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Fiat 500 Sport 2014 review

EXPERT RATING
7
When people ask me what I think of my wife Julie's Fiat 500 by Gucci I always give the same answer, "Love the car, hate the gearbox". That's in reference to the automated manual five-speed unit that Fiat calls a Dualogic. So when I was invited to road test a Fiat 500 S - with a 'proper' six-speed manual gearbox for a

When people ask me what I think of my wife Julie's Fiat 500 by Gucci I always give the same answer, "Love the car, hate the gearbox". That's in reference to the automated manual five-speed unit that Fiat calls a Dualogic. So when I was invited to road test a Fiat 500 S - with a 'proper' six-speed manual gearbox for a week I jumped at the chance.

Our test car 500 S was priced at a pretty reasonable $20,000 plus on-road costs, adding the Dualogic semi-auto transmission adds a further $1500. It's also offered as a cabriolet at $23,000 with Dualogic.

Styling

Cute as a button retro styling has been a big factor in Fiat 500 sales worldwide. The cheeky nose with its round headlights and distinctive bonnet bar lead into a tall rounded body finished off with a stubby tail.

Inside, the painted-metal look of the dashboard is a neat feature, as is the big instrument binnacle. The 500 S (and 500 Lounge) now have digital instruments that can be displayed in a couple of different modes, rather than the twin needles on concentric circles used on all previous variants, and which are retained in the lower cost 500 Pop.

Some bright colours are offered in the gen-three Fiat 500s, including Blue Jelly Bean, Mint Milkshake and Vanilla Ice Cream. Our car was the light cream with some red racing stripes over the roof and down the bonnet.

The Fiat 500 S has sports seats, a flat-bottom leather-trimmed steering wheel with red stitching, chromed gear knob, 15-inch alloys and foglights. Very Italian, and we loved it so much we didn't want to take it back.

A big range of options allows for plenty of customisation; Italian national colours of red-white-green stripes, a chequered roof, racing numbers, stick on flowers that reminded me of my VW Beetle way back in my hippy days. These and much more are waiting for you at your Fiat dealership.

Engines / Transmissions

Power comes from a 1.4-litre four-cylinder that has a reasonable 74 kW, 100 horsepower. Not a lot for a supposedly sports model, but it's okay.

As referred to above, the Fiat 500 S is offered with a six-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed automated manual. The latter can either be left in Auto or you can do your own shifting, without a clutch pedal, if you want a bit more excitement. Try before you buy, though as it can be an acquired taste. (For the record, Julie loves it...)

Features

Fiat has been in the vanguard in supplying information and entertainment using the latest technology. The 500 has the Blue&Me voice recognition system developed by Fiat in conjunction with Microsoft; a six-speaker stereo, Bluetooth and a full range of connectivity.

Tom-Tom satellite navigation is an option, even in the most expensive 500 models, which seems like a shame, but 'sell-em-up' is all part of the game when it comes to retailing cars.

Safety

It's only a small car, but the Fiat 500 has been designed with top rate primary and secondary safety features. Seven airbags, including one to protect the driver's knees, even a fire protection system, ensure it has five-star safety credentials.

Driving

The 'S' after the 500 refers to Sport, though 74 kilowatts doesn't exactly back up that title. However, getting the engine up to the top end of its rev range by way of the six-speed manual gearbox does give it decent grunt.

It's more than happy to cruise at 130+ km/h on motorways in Europe so isn't just a city car. All Italian cars offer you plenty of driving enjoyment. If you haven't got a smile on your face from time to time you're not trying hard enough - so get back out on the road and have another go.

Handling is superb, with lots of road grip and the sort of nimbleness you only get in a lightweight car. Interior space is best used by two, though with a bit of juggling of legroom from front to rear four adults can travel in more comfort than you might imagine. That's due to the tall body and the relatively upright design of the front seats.

Verdict

Brilliant retro style backed up by real substance makes these little Italian hotshots great fun to drive.

 

Pricing guides

$10,990
Based on 35 cars listed for sale in the last 6 months
Lowest Price
$5,999
Highest Price
$14,990

Range and Specs

VehicleSpecsPrice*
Pop 1.2L, PULP, 5 SP AUTO $8,030 – 11,330 2014 Fiat 500 2014 Pop Pricing and Specs
Sport 1.4L, PULP, 5 SP AUTO $8,910 – 12,540 2014 Fiat 500 2014 Sport Pricing and Specs
Pop 1.2L, PULP, 5 SP MAN $6,820 – 9,570 2014 Fiat 500 2014 Pop Pricing and Specs
By Gucci 1.4L, PULP, 5 SP AUTO $9,790 – 13,420 2014 Fiat 500 2014 By Gucci Pricing and Specs
EXPERT RATING
7
Ewan Kennedy
Contributing Journalist

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Disclaimer: The pricing information shown in the editorial content (Review Prices) is to be used as a guide only and is based on information provided to Carsguide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd (Carsguide) both by third party sources and the car manufacturer at the time of publication. The Review Prices were correct at the time of publication.  Carsguide does not warrant or represent that the information is accurate, reliable, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose. You should not use or rely upon this information without conducting an independent assessment and valuation of the vehicle.