Used Fiat 500 cars

The iconic Fiat 500 is a compact city car that stands out for its style. It was first released back in 1957 and returned after a 32-year hiatus in 2007. Since its return, it has remained a popular choice among drivers that have recently passed their test and urban dwellers. It rivals the likes of the Volkswagen Up!, SEAT Mii and Renault Twingo. The Fiat 500 won the Autocar Best Small Car Award in 2022. Given its stylish personality, it also competes with city cars at the more premium end like the MINI Cooper.

Fiat designed the 500 to catch attention with its looks alone. Its striking retro-inspired design makes it instantly recognisable out on the road. Fashion house Gucci customised the Fiat 500 for an anniversary edition; a testament to the model's style credentials.

Behind the wheel, the Fiat 500 is well-reviewed for being easy to drive. This is largely thanks to its light steering and compact shape. It’s ideal for those who regularly travel across town and need to fit into tight spaces. The Fiat 500 is also available as a convertible in the form of the Fiat 500c. Used Fiat 500 cars for sale are available with petrol, hybrid and electric powertrains. Fiat has produced the model with a hybrid powertrain only since 2020. There’s the all-electric variant, called the 500e. The 500e won the Small Electric Car of the Year in 2023 at the Parkers New Car Awards.

Fiat 500 updates and facelifts

Fiat released the 500 in 1957 as an upgraded version of the two-door coupé, the Topolino. The Topolino had been in production since 1936. The first generation 500 had its engine mounted in the rear. This gave the model excellent manoeuvrability. Additionally, the model's compact size made it a very practical vehicle for negotiating city driving.

Fiat brought back the 500 in 2007 for the model’s 50th anniversary since its first release. This 2007 Mk3 is the version we recognise today. It remains in its third generation, but the model received a significant update in 2016. The 2016 facelift brought subtle changes to the exterior. Fiat also incorporated a ‘Uconnect’ infotainment screen with USB and AUX connectivity. Some trims also featured Bluetooth, DAB radio and sat nav. The engines were also made more efficient. In 2020, Fiat turned the 500 into a hybrid and released its all-electric version, the 500e, for UK drivers.

Practicality and style of the car

The Fiat 500 is a four-seat car. It can seat adults comfortably in the rear but is most practical for shorter journeys. The driving position is elevated, giving drivers a decent view of the road. In models with manual transmission, the gear stick is high on the central dashboard so it’s close to the steering wheel. Some models are fitted with the Comfort Seats Pack, which adds seat height adjustment and a central armrest. To keep the cabin clutter-free, you have a cupholder upfront, a glovebox and slim door cubbies.

A small city car, the Fiat 500 has a compact boot of 185 litres. It’s a decent space for a shopping trip or a couple of holdalls for a weekend away. By comparison, the Renault Twingo has 188 litres of capacity. If you need more space, you can fold the seats down to create 550 litres of space for bulkier items.

In some upgraded models you can fold the two rear seats individually, meaning it’s possible to leave a seat in place and get extra room for luggage. It’s a three-door, and there’s a straightforward lever on the front seats to access the rear. The 500e gets the same amount of space in the boot and the rear as the electric motor is located under the passenger seat.

Surprisingly for a car of its size, the Fiat 500 is capable of towing 800kg, enough for a small trailer.

Running costs

A used Fiat 500 is low cost to run, with car tax as low as zero or £20. Some variants do carry road tax costs of £180 a year. In terms of insurance, the 500 falls into groups 3 to 15.

How a used Fiat 500 drives

Fiat has offered a range of engines over the years, meaning you’ll find petrol, diesel, hybrid and all-electric powertrains in the line-up. You’ll also find both automatic and manual transmission options. The 1.2-litre, 1.4-litre petrol and 0.9-litre units have been around the longest, so these are most common in used 500s.

