2020 Fiat 500C Reviews

The biggest change in the Australian automotive landscape since the demise of Holden is about to play out in the coming years.In just the past few weeks we’ve seen both Peugeot and Fiat ‘pause’ Australian operations amid steeply declining sales. Peugeot has sold just 427 cars in the first half of 2026, a more than 40 per cent decline on its sales last year. Fiat was even worse off, managing just 144 sales.They could potentially join a growing list of brands that have officially left the Australian market in recent years, including not only Holden but Chrysler, Dodge, Infiniti, Opel and Citroen.The problem is simple, and one I have outlined before - you can’t fit 10kg of dirt in a 5kg bag. The cold, hard fact is the Australian car market isn’t very big, at least not in global terms, with between 1.1 and 1.2 million cars sold each on average.The pie is only so big, so to speak, so with each new brand that arrives, the slice of pie each brand gets grows smaller. When a brand like BYD arrives and quickly rises to claim an 8.6 per cent market share, as it has done in the first half of this year, those sales have to come from another brand’s share.There are now about 70 brands, and more coming seemingly every month, competing for those one million sales. With Toyota taking a 15.7 per cent share, BYD with its 8.6 per cent and a few other brands like Kia, Hyundai and Mazda with more than five per cent, it doesn’t leave much for the rest.Brands with less than one per cent market share include, Alfa Romeo, Chevrolet, Cupra, Deepal, Foton, Genesis, JAC, Jaguar, Jeep, KGM, Land Rover, Leapmotor, Renault, Skoda and XPeng.Market share is not a guarantee of success either. Holden may have lost some share in its final years, but it was still a leading car brand in Australia at the time General Motors pulled the plug. But obviously the more vehicles you sell the better your chances of survival.One of the obvious reasons for this dramatic change in the past five years has been in the flux of Chinese car brands. Many have arrived with appealing products at an attractive price, which is why BYD, GWM, Chery and MG have all made meaningful inroads into the market.Obviously these brands, and the rest of the Chinese newcomers, put pressure on the established order, but that is how a free market works. The competition between brands drives improvement in the cars we drive and the value brands offer us.Not to be harsh, but if Holden, Chrysler and the rest offered more appealing products to Australian new car buyers they’d still be here. That’s the cold reality of capitalism.Having said that, the new Chinese brands are not any safer than any of the established names, perhaps even more at risk. Case in point, Foton and XPeng are both already on their second attempt at the Australian market.On top of this increasing market competition car brands are also facing the challenges from the New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES). This requires them to sell more lower emission vehicles or face heavy financial penalties and many brands were simply not prepared for it.It means many brands need to deal with increased competition putting pressure on them to make their cars cheaper, while at the same time potentially needing to make their cars more expensive to compensate for government fines.As one industry expert put it to me several years ago, when NVES was being developed, not all brands will survive. It’s sad, it will mean job losses and less choice for you, the new car buyer, but that is simply the reality we all face.Holden may have been a high-profile departure but Peugeot and Fiat’s recent 'pause' is likely a portent of things to come. The Australian new car market is now a survival of the fittest and that will likely mean it looks very different in the not-too-distant future…

Another carmaker has stepped back to pause and consider what its future in Australia looks like.Fiat has announced it has stopped importing passenger vehicles into Australia, as it assess what its future line-up may look like.It wasn’t an extensive model range, with the Italian marque only selling the electric Fiat 500e and its sporty twin, the Abarth 500e.The company will continue to import and sell its range of commercial vehicles.It is understood this isn't the end for Fiat cars in Australia, but a break to work out the models in its line-up that would best suit.“As part of Stellantis Australia's ongoing portfolio and product planning process, the availability of specific models can vary over time as we assess market demand and future product opportunities. We remain focused on ensuring the vehicles we bring to Australia meet customers’ expectations,” said a company spokesperson. “Following Stellantis' recent confirmation of Fiat as one of its core global brands, we are excited by the opportunities the brand presents for the future. “Fiat 500e and Abarth 500e stock in Australia has now largely been sold through and, at this stage, we are not planning additional orders while we evaluate future product opportunities for the local market. “We continue to support our Fiat and Abarth customers and dealer network and look forward to sharing more information about Fiat's and Abarth’s future plans in Australia at the appropriate time.”Fiat has only sold 144 vehicles through the first six months of this year in Australia, which is down 30 per cent compared to the same period last year.Its range of commercial vehicles is faring better, and sold 139 in June alone.Fiat has an expanding range of SUVs overseas, including the Grande Panda and Grizzly. These models are both electrified and better suited to Australian tastes.Peugeot, which is also owned by Stellantis, also closed up shop in Australia earlier this month.The French brand’s local distributor, Inchcape, handed back the keys to its selling rights and there is no immediate taker to pick up where they left off.The writing was on the wall for Peugeot after a string of tough years that culminated in 373 sales through the first five months of this year, which was down 35 per cent compared to the same period last year.This follows a circa-29 per cent drop in 2025, and losing a quarter of sales in 2024.

