Fiat 500c: Retro cool, cramped interior
More than 50 years after its inception, the 2012 Fiat 500 is relevant again for an entirely new generation of drivers. Credit: Newsday/Arnold Miller
America, you're about to find out what a European car is. Nope, it's not the functional Volkwagen Golf or the luxurious Mercedes S-Class or the performance-minded Ferrari Enzo. It's the Fiat 500, and thanks to the new Chrysler/Fiat partnership, it just hit your roads.
The Italian-made Fiat 500 embodies the classic European car, like the Renault Clio and the Seat 600. It is affordable, ultracompact, fuel efficient, fun to drive – and if you spend too much time in it, your back might need a readjustment.
I just got the chance to drive the Fiat 500c, the convertible version of Chrysler's new compact. Here are some initial thoughts.
The EPA estimates that both versions of the 500 will get 30 mpg in the city and 38 on the highway with the manual transmission.
Once the top is on, the Fiat 500c feels like a normal hardtop vehicle. The rain was coming down pretty hard during parts of my test drive and the softtop kept both the water and road noise out.
Although the 500c has no problem getting up to highway speeds and merging on traffic the engine does choke a bit when trying passing maneuvers or climbing modest hills. The 500 and 500c does come with a “Sport Mode” that somewhat sharpens the accelerator but I would exercise more than normal caution when trying to pull into a lane with a tractor trailer in the sideview mirror.
The 500 does excel with cornering. The car keeps its composure when navigating through tight s-bends, even through heavy rain and uneven roads.
The side of the panel that runs down the center of the dash actually protrudes a bit into the driver's area. So if you have a wide driving stance, your leg will actually rest and rub against the hard plastic. After a while, it gets annoying and bit numbing.
Chrysler should've also paid more attention to the seats if they are marketing the 500 as a commuter car. They are stiff and offer virtually no lumbar support. I constantly found myself adjusting my driving position to get some back relief.
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Check back next week for the full review of the 500c.