To give an idea of performance, the 1.2-litre engine produces 68bhp, making it best suited to drives around town, while the 1.4-litre produces 85bhp. With its TwinAir technology, the smaller 0.9-litre nearly matches the 1.4-litre unit. The 0.9-litre unit delivers 83bhp. This is the more fuel efficient of the petrol powertrains, delivering between 60.1mpg and 74.3mpg. Although less common, a 1.3-litre diesel is also available. It produces 95bhp and returns between 67.3mpg and 83.1mpg.

The fastest option is the newer 500e. It pairs a 94bhp electric motor with a 24kWh battery, for a 0-62mph time of 9.5 seconds. It has range of up to 115 miles, making it well suited for regular, shorter drives. You can also select between normal and Sherpa driving mode. The latter limits the top speed to 50mph to conserve the battery, which is more than enough speed for driving around towns. Some 500es come with a larger 24kWh battery paired with a 117bhp electric motor, which reaches 0-62mph in around eight seconds.

Another option is the mild hybrid version. It produces 69bhp and uses a 12kWh battery to support the engine, returning from 53.3mpg up to 61.4mpg. You don’t need to plug it in at home, as it charges using energy from braking. When you are driving at 18mph or less, an ‘N’ prompt on the screen tells you to put the car into neutral to run on electric alone. It’s a useful, fuel saving tool when driving on busy city roads.

Engines and official MPG

Please refer to the table below for a comprehensive list of engines and their official MPG figures.

2008 - onwards

Engine	Official NEDC MPG	Official WLTP MPG
0.9 TwinAir 105	67.3 mpg	-
0.9 TwinAir 85	60.1–74.3 mpg	51.4 mpg
0.9 TwinAir 85 Dualogic	70.6–74.3 mpg	-
1.0 MHEV	-	53.3–61.4 mpg
1.2	48.7–65.7 mpg	47.9–50.4 mpg
1.2 Automatic	61.4 mpg	-
1.2 Dualogic	54.3–62.8 mpg	47.9–50.4 mpg
1.3 MultiJet 75	67.3 mpg	-
1.3 MultiJet 95	72.4–83.1 mpg	-
1.4	48.7 mpg	-
1.4 Dualogic	50.4 mpg	-

Features you can expect in a Fiat 500

Interior

The Fiat 500 is as stylish on the outside as it is on the inside. The interior colours of the model's dashboard and contrasting fabric on the seats often mirror the external colours. Some versions also have cream-toned finishing on the steering wheel and controls. The interior has a distinct retro feel with a circular instrument panel, door handles and air vents.

Technology

On models manufactured post-2016, Fiat’s Uconnect infotainment system comes as standard. This adds a screen to the dashboard. It has USB connectivity so you can listen to your choice of music and use your preferred map apps. Look out for higher trims to get a glass roof for more light in the cabin and DAB radio and Bluetooth to keep you and your passengers entertained.

Some models get a digital display behind the wheel, which shows the speed and other instruments in an eye-catching and intuitive format. Even though many Fiat 500s now come with touchscreens, you’ll find controls for settings like the heating and driving style as buttons on the central console. Most models also have buttons on the steering wheel for music volume and other settings.

The all-electric model gets the most technology. Cruise control, automatic wipers and traffic sign recognition come as standard, bringing ease to longer drives. In both the 500e and 500, top spec trims have rear parking sensors and driving aids like autonomous emergency braking and lane keeping assist.

Safety

The Fiat 500 has a three-star rating from Euro NCAP. The newer 500e has a four-star rating, with an adult score of 76% and a child score of 80%. Its rivals, the Volkswagen Up! and the SEAT Mii, both have a three-star rating.

Throughout the cabin of the 500, ten airbags help to protect passengers in the event of an accident. The 500e has slightly fewer, with eight airbags fitted. There are two IXOFIX points in the rear for securing child seats.