The Fiat Scudo has returned to Australian showrooms after a long absence but does the latest third generation of this European workhorse have the credentials to be a major player in the mid-size commercial van segment?

Stellantis, which owns brand such as Peugeot, Jeep, Alfa Romeo and more, has seemingly abandoned its multi-energy strategy for sub-compact new model entrants in Europe, confirming it will focus exclusively on the ‘E-car’ category, an EV-only classification introduced by the European Union earlier this year.The M1E category (better known as E-car) represents small, fully electric vehicles and is inspired by Japan's Kei car system, with the aim of slowing the proliferation of large SUVs in European cities. There are 14 core brands under the Stellantis umbrella - Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, and Vauxhall. The move effectively sidelines Stellantis light car pure-combustion and hybrid options across the EU.Speaking at the Automotive News Europe Congress in Brussels, Belgium, Stellantis Chief Operating Officer for Enlarged Europe & European Brands Emanuele Cappellano confirmed the group’s future light cars will only be available as battery-electric vehicles.This direction flies in the face of Stellantis’ broader push towards freedom of customer choice and multiple powertrain options across models and categories.It means cars like the Fiat 500, currently available as a battery-electric vehicle or mild hybrid, are headed towards a pure-electric future.Likely alluding to increased competition from emerging Chinese brands, Cappellano added, “With the current price competition level, Stellantis cannot sustain the level of investment we need to advance our technology and product offering.”He said that instead of offering multiple powertrains in every segment, Stellantis will focus on making its small EVs affordable, with the goal of positioning them below the €15,000 (~$25,000) threshold.In reporting Cappellano’s comments Automotive News points out that the price cap target “undercuts nearly all EVs sold in Europe”, pointing out the Renault Twingo Electric’s starting price of just below €20,000 (~$33,000) and the Leapmotor T03’s at about €18,000 (~$29,500).Two M1E compliant minicars, underpinned by a dedicated E-Car platform, have been announced by Stellantis - an as yet undefined Fiat model and a reload of the Citroen 2CV.By comparison, the Stellantis ‘STLA One’ platform, covering small, compact and mid-size cars, accommodates multiple powertrains.To qualify as an M1E model a car’s powertrain must be pure-electric, its overall length must not exceed 4.2 metres and it has to comply with strict safety criteria.The classification provides CO2 ‘Super-Credits’ for manufacturers while opening up the option of government subsidies to underpin purchase incentives as well as multiple owner benefits like discounted or free city parking, reduced insurance and easier access to low-emission zones.

