Fiat 500 Lounge 1.4 2008 Review

Pity the poor driver of more mundane Italian machinery if they turn up to a cafe strip at the same time as a Fiat 500. Anything as prosaic as a Ferrari F430 or a Lambo Gallardo won't get a sideways glance alongside 2008's cutest fashion accessory. Perhaps it brings out the Italian in all of us, because it seems everyone loves a bambino and don't mind emitting a few oohs and ahhs while they pinch the Fiat 500's cheeks.

So yes, it's cute, and yes, it's small - at just 3546mm long and with weights ranging from 865kg to 980kg, the 500 makes even the commendably trim Mazda 2 (3885mm long and 1000kg-plus) look like a larger size of car.

But the Fiat also comes with some fairly tiny engines. The entry-level 500 Pop has a 1.2-litre petrol eight-valve four producing 51kW, or you can opt for either a 55kW 1.3-litre diesel, or the distinctly more promising 74kW 1.4-litre, 16-valve petrol driven here. The smaller engine and diesel come with a five-speed manual or automated Dualogic transmission; the 1.4 is mated to the same 'auto' or a six-speed manual.

The interior carries the same retro feel as the exterior which is, of course, a homage to the original 500 launched just over 50 years ago. There's a flat panel of body coloured plastic across the dash, a large central cog-shaped dial containing the speedo and tacho and, on our test car, some seriously funky micro-chequered cloth trim. The back seat is quite tiny with little legroom and the boot is also small.

Some sort of central armrest and storage would also be nice, but aren't offered. Instead, you get a reasonable amount of space in the front for a car this size and a panoramic view past thin A-pillars. The stumpy bonnet is invisible, while the short length makes city parking a cinch. Yet the 10.6-metre turning circle is surprisingly large, and executing a U-Turn in busy traffic can call for an embarrassing grab for reverse.

In fact, for a car that should be well at home in city traffic, it's not an entirely pleasant driving experience. Even the 1.4-litre engine is short on bottom-end torque which, together with a doughy clutch pedal, makes smooth acceleration difficult; it's too easy to bog the engine down and have to endure a slow getaway until revs build. Take it to the redline, and acceleration is crisp enough, but you have to work at it.

Out on the open road there's always the feeling more grunt is needed, and even the shallowest of inclines requires a shuffle back from sixth to one or two gears lower. The ride is supple enough over undulating territory, but can be caught out badly on sharper bumps. That's irritating enough on straight roads, but throw the 500 into a corner with gusto and the beam rear axle is likely to get bounced sideways. It's a pity, because there's otherwise grip aplenty from the 185/55R15 tyres and, on smooth roads at least, this can be a fun car to drive.

Price-wise, the 500 is pitched well above most other cars of a similar size, starting at $22,990 for the 1.2-litre manual Pop. Equipment levels are high, however, with a full array of airbags (including knee protection), air-conditioning, trip computer and ABS all included. The 1.4-litre Lounge is $27,990 (and $2000 more for the Dualogic version) and gets exterior chrome, 15-inch alloys, and a fixed glass sunroof with mesh blind; a combo not suited to hot Australian weather.

The new 500 is undoubtedly a successful styling exercise, and has been warmly welcomed in Europe where it's won a number of awards. Objectively, it seems less suited to Australia with our horsepower needs, bumpier roads and the availability of other good tiddlers at far lower prices. So will any of this deter cashed-up urbanites who read fashion mags instead of Wheels? Probably not in the slightest.