Trims available on the Fiat 500

Although Fiat has only released three main trim levels for the 500, this doesn’t mean that the options are limited. In fact, the model comes with a myriad of options so there are many choices available when looking for a second-hand Fiat 500. Outside of all the different optional extras, Fiat also releases an almost never-ending flow of limited editions of the model. These often include specific styling and paint colours. Always highlighting the individualism and character of this classic Italian motor. Fiat 500 trims include:

• 500 Pop
• 500 Pop Star
• 500 Lounge
• 500 Colour Therapy
• 500 S



Fiat 500 Pop

The Pop is Fiat’s entry-level trim for the 500 and brings with it the basic features you would expect from a trim of this calibre. Completed with 7 airbags and Dualdrive power steering. Electric windows, electric door mirrors and remote central locking also come as standard. For in-car entertainment, you have a radio, CD and MP3 player.




Fiat 500 Pop Star

The Pop Star is a step up from the Pop. On top of the features in the Pop, the Pop Star adds air con, heated door mirrors and 50/50 split folding rear seats. The Pop Star also offers electric adjustable heated door mirrors and heated rear windows. This trim sits on 15-inch alloy wheels which enhance the aesthetic of this supermini.




Fiat 500 Lounge

The Lounge is the top trim level in the line. It is fitted with a fixed sunroof, keeping the cabin light and airy. The Lounge also has a leather steering wheel for added luxury. The CD/radio/MP3 player found in the Pop and Pop Star trims is replaced with a 5-inch touchscreen radio with Bluetooth connectivity. This trim is the only trim offered which comes with rear parking sensors and a height adjustable driver's seat as standard. There are various chrome styling elements that are often featured on the various limited-edition models of this trim.




Fiat 500 Colour Therapy

The Colour Therapy trim was introduced to sit between the entry-level Pop version and the more premium Lounge and S versions. This trim is available with a variety of vibrant colour pallets. Exuding fun and personality, the Colour Therapy version even has a pool-ball-shaped gear stick knob! This trim comes with air-con, electric windows, power steering and remote central locking as standard. For in-car entertainment, you have a radio, CD and MP3 player.




Fiat 500 S

The 500 S is the performance trim in the lineup. It comes with a whole host of features not found on the previously mentioned trims. These include the Abarth sport-styled body kit and the redesigned Abarth interior. Although this might not be the Abarth hot hatch, it looks every bit the part. The 500 S is not limited to just the body kit and interior styling, it is also fitted with 500 S embossed sport seats, chrome exhaust, gear knob and door handles. As well as 15-inch alloy wheels and tinted windows, with a rear spoiler to complete the look.




Trims available on the Fiat 500e

• 500 Electric Action
• 500 Electric Passion
• 500 Electric Icon
• 500 Electric La Prima



Fiat 500 Electric Action

The Action comes fitted with the smaller of the two battery sizes that are available with the 500e range. The Action is only available with the ‘city range’ 24kWh battery and 94bhp motor. The 24kWh battery has an official range of up to 115 miles with three driving modes. Features-wise it has everything you would expect to see. Although, there are some options that are only available on the higher trims as the Action is still the entry level Electric.




Fiat 500 Electric Passion

The Passion was a short-run trim that sat between the Action and the Icon. It was an upgrade on the Action and was fitted with 15-inch alloy wheels, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment interface with wireless connectivity and wireless charging as an option. The Passion is also fitted with front and rear parking sensors. With its new larger battery, it claims to have a range of 188 miles that can go up to 270 miles within the urban cycle setting.




Fiat 500 Electric Icon

The Icon is probably the most popular 500e due to its combination of great functionality and features. With features you would expect to find on a non-EV, but with the benefits of being a zero-emission vehicle, the Icon comes equipped with a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen on the newer models and also passive entry with a wearable key.




Fiat 500 Electric La Prima

The JBL Premium audio-equipped La Prima by Bocelli trim is a premium model named after the tenor of the same name. It exemplifies all of the class and sophistication of this prestigious musician.




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