Australia might be a big country, but we do like our small cars.These little vehicles are generally affordable and typically energy efficient — both the petrol and electric ones. They also fit into tight car spaces and zip through narrow city streets. These pint-sized machines can be fun and easy to drive, which makes them great first cars or even last cars for those who don’t need something giant.So, we have compiled a list of the five smallest cars in Australia.Dimensions: 3860mm long, 1735mm wide, 1520mm tallWho doesn’t like a Suzuki Swift? This Aussie favourite has just scraped into our top five at just under 3.9m long. The Swift is loved for its practicality, with four doors and five seats, and it’s fun-to-drive nature - especially the Sport version. There’s a choice of hybrid and pure petrol powertrains, but no fully electric Swift unfortunately. The Swift scored three stars out of five in its ANCAP safety test in 2024.  Prices start at $24,990 drive-away. Dimensions: 3858mm, 1967 wide, 1460mm tallWhoever said Minis were now so big they’re no longer mini was wrong - also, that was me who said it. The Mini Cooper three-door is the miniest Mini, and the electric version is a tad shorter than the petrol variant. And while it is shortest in height here and only just 3.8m long it’s actually the widest in our top five. The Mini Cooper has four seats, a 210-litre boot and scored the maximum five-star ANCAP rating.Prices start at $53,990 for the electric variant and $41,990 for the petrol version.Dimensions: 3825mm long, 1610 wide, 1575mm tallThe Hyundai Inster is a fully electric little SUV with four doors, four seats and a 351-litre boot.A range of up to 360km makes it very usable for city dwellers, or those who don’t do many miles each week.The Inster has rugged but cute looks, and a starting price of $39,000 makes the Inster a very affordable EV.The Inster scored four out of five stars in ANCAP tests. Dimensions: 3631mm, 1900mm wide, 1529mm tall The Fiat 500e has two doors, five seats and a 185-litre boot. Yep, it’s probably the least practical tiny car on our list but it's also one of the most fun to drive with its electric powertrain.It's a small car with a big price. The 500e starts at $58,900. Yes, that's outrageous, and we wouldn't be surprised if at some point the 500e is withdrawn from Australia due to the low sales. Still that might be a good way to bargain your way into one.It also scored four stars in safety tests.Dimensions: 3595mm long, 1595mm wide, 1485mm tallThe Kia Picanto is our top five tiny cars winner at less than 3.6m long. It’s also the most popular micro car in Australia and it's easy to see why. Its starting price is $19,190, the value and standard features are outstanding and it’s good looking. Four doors, five seats and 255 litres of boot space. It’s smaller than it sounds, seriously. There’s no EV version of the Picanto, and the one sold in Australia has a four cylinder petrol engine. The four-star ANCAP rating from 2017 is now out of date.

One of the biggest car makers in the world has reportedly forked out billions in warranty claims over the past year. Stellantis, parent company of brands like Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Peugeot and Jeep has paid out the equivalent of more than $10 billion in global warranty expenses for the 2025/26 financial year. This tough reliability run has seen Stellantis begin a complete reset of its processes to get on track. The big news out of this reset is that the brand will launch its first model riding on its new STLA One platform next year. The brand said the platform will underpin up to 30 new vehicles in the small and mid-size SUV categories. This will equate to more than two million sales annually by the time 2035 comes around. Stellantis also said it is targeting improvements to quality even before this new platform gets underway. “If we do the right things earlier in the program, that means that when we get closer to launch we’ll have fewer problems,” Stellantis propulsion systems testing and analysis lead Mark Christie told Auto News.  “The product life target for powertrain components is 10 years and 150,000 miles (about 240,00km).”The brand is plotting the launch of 23 new and updated models in the next four years across its portfolio. It has been a turbulent time for Stellantis in recent years with the departure of Chief Executive Officer Carlos Tavares and subsequent appointment of Antonio Filosa.The brand reported a $37 billion net loss earlier this year.Reports indicate focus will shift to Fiat, Jeep, Peugeot and Ram, but other brands in the group will benefit from the technology acquired.Peugeot recently unveiled its all-new E-208 GTI fully-electric hot hatch in what will be an early test for Stellantis' change of direction.  

Fiat is preparing a new rival in the popular small SUV segment with global ambitions called the Grizzly, hunting down the BYD Atto 3.It has confirmed these models will be targeting global consumers, but at this stage, they are only coming to Europe, the Middle East and Latin America, so Australia is not an immediate priority. A spokesperson for Fiat Australia said while the brand is always considering new models, there was no confirmation on the Grizzly's launch Down Under. Fiat’s line-up in Australia mainly consists of diesel-powered vans like the Scudo and the Ducato, along with petrol and electric variants of the 500 hatchback. The addition of SUVs could reignite the brand’s potential Down Under offer increased diversity, following consistently declining sales. There are limited details available on the Grizzly so far, other than it will measure at less than 4500mm long, placing it in the small SUV category, and that it will come in petrol and fully-electric set-ups.It was also be available in either a standard SUV or a sportier fastback shape.This means it lines up as a rival to the popular Korean duo of the Hyundai Kona and Kia Seltos, which also now boast electrified set-up choices. It will also take on the strong-selling electric-only BYD Atto 3 compact SUV.Despite its small stature, Fiat said there will be high levels of interior and storage space to give it substantial practicality. The car has all-round boxy proportions, with the fastback variant showing off a more poised look than its sibling. Both cars have  the same standout head and rear light designs, which features unconnected straight lines of LEDs. The Grizzly will make its official debut in the second half of this year. These models are the latest from Fiat as it looks to increase its footprint globally, following the launch of the Grande Panda compact SUV, which also comes in electric and mild-hybrid set-ups. It is also yet to be made available in the Australian market.

