the photographs.

At the rear, the changes are concentrated in the light clusters. In the centre they show a small plate in the same colour as the bodywork, with the light indicators redistributed along the perimeter. The reversing and fog lights now sit on the lower chrome strip of the bumper.

Interior design

The cabin is colourful and fun

Time to open the doors of the little Italian. The atmosphere it exudes is still friendly, practical and very attractive to the eye. It is impressive how the designers were able, at the time, to create a cabin that shows so little the passing of time.

The basic lines are still the same as in the 2007 500. However, the changes are there, and if you look closely you will notice them. As soon as you sit in the driver’s seat, we are faced with the first novelty, the steering wheel, which features a new, more retro design.

The instrumentation still centres on two concentric dials, which can optionally be fully digital. The other obvious change is in the upper part of the dashboard, where the central air vents and the entertainment system have changed, and for the first time it features a colour touchscreen perfectly integrated.
This entertainment system is called UConnect Live by the brand, and features a 4.7″ colour screen, an optional TomTom navigator, an on-board computer and compatibility with mobile apps.

There are more – slight – changes compared with the 2007 500, such as some controls with chrome inserts, window switches with a better sense of quality, or larger cup holders in the lower part of the dashboard. All these details refresh the interior of the Italian car so that it remains just as attractive.

The interior design’s resistance to the passing of time is impressive, a 10 for Fiat

As before, the 500’s cabin is designed to seat 4 occupants, who will travel with reasonable comfort thanks to sufficient interior dimensions. The front seats keep their previous shapes, although new upholstery options are now available. The interior feels spacious, helped in this case by a glass roof that brings light into the cabin.

However, there are flaws that remain. The height adjustment of the driver’s seat is still very uncomfortable, as only the cushion moves, not the entire seat. In this version the option of cruise control is lost, which hurts comfort on long journeys. The driving position once seated at the wheel is still typically Fiat, slightly elevated and with the pedals offset to the side.

Visibility is very good thanks to a fairly high driving position and sufficient glazed area. As the overhangs are so short, it is very easy to get a sense of the car’s dimensions. The boot is small, especially on paper, with a capacity of 185 litres. The shapes are regular and usable.

Dynamics and driving

The 2016 Fiat 500 range offers a good number of mechanical options, both diesel and petrol, with power outputs ranging from 69 CV to 105 CV, not counting the more powerful Abarth versions. For this test we had the most powerful variant, commercially known as the 0.9 TwinAir 105 CV.

This engine is one of the most special you can find on the market today. Although the displacement is not particularly small, it is an engine with only 2 cylinders, yes, two. Thanks to turbocharging, it delivers 105 CV of power and a maximum torque of 145 Nm.

As well as being exotic, it is a powertrain with outstanding technological content. In addition to the turbocharger, it features other elements such as an exhaust manifold integrated into the cylinder head – for better emissions control – and a Multiair 2 intake valve control system that does away with camshafts.

The sound of the small engine is very curious

105 CV and 145 Nm for the only two-cylinder engine currently on sale

It is exclusively paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox. Performance is remarkable, with a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in 10 seconds and a top speed of 188 km/h. Homologated consumption figures are 5.5 litres in the urban cycle, 3.5 litres in the extra-urban cycle and 4.8 litres in the combined cycle.

In real life, away from the cold figures on paper, the 500 behaves like a model citizen. The small two-cylinder engine has a very distinctive sound and vibrations, with a curious “lawnmower” tone. At no point did the engine noise bother me; it is very muted up to 4,000 rpm.

In town the 500 moves like a fish in water. It is clearly this car’s favourite terrain: it turns on a dime, parks anywhere and, thanks to its engine, pulls away first from the traffic lights. The electrically assisted steering is very light in both modes, normal and sport.

This model has a Sport mode that slightly firms up the steering and sharpens the throttle response. Personally, I kept it engaged almost continuously, since in normal mode the engine responds more vaguely, limiting its power, which makes manoeuvres in 1st and 2nd gear a bit more tedious.
In practical terms the 500 has the ideal characteristics for an urban vehicle: it is very agile, offers good visibility, and in combination with this engine power is never lacking.

This 500 can be taken onto the open road without any problem. The Fiat eats up the kilometres with ease, and the only thing we missed is cruise control on long journeys. The braking system responds adequately – it is the only 500 in the range with discs on the rear axle – and the cabin noise is well suppressed.

The Italian car proves stable, and although it rolls a bit more than it should due to a damping setup that is a touch too soft, it makes things very easy when we pick up the pace. For users who travel alone or as a couple and do not need much space, the 500 is an excellent choice if we want to keep dimensions contained.

Where the 500 unfortunately does not stand out is in consumption. The small TwinAir engine drinks petrol with far too much enthusiasm in almost any circumstance. If we are extremely cautious with the throttle and the terrain is favourable, we can see figures around 4.5-5 litres. In normal city use it is easy to reach 6.5 litres, dropping to 6 on the open road. Our test overall returned an on-board computer figure of 6.4 litres over just over 700 km.

How much does the unit you see cost?

As always in our tests, we will detail the full price of the unit you see in the photographs, so as not to mislead you. This model is one of the most expensive in the range, as it starts at €15,630. In addition, this unit has some extras that push up the final bill.

This 500 comes as standard with items such as alloy wheels, elliptical headlights, 7 airbags, automatic climate control, a USB connection, ESP and electrically adjustable exterior mirrors. Optional extras include rear parking sensors (€320), front fog lights (€165), electrochromic interior mirror (€115), Bordeaux Opera metallic paint (€360), leather gear lever (€55), digital instrumentation (€440) and navigation (€450). In total, this unit has a price of €17,705, discounts included.

Range and versions

The 500 range has an entry price of €12,279, corresponding to the 1.2 69 CV version with POP trim. Above it is the same engine with Lounge trim, which raises the total to €14,271. As for diesel versions, the 500 offers the 1.3 Multijet II 95 CV at a price starting from €17,559, always subject to promotion.

For users who do not want diesel but are looking for good running economy, Fiat offers a factory-fitted LPG version of the 1.2 petrol engine, with a starting price of €15,680. In addition, the 1.2 petrol variant is also offered with the Dualogic automated manual gearbox for €1,045 more, only in combination with the Lounge trim.

Photograph | Daniel Valdivielso