Prospective buyers of the 2012 Fiat 500, will be glad to know that this small car is more than just a funny face. It's fun to drive, feels much bigger behind the wheel than they really are, and have a price much cheaper than a Mini Cooper.
Unfortunately, 500 is still an Italian car factory built by Chrysler in Mexico the same time that the K-Car, Neon and PT Cruiser is built. That does not sound like a recipe for bulletproof reliability and no matter how well we construct 500 Sport test car felt as dubious origin will become a black cloud hanging over the reports of the glass sunroof of the early adopters coming in.
Therefore you need a little daring for one of the early adopters. You also need to be prepared to answer the question: "What (does) it?"
Performance
A, 101-hp 1.4-liter four-cylinder does not sound like a lot of machines, and no. Go from stop to 60 mph in 10.8 seconds does not sound fast, and no. But when you control is inline-4 to take long throw shift linkage is not exactly of the five-speed gearbox, there is a desire for a small machine that belies the simple statistics. As a Mazda 2 sounds like you press the life out of it when you try to go fast, 500 feels like a partner who is willing, very happy to work hard as a pleasant throaty bellows mechanical song. However pleasant, subdued on the highway, there is no high-pitched hum of the subcompact-sized lots.
So it is not fast - at least not in a straight line - but in the corner, in 2012 the Fiat 500 is the skill that goes beyond the inherent advantages of small dimensions such. Pressing the leading, dash-mounted Sport button sharpens the throttle response in all 500s and added weight is welcome to send an otherwise flaccid and a tad disappointing numb on-center in a normal environment. A Mini Cooper has the same trick, but rather a necessity in the Fiat. Sport models add a sport-tuned suspension that long, podlike 500 level through the corners fast and hold, but the setup also offers a surprisingly compliant ride over chewed-up pavement. Roads will still be choppy in the short wheelbase 500 bob a bit, but even with the largest wheels available (hip 16), increased by 500 Sport feels more forgiving than the Mini is often rough.
Comfort
When the door height 500 which seems to summarize the half-open car, you get into a comfortable, good high-level contoured seat floor. Sitting position may remind you of a minivan, but we will not say that this is a bad thing. This not only provides adequate support under the thighs for high drivers, also creates a surprising amount of legroom in the cabin which shortens the length of all Smart cars not listed.
High seating position also improve your mind in the future, even warned that the main region fell by 1.3 inches, when you select the optional sunroof (standard on the range-topping Lounge.) This may not seem like much, but the difference between comfortably upright and thin with her head tilted to the right to be. Even the average height drivers complained about the sunroof, not a mesh umbrella that almost did not do what the advertised product.
Like the Mini, no one ever will fit in the seat behind the driver length in 2012 the Fiat 500. Stick a short one in front and four people just to fit in, but headroom in the back will always be tight.
Not surprisingly, the trunk is simple. There's more cargo space than the Mini long, sloping roofline 500 but it makes it less useful for carrying larger items such as rear seat folded down. In general, 500 to be OK for shopping or a quick weekend away, but you will need another car for big-ticket items are needed.
Function
Italian cars are always known for their habit, and 500 would have us scratching our heads a few times. Gauge cluster, trip computer, tachometer and speedometer are placed together like they are the layers of an onion. It takes some getting used to, and what color differentiation would be nice. onboard control computers were divided into three buttons mounted on the meter and a button at the bottom of the wiper stalk (the location that we have a riff manual assessment to find). Fog light switch is under the control climate.
But the 2012 Fiat 500 less than the risk of hyper-ergonomic Mini unique. Automatic climate control are large and easy to operate, while the front of the sweet-sounding Bose stereo simple (we hope it's a volume button instead of a toggle switch does not).
More complex features are not so successful. Fiat has the company's "Blue & Me" system to bring Bluetooth phone with voice control and iPod controls. "Wow, it's like Ford Sync," you might think. Sadly, while Bluetooth phone controls can be bypassed, the iPod system is a joke. You should ask a series of voice commands before you are allowed to playlists, artists, etc. to choose if you use the button behind the wheel and small screen meters in the package is a mess. Fortunately, there is an additional jack routines are available for your portable music selection, but the sound quality is not as good.
Design / Fit and finish
The majority of the 500 surface is hard plastic, but they are good wheat to reduce glare and feel generally more wealthy than most other cars at modest prices. Large panels painted in body color is a cool design touch, as well as sport seats, which vaguely resembles a Ferrari "Daytona" seats.
More importantly, our test car the various interior pieces are placed closely together and there is no creaking and shaking. Of course, only time will tell whether this is an indication of the newfound quality of Fiat in his second go-around in this country, or Gremlins from the past will rear their ugly heads again. Anyway, make sure that our next long-term test of the 2012 Fiat 500 to follow to see how he would do during a longer period of time.
