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The little Fiat's interior bears a close resemblance to the iconic 50s and 60s Bambino with its big dials, old style curved metallic-looking dash, the badging and the old-fashioned parcel shelf. Photo Gallery
David Fitzsimons road tests and reviews the Fiat 500C.
Yes, it's cute, yes it looks as bright as a button, yes it's funky, yes it turns heads everywhere you go, yes it has gorgeous retro styling, yes women love it and yes it's adorable enough to give it a nickname. In fact people will ask you what its nickname is.
The retro movement has seen some fine examples of classic cars from the past being re-created in a modern safe and swift package. The Mini and the Fiat 500 easily lead the way in getting the formula right.
VW had a bit of a hit and a miss with its new-age Beetle and overseas Ford has had reasonable success recreating the Mustang. The key to success has been to have the same look and feel as the past, both inside and out.
The little Fiat's interior bears a close resemblance to the iconic 50s and 60s Bambino with its big dials, old style curved metallic-looking dash, the badging and the old-fashioned parcel shelf. Outside it is for all intents and purposes the old car on steroids, pumped and primed on its little wheels … ready for play.
Convertible roof
You don't run the risk of getting seriously sunburnt and with the roof down on this car it is still reasonably warm, though noisy, inside. And there's a wind-stop as standard that can be placed between the rear headrests to improve your comfort.
Fiat has sought to recreate the cloth roof of the original 1957 car. Back then occupants merely pulled the roof back by hand. Nowadays it's a push button operation which operates at up to 60km/h.
The roof folds back rather than slides. The rear window is glass and it folds when the roof is open. Once folded, the roof sits over the back of the boot and automatically lifts up if you want to open the boot. However, it creates a major problem for the car. It totally blocks the rear vision.
To get around this Fiat has put rear parking sensors as standard on the convertible, making it probably the world's smallest car to need parking sensors.
It's not a fix for the lack of vision but the sensors do help in tight spots.
Mechanical and equipment
The convertible comes in one spec with the only difference being a $2000 increase if you want an automatic gearbox. The test car is a five-speed manual. While few people drive manuals these days it is the fun option on the baby Fiat. It's a slick shifter with a handy billiard-ball style knob on the stick adding to the overall appeal.
The Fiat's not all retro though as the Blue and Me telematics system allow you to talk to the car (literally) to use your Bluetooth phone, you answer phone calls by pushing a button on the steering wheel and can direct the system by voice to make calls. And it has a multitude of airbags and safety gear - a far cry from what the original bambino offered in protection.
Engine
The 1.4-litre 74kW engine isn't exactly sports car performance but it doesn't have a lot of car to pull around. Weighing in at just 930kg the Fiat is only 3.5m long.
The size also helps with fuel economy. It drinks only an official 6.3L/100km. You can achieve better economy with many other small cars but it still ensures you are not a regular pumpside visitor. The powertrain combination provides for quite zippy performance. It roars between gear changes particularly when you rev out each change.
Driving
Being a soft-top convertible though outside road noise is higher than in a metal-roofed sedan. If you don't like listening to the sound system of the car alongside you or the clunks and groans of trucks this may not be your wheels. And with the roof down in city traffic you have to contend with the dirt, grit and smoke in the air. You also feel most of the bumps on poor roads.
Out in the country with fresher air and a bit of sunshine all that is forgotten. The car may be known as the bambino but there's not a lot of room to carry any real ones. The space in the back is OK but not excessive, and you'll be going something to get a pram in the little boot (182 litres capacity). And you'd be better to stand the golf clubs up in the backseat with the roof open than attempting to cart them in the boot.
So, would you buy one? If you adore the cheery, retro styling and the admiring looks from passers-by then nothing will stop you buying a 500C. You don't get a lot of car for your $28,990 but you do get a lot of fun.
There aren't a lot of other small convertibles around for the price. But if you don't need a convertible there are many better cars well under this price on the market today; Mazda3, Ford Focus, Holden Cruze, Hyundai i30, Mitsubishi Lancer to name a few.
They've generally got more power, more space and are more versatile. But none of them have that essence of Italian pizzazz and style the 500C boasts.
Fiat 500C
Price: $28,990
Engine: 1.4L/4-cylinder 74kW/131Nm
Transmission: 5-speed manual (also 5-speed auto $2000 dearer)
Economy: 6.3L/100km (official)
Rating: 80/100
Rivals
Mini Cabrio: (from $39,800), Peugeot 207CC Cabriolet: ($35,490), VW New Beetle Cabriolet: ($37,700), Citroen C3 Pluriel Convertible: ($29,900), Smart ForTwo Cabrio ($22,990), Holden Astra Convertible: ($45,790)
