Fiat 500 JTD: review

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  There is no denying that the funky little Fiat 500 is economical. Photo Gallery

Paul Gover road tests and reviews the Fiat 500 JTD, and finds it’s a great look but not a great drive.

In case you hadn't noticed, there is a war going on. We're all caught in the middle of the melee as car company troops battle for supremacy in a green conflict that runs to fuel economy, emissions, weight, drag and everything else that makes a car more efficient in 2009.

The good news is that the spoils of war are available to everyone, from large car buyers - who have a more fuel-efficient Camry and Commodore next month - to the hybrid buyers who will race for the new Toyota Prius and Honda Insight to the diesel drivers who have a broader choice than ever before. Which is why I'm sitting — again — in a Fiat 500.

The cutesy little Italian zipabout has been a showroom winner around the world since it first hit the road but now Fiat wants to turn it into its economy spearhead. Mini is doing the same thing with its diesel model and both are ranged against the hybrids soldiers, as well as rival diesels with every badge from Alfa to Volkswagen.

Economy

There is no denying that the Fiat is economical. It easily runs 5.0L/ 100km consumption during my test time and the baby 35-litre tank will take you a long way between fills. Fiat claims even better, with 4.2L/100km in general running and as good as 3.6 on the highway, as well as CO2 emissions of 111grams/ kilometre. To put that in perspective, the baby petrol player in the 500 family, a frugal 1.2, makes 119 grams.

The 500 diesel also comes with a diesel particulate filter, an important anti-emission device that's missing from Toyota's vast range of workhorse and family SUV and 4x4 diesels, although the oxides of Nitrogen are still not totally defeated. But we seem to be getting far too far into the technical stuff, and most people who buy diesel are really going for the economy. And the range.

In the case of the 500, they are also buying into one of the trendiest cars on the planet today. Even Elle MacPherson has one to zip around London, although hers has a petrol engine.

It's typical of the move to cars which are efficient but still fun. Look at the Mini, and the Mazda MX-5 and even the upcoming replacement for the Volkswagen Beetle.

Variants and pricing

There are six variants in the 500 range now, from the basic petrol Pop at a driveaway price of $22,990 through to the Lounge turbodiesel at $29,990, although there is lots of extra stuff if you have extra cash.

The most popular choice is the Dualogic manu-matic transmission, which costs $2000, although lots of people are going for special colours and stripes and alloy wheels. Actually, the lack of the Dualogic gearbox is hurting the turbodiesel, which only comes with a five-speed manual.

Driving

The little Fiat still looks great. And the 500 is going to be a chic little city car for years yet. It also does great fuel economy numbers and moves along relatively briskly, once you remember to shift and early to keep the turbodiesel in the best range for its 145 Newton-metres of torque. It's also relatively quiet and, with the Lounge package in the test car, very well equipped.

It's hard not to like a powder blue paintjob, great air-con, leather seats, power steering and a full range of safety gear. And yet… To be honest, I was over the 500 after less than a day. It's not a car I could live with, despite the great looks and the miserly economy.

Why? Let's start with the ride. It's awful. The car bounces and jumps over speed humps and potholes in a most annoying and alarming way. It has good cornering grip and good brakes, but the springs and shocks are badly matched and no match for Australian roads.

The 500 is too noisy at highway speeds, the seats are too narrow and set too high and the sunroof ... Basically, it's just a giant glass panel in the roof that does not open and is great for cooking the occupants. Harumph.

On the positive side, I like the switch that turns the electric steering super light for parking, visibility is great, and there is that economy. A lot of people are also won over by the 500s looks and there is no question that it's one of the funkiest cars on the road today. If Hyundai could do similar styling with its Excel it would easily trump the Fiat.

So it's a question of balance and what you want in a car. There are other diesels with great economy, but the Mini costs a lot more - despite a range of advantages - and the Renault Megane and Peugeot 207 don't have the funk factor. So I'd probably go for a Citroen C3 or perhaps a Volkswagen Polo if I really wanted something in the 500's class with a super-sipper engine. Or save for longer and get that Mini ...

Overall, the Fiat is a great looker with great economy, but a long way from a great drive.

Fiat 500 JTD
Price: $29,990 driveaway as tested (Lounge model)
Engine: 1.3-litre direct-injection turbodiesel
Power: 55kW/4000revs
Torque: 145Nm/1500revs
Transmision: Five-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Verdict: 75/100

Rivals
Citroen C3 HDi (from $23,990): 78/100
Mini Diesel (from $): 84/100
Peugeot 207 HDi (from $28,990): 77/100
Volkswagen Polo TDI (from $22,990): 78/100