Jeep and Peugeot parent company Stellantis has announced a plan to launch 110 new or refreshed vehicles by 2030, including 60 brand new models, as part of sweeping changes to the business, which include an optimised manufacturing footprint and tweaks to the company’s partnerships and platform strategy.This wide-reaching set of changes is part of a grander plan Stellantis dubs FaSTLAne 2030 in order to “maximise capital efficiency, avoid duplicate spending, and support profitability”.Stellantis will optimise its global factories, accelerate research and development to reduce model cycles to 24 months rather than the current 40 months, and sharpen its pencil on cost competitiveness and quality.In terms of where its portfolio of 14 brands will sit in this plan, the company said it will focus on four global brands: Jeep, Ram, Peugeot and Fiat.It said Chrysler, Dodge, Citroen, Opel and Alfa Romeo are “regional brands”, while its luxury European arms, DS and Lancia, will be managed by Citroen and Fiat respectively and “developed as specialty brands”.Maserati will be “strengthened” with a plan including two new large vehicles to be announced at a later date.The realignment will also see Stellantis’ platform strategy sharpened, with the group planning 50 per cent of its global volume to be on just three platforms as it continues to consolidate its global portfolio, which was previously split between the US market and Europe where the company is strongest.It specifically earmarked its STLA One platform as being the primary growth driver. This new modular platform is expected to underpin a huge percentage of the company’s global model footprint in much the same way as Volkswagen Group’s MQB and MEB platforms currently do, and will seemingly replace the current CMP and EMP2 (aka STLA Small and Medium) platforms it inherited from PSA. It will be the first platform to roll in all of the brand’s latest tech, like the STLA Brain computing system, STLA SmartCockpit UI system and new steer-by-wire technology.The company says the STLA One platform will launch in 2027, has the ability to cover small to upper-mid-sized vehicles, and will allow the brand to reduce complexity across much of its line-up.It is capable of supporting multiple levels of electrification from hybrid to full EV, and will have an 800-volt electrical architecture.By 2035, STLA One will underpin 30 new models and is expected to account for two million sales.It will also come with a realignment of its manufacturing presence. Stellantis will reduce its capacity in Europe by 800,000 units, re-purposing factories, while increasing production in the US, the Middle East, and Africa, with a goal of at least 80 per cent utilisation.Meanwhile, it will lean on its partnership with Leapmotor for more expansion in the Asia Pacific region, which it described as an “asset-light” region.Partnerships of previously unprecedented scale will help Stellantis toward its goal, with existing deals opening doors for Leapmotor and Dongfeng to manufacture cars in Stellantis facilities in Europe.The partnership with Dongfeng, which also works with Nissan, will form the basis for two new Peugeot and two new Jeep models.Meanwhile, the recently-inked memorandum of understanding with both Indian giant Tata and its Jaguar Land Rover unit will open more doors for Stellantis in India, and JLR in the US where it hopes to side-step tariff requirements.Locally, Stellantis’ historic brands and even its new Leapmotor portfolio are struggling to make an impact on Australia’s more-competitive-than-ever new car landscape.Jeep, once the crown jewel of the group’s offering Down Under, has taken a battering year-to-date, down 65 per cent to just a handful of sales (249 units) made up predominantly of its signature Wrangler off-roader.It is a similar case for Peugeot, which is down 32.3 per cent so far this year, moving 320 units, nearly half for its Partner van (142 units).The best performing brand under the Stellantis umbrella has, unsurprisingly, emerged as Leapmotor, which has had reasonable success in 2026 off the back of its competitively-priced B10 small SUV. Leapmotor has moved 420 units this year, up 116.5 per cent.

