Thread: 1 month review: 2012 Fiat 500

Being European and having spent a lot of time on vacation overseas, I have always wanted cars like Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Renault, etc to return to the US. So when I saw that the Fiat was hitted for the US, I needed to take one for a spin
I have owned my 2012 Fiat 500 for over a month now. Has seen the unusual 50 degree December days, rain, snow, cold, etc. Time for a 1 month review of the car and first impressions.
Overall, first thing that stands out is that car meets and exceeds the EPA city/hwy gas mileage. Driving in the city and thru traffic I have noticed 31 mpg all day every day. Get on the highway, throw the manual transmission into 5th and enjoy 40-45mpg, sometimes even slightly higher.
Fortunately, my Fiat was an October 2011 production so the seat and brake fluid recall were already corrected.
I went with the Grigio color, which has a nice metallic touch to it and really makes the car's lines pop. I then decided that the black leather seats with grey inserts were a perfect match for the interior and made everything flow perfect.



Interior
First thing that stands out when you enter the car is the speedometer which has 3 layers (information screen in the middle, rpm gauge, and speedometer). I found it to be great as everything is right there and at a quick glance you see everything needed. Everything in the interior flows nicely and much better quality than the other fuel efficient hatchbacks. The panel going across the front of the dashboard has been painted to match the exterior color. Even has the chrome rings around the buttons which add a nice accent. The Bose 7 speaker and amp sound system, sound real good and have not seen another vehicle that compares to the Fiat with a stock sound system anywhere close. The seats are higher up but not to worry as they are extremely comfortable. I was not expecting the sporty bolstered seats to be so comfortable. In addition, the seats do a nice job of hugging you when you feel the need to blast thru some twisties. The Fiat does have a rear seat but don’t expect to fit a full size adult back there. Headroom is not a problem, so don’t worry about your head grazing the top of the roof. While the front seats don’t really offer a concern for height, the bolsters make the seats more snug for some. If you’re a bigger person, you might find yourself not fitting in the seat and sitting on the lower bolsters. Of course the resolution for this would be to go with another model which does not have the sport seats.



Performance/Engine/and all that fun stuff
For a car that is such fuel efficient, it still offers a fun, peppy and interesting ride that many others lack. Makes you feel like you’re blasting thru some mountains in Italy. The manual transmission is very easy to shift and very smooth. Which is great because, the car requires constant rowing thru the gears to stay in its powerband and begs to be in the correct gear. I have not found this to be annoying but instead adds to the fun factor. Also, the shift knob design is extremely comfortable. Feels like you are holding an 8 ball in your palm. Manual transmission is a must on these cars, don’t settle for an automatic. The Multiair system gives this 4 cylinder a more aggressive exhaust tone and sounds great. In order to achieve the most fun, hit the sport mode and enjoy. Everything becomes more alive: steering wheel gets tighter and more responsive, and the engine is much more responsive. Hit some twisties and enjoy.



Wheels/Brakes
The stock brakes are great and I have not noticed any fading in long distance driving. I am glad they did not put drum brakes in the back and instead kept it with calipers and rotors all around. When I first saw the wheels they caught my attention. Nice design, easy to clean, and looks good on the car. The tires are low profile so extra caution is needed during our Midwest winters. Of course, tire pressure monitor system is also included.



Gas mileage
The Fiat has a 10.5 gal fuel tank and takes premium fuel. Of course, if you have a heavy foot you’re not going to get off the chart mileage but still in the mid to upper 20s! Driving moderate in the city I have noticed 28-35 mpg depending on various factors. On the highway 37-50 mpg depending on various factors also. Truly amazing numbers for a car that doesn’t sacrifice fun to achieve them.

Conclusion
So far, I am still enjoying the Fiat as much as I did the first day I drove it. Gives you the feel of a “driver’s car” yet still offers great gas mileage while capturing the Euro feel. Very hard to go places without getting noticed. Everyone wants to check it out, find out what it is, and learn more about it. Unfortunately its size is not accommodating for everyone, especially if you need it to function as a family car. But if you’re looking for a unique, fuel efficient and fun car, take one for a spin. I will continue to update my experiences as I continue to drive it more and report back with a follow-up review.

