2019 Fiat 500 review
One of the smallest cars available in America, the Fiat 500 was less than 12 feet long— a full foot shorter than a Mini Cooper. Available as a hard top or convertible, the Fiat brought styling reminiscent of its predecessor, the original Cinquecento. The retro styling continued inside, but functionality was minimal, as was interior seating space. But the 500’s small size made it fun to drive and easy to park. Three trims were offered, including the performance-oriented Abarth, which delivered surprising power with a fun, sporty exhaust note, although it sounded quicker than it actually was. Fiat discontinued the 500 in 2019; however, a new electric 500e (reviewed separately) returned in 2024.
Explore the evolution of the Fiat 500
Get our expert take on used Fiat 500 models, or view year-by-year changes.
First generation Fiat 500
When Fiat introduced the 500 in 2012, it marked the return of this Italian brand to American shores after departing in the late 1980s. The tiny 500 (Cinquecento in Italian) was larger than the original it emulated, but it was still one of the smallest vehicles sold in America. Fiat offered the 500 as a hard top or convertible, the latter featuring a cloth roof that slid back and stowed over the trunk. Amenities were minimal, but upper trims were available with features like automatic climate control, leather seating, and a TomTom navigation system.
This 2012 Fiat 500 was initially offered with a single engine option—a 1.4-liter four-cylinder with just 101 horsepower. That’s not much power, but it was enough to give the little car reasonable performance. Later in the model year, Fiat added the Abarth performance model with a turbocharged engine and sport-tuned suspension, which turned the fun factor up considerably. The following year, Fiat added a turbo engine slotted between the base and Abarth offerings.
Model highlights
Sporty Abarth model
Coupe and convertible variants
Five-inch touchscreen with available navigation (added in 2016)
Available digital driver display (added in 2016)
Special 1957 and GQ Editions (added in 2014)
Changes by year
Latest generation from 2012 - 2019
2019 Fiat 500
2018 Fiat 500
2017 Fiat 500
2016 Fiat 500
2015 Fiat 500
Highlights
Turbo and Abarth offered with an automatic transmission
Updated center console
Standard Bluetooth® audio streaming
Learn more
Looking for 2012 models or older?
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Reliability
RepairPal gave the Fiat 500 an overall reliability rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Above Average. This rating ranks Fiat 500 18th out of 27 among Subcompact Cars.
RepairPal reports that the average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Fiat 500 is $448, compared to an average of $447 for Subcompact Cars and $591 for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
According to RepairPal, Fiat 500 owners bring their vehicles into a repair shop for unscheduled repairs an average of 1.0 times per year, compared to an average of 1.0 times for Subcompact Cars and 1.3 times for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
RepairPal reported that the probability of a repair being a severe or major issue is 11% for the Fiat 500, compared to an average of 11% for Subcompact Cars and 14% for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
Perry Stern has been writing about cars for almost 30 years and has been an enthusiast for much longer than that. Contributing to multiple automotive publications, Perry drives almost every new car on the market, ranging from base-level Kias to exotic high-performance Lamborghinis. But his favorite is still the 2006 Mazda Miata parked in his garage.
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Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.
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