One of the largest carmaker conglomerates in the world will focus its investments on its most popular and profitable brands, according to reports.News outlet Reuters spoke with five unnamed sources, who said Stellantis will be focusing on the Fiat, Jeep, Peugeot and Ram brands moving forward.This will reportedly be announced in May as part of a new long-term strategic plan by current Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa.Stellantis currently has a total of 14 brands, including Alfa Romeo, Citroen and Maserati, among others. While it reportedly will be focusing its fundings on the aforementioned core brands, it doesn’t plan to shut down any of the other brands or palm them off to other companies.The lower-volume brands will reportedly instead receive funding to build models using the technology and platforms from either Fiat, Jeep, Peugeot or Ram. Rebadging certain models is another solution that’s reportedly under consideration.These brands will also become focused at specific markets where they are already performing well or have potential, according to the unnamed sources.Stellantis was founded in 2021 upon the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and PSA Groupe.This was headed by former Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares who gave every brand funding for five years and said he would assess which brand would continue after the fact.Tavares resigned as CEO from Stellantis at the end of 2024 following falling share prices, large changes in operations and the decline of sales in key markets, including North America.He was succeeded by Antonio Filosa who was appointed as CEO in May 2025. Since then he has attempted to correct course and boost sales, especially in North America.However, last year Stellantis noted a net loss of €22.3 billion (~A$36.4 billion) in 2025 which is says was because of a decisive reset to align with customers and support profitable growth - a strategic shift to put customer preferences and freedom-of-choice back at the heart of the Company’s plans”.It has also revised its plans to roll out more internal-combustion (ICE) products, including resurrecting diesel powertrains, amid declining electric vehicle (EV) demand in certain markets.

What a month! The war in the Middle East has created serious panic for commuters stung by soaring fuel prices.A way out of that spiral is getting into an electric vehicle (EV), and there are still several models available at heavily-discounted prices to make the transition from internal combustion engines easier.Here are a handful of electric bargains we found online at a minimum of 30 per cent off retail, with odometers capped at 10,000km for that fresh-car feel. Many had barely breached 2500km.To be sure, there must have been at least three examples at the lower prices advertised to make this list at the time of publishing. Most are dealer demonstrators, and all will bring savings if you depend on your vehicle on a daily basis, since the bulk of their early depreciation has already occurred.Kia Niro EVThe second-gen Niro launched in 2022 from an eye-watering $65K, putting punters off from what was a pleasant, competent and likeable mid-sized crossover EV. Sales stalled, and Kia discontinued it. But there are still a handful of MY23 demos at under $40K. That’s over 40 per cent off retail!New price: $65,300 before ORCSeen for: $36,000 drive-away (MY23, demo)Hyundai InsterCharming, chuckable and ideal for urban commutes, the Inster can be had for over 33 per cent off retail if you’re willing to snap up one of the demos doted around the country.New price: $43,500 drive-awaySeen for: $28,990 drive-away (MY25, demo)Renault Kangoo E-TechAbout a half-dozen demo examples of Renault’s terrific little Kangoo E-Tech from 2023 are still available for under $40K, representing another 40 per cent saving. The little French van is also indecently fun. What a bargain!New price: $66,500 before ORCSeen for: $38,000 drive-away (MY23, demo)Hyundai Kona ElectricSpacious, agile and refined, the electric version of the Kona small SUV punches above its weight, as reflected by its current mid-fifties price point. Which means that a 30 per cent saving with just 3000km on the odo make this a no-brainer buy.New price: $54,000 before ORCSeen for: $38,000 (MY24 demo)Audi Q4 45 e-tronOne of our favourite premium EV SUVs, the Q4 e-tron combines high couture with sophisticated engineering, for an on-brand luxury experience that will have you seeking the long way home.New price: $93,000 drive-awaySeen for: $66,000 drive-away (MY25, demo)Ford Mustang Mach-E SelectThe Mustang Mach-E is an enigma. Disregard the baggage associated with the pony-car image and instead revel in a sporty, dynamic and surprisingly practical family car with ample range. Yes, it’s the pre-facelift model, but the savings are worth it.New price: $73,400 drive-awaySeen for: $50,000 drive-away (MY23, demo)Jeep AvengerArguably the most athletic Jeep in history, the Avenger is a sweet-driving, decently packaged and well-presented city-sized SUV with relatively minor off-road capabilities. Built in Poland, it’s related to the Peugeot 2008 EV.New price: $53,990 before ORCSeen for: $37,000 drive-away (MY24, demo)Subaru Solterra TouringSubaru’s version of the Toyota bZ4X has really struggled to secure buyers, with the up-spec Touring launching at nearly $84K before quickly being reduced to $77K. Though facelifted and improved, there are loaded demos advertised in the low-fifties drive-away, offering a lot of EV for the money.New price: $76,990 before ORCSeen for: $53,000 drive-away (MY24, demo)Fiat 500eItalians know how to make a chic urban runabout and Fiat’s stylish 500e is no exception. Rapid yet refined, its small battery is quick to charge, still provides over 311km of WLTP range and the handling is a lot of fun.New price: $52,500 before ORCSeen for: $36,000 drive-away (MY23, demo)