Happy motoring!
-Dino

PS: I just in the mail today my welcome packet. Cover is same color as my Fiat, and inside it includes a large catalog of accessories to further customize the Fiat. In addition, Fiat sent a USB shaped in the Fiat logo. This plugs into the USB port in the glovebox and records your EcoDrive data.

Great review!! I agree with everything you said!

I have a question about the gas milage. Do you go off the car's computer or do you calculate it yourself? I drive pretty conservatively and I'm getting about 25mpg according to the car. I'm shifting at 2500-3000rpm, so i'm not sure what the problem is. Anyway, happy motoring! and i'm glad you enjoys the car as much as I do.

Originally Posted by Mini George

Great review!! I agree with everything you said!

I have a question about the gas milage. Do you go off the car's computer or do you calculate it yourself? I drive pretty conservatively and I'm getting about 25mpg according to the car. I'm shifting at 2500-3000rpm, so i'm not sure what the problem is. Anyway, happy motoring! and i'm glad you enjoys the car as much as I do.

Thanks buddy!
I calculate it myself everytime I fill up and have noticed that most of the times the computer in car is close. Do you live in an area with elevation changes? Most of the roads I drive on our flat so I am sure that factors in also. But if I am driving highway miles and keep it at 55-60 mph, I can get 450 miles on a 10.5 gal tank. How many miles are you getting on a single tank of gas?

We'll have to keep touching basis as we put some more miles on our cars.

Definitely.

I live in Seattle, so there are some pretty steep elevation changes on a daily basis. It does seem to change the milage, but overall its not bad. I can usually get around 350-380 miles per tank, so maybe the computer is off a little. The car has 850 on it now. According to some of the Fiat forums, it will improve over time. You plan on getting any mods?

Originally Posted by Mini George

Definitely.

I live in Seattle, so there are some pretty steep elevation changes on a daily basis. It does seem to change the milage, but overall its not bad. I can usually get around 350-380 miles per tank, so maybe the computer is off a little. The car has 850 on it now. According to some of the Fiat forums, it will improve over time. You plan on getting any mods?

Yeah, so you're averaging in the mid 30s mpg. They usually say after the break-in it gets better, so we'll see.
Currently, since it's a daily driver I have not really looked at any modding. But, I think a nice exhaust system would be a possibility especially if it can come close to the sound of the Abarth.
Are you looking into mods?

I sat in one over the weekend, and while i did like the overall styling i HATED how the interior is so Plasticy. You can defiantly tell its a Chrysler car with all its molded plastic interior panels

Thanks for buying one. I manufacture the engine and assemble them. Your about to get another huge recall possibly. Conrod bearings are bad. They found a date somewhere in october they are good . We are having a huge quarantine on engines. Is your real seal leaking yet?

FYI this is all vendor problems

Originally Posted by runnin9z

I sat in one over the weekend, and while i did like the overall styling i HATED how the interior is so Plasticy. You can defiantly tell its a Chrysler car with all its molded plastic interior panels

Any car less than $20k brand new is guaranteed to have plastic interior bits.

Originally Posted by runnin9z

I sat in one over the weekend, and while i did like the overall styling i HATED how the interior is so Plasticy. You can defiantly tell its a Chrysler car with all its molded plastic interior panels

Well, considering the other cars it is competing against, I have noticed better material used overall. But of course I am not expecting it to be the same quality as my Porsche or Benz either. Considering the price of the new Fiats, the interior is one of the better ones than the competition.

Originally Posted by Just In Time

Thanks for buying one. I manufacture the engine and assemble them. Your about to get another huge recall possibly. Conrod bearings are bad. They found a date somewhere in october they are good . We are having a huge quarantine on engines. Is your real seal leaking yet?

Originally Posted by Just In Time

FYI this is all vendor problems

Thanks that's good to know! I have not had any leaks yet or noticed any issues. But I will pay attention and see if I notice anything in the near future.

Originally Posted by Forfend

Any car less than $20k brand new is guaranteed to have plastic interior bits.

+1 Can't expect it to be the same level as the quality in our more upscaled cars.