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Fiat 500 arrives

Introduction

Being green might be cool, but let's face it most current green cars are lacking in the style stakes. Well Fiat's little 500 changes that, this retro ride offering paltry 111g/km CO₂ emissions and combined consumption of 67.3mpg, but also being one of the must-have cars of the year.

What is it?

One of the coolest cars to come out of Italy. Forget your supercars; the Fiat 500 is the most desirable machine to be introduced this year. For all its retro-inspired original Fiat 500 looks the new 500 is basically a Panda underneath. That's no bad thing though, as the Panda's one of our favourite sub-superminis. There are three engines on offer at the moment, two petrol options of 1.2 and 1.4-litre capacity, and this car, the 1.3 MultiJet turbodiesel. Being small and relatively light it's very efficient, making it the greenest choice in the range - the 1.2 doing a very good job too if you're on a tighter budget.

How does it drive?

You'll not be surprised to hear that it drives much like the Panda. There are a few significant differences though, the 500 feeling a good bit more substantial than its Panda relative, and a bit more cramped, too. Although we're big fans of the Panda you'll rarely find yourself grinning in it quite as much as you will in the 500. That's not because the 500 is particularly exciting to drive - it steers, stops and goes competently rather than particularly exceptionally - but it's one of those cars that feels intrinsically right. That's largely down to the fantastic styling inside and out and the reception it gets everywhere you drive it. That's likely to wear off in time, but even when it does the 500 has more than enough charm to ensure you'll enjoy it after all the initial excitement has worn off.

Planet hugger or planet mugger?

It's a bit of a hugger this one, in every way. People seemingly love you for driving it, which in these increasingly anti-car feeling days is rare. And it deserves this love, particularly in turbodiesel guise. With the punchy little diesel the 500 is able to return an official combined consumption figure of 67.3mpg - impressive stuff. The CO₂ emissions of 111g/km is pretty impressive too, meaning you can drive your little Fiat with a relatively clear environmental conscience. Not only is the 1.3 MultiJet turbodiesel the cleanest of the current 500 trio available to you, but it's perhaps the most rounded, too. It's just as able around town as the others, but the turbodiesel's significant torque advantage makes it the most comfortable on the motorway.

Use it on the motorway a lot and you might also be able to beat that combined consumption figure. The 500 1.3 MultiJet manages an impressive 78.5mpg on the official out of town consumption tests, and while these are generally difficult to match due to the unusual way they're measured, a late 60mpg to early 70mpg figure shouldn't be too difficult on a longer, clear out of town drive.

Verdict

You can be green and cool with Fiat's new 500. This sub-supermini has enough appeal to persuade people out of much bigger cars, and that can also only be a good thing for the environment. It's a good bit cheaper than that other cool environmental machine, the MINI, and being so new and fresh it's the car of the moment. We'd have one in a heartbeat, though given the rate that Fiat's taking orders, it may take a bit longer than that...

Tuesday January 22

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