Written by Sandy Waller
This is our first taste of the facelifted Fiat 500. And it had to be the buzzy little two-cylinder 875cc turbocharged TwinAir Auto with some pretty minor airbrushing around the exterior, with droopier graphic eyelids inside the headlights for that deer stuck-in-headlights expression, and new body-coloured patches inside the tail-lights.
The polished radiator grille with some extra chrome is fabulous. Last in the changes to the older Fiat 500, but certainly not least in uber trendy 500 world, is an impressive list of exterior colours, including our test car’s Coral Red colour that drew dreamy stares from young ladies.
Interior
The interior is somewhat similar to older Fiat 500 with centre console showing the biggest changes. Fiat’s latest-generation ‘uConnect’ multimedia screen replaces the previous CD-radio unit and has the illuminated USB and aux-in connections. There have been minor tweaks to the electric window switches and st
eering-mounted audio controls make them sturdier and easier to use. The cupholders are now more capable of actually holding cups. The driving position is precariously high-perched for a car this small but offers good visibility all round. For taller drivers, adjusting the seat is an awkward affair. This was made for small Italian cobblestone roads and driven by relatively smaller frame Italians. If you fit the body size profile, you will feel right at home and comfortable in the Fiat 500. What’s up with glass roof that doesn’t actually open? For Summer days on the reef, this is pure torture as retracting the shade cloth on the panoramic roof lets in heat without any air. Besides some minor styling quirks, the colour coded interior feels roomy and pleasant once a driving position has been found.
Performance
The Fiat 500 TwinAir Auto will not win you races but is still capable of surprisingly potent performance for such a tiny engine. The engine’s slender powerband offers a very narrow window to work within, and until you become accustomed to the TwinAir’s quirks, it can be difficult to drive smoothly as the gear changes can be choppy with a slower-than-usual initial response followed by a surge of power to rush you towards the soft rev limiter. This is where an auto box is frustrating and we would have preferred a manual version to change up quickly, especially if you want to achieve anywhere near decent fuel economy. As with the older Fiat 500, slow steering and a short wheelbase gives the impression of hair-raising handling at speed, but it’s ultimately quite stable and decent in freeway driving. The short wheel base makes for a fantastic turning circle which makes it easy to park, which bodes well for city driving and sometimes scarce or poorly parked spaces in Johannesburg.
Verdict
The Fiat 500 TwinAir Auto is loads of fun to drive compared to the normal Fiat 500. The TwinAir engine takes some getting used to but is fun once mastered. The Fiat 500 is still one of the most characterful cars on the road especially in the colour of our test car complemented by interior inserts matching the exterior colour. It is fun, cute and practical for single moms or anybody with a smaller frame looking for an above average uber sexy city runabout. Just wish it had a sunroof or tinted panoramic roof to ward of the heat from the unforgiving Reef sun and a manual transmission would have made a world of difference to fuel economy.
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