Fiat 500 CFiat’s new convertible, the 500 C, is surely bound to be a success, for it’s based on a car that has had oodles of positive reports and few negative ones. Take away its roof and the reception will probably be just as favourable. The thing is, despite the weather we Brits do like convertibles; numbers bought are consistently above those of the sunnier nations, which probably tells its own story. The hatchback is now sold in 59 countries, and has notched up 360,000 sales.Exactly the same size as the hatchback, the 500 C is a pretty small car as you can see from the dimensions. Leg room up front is plentiful, but rear seats are, understandably, best left to children. Power units are the same as those in the hatchback: 75PS 1.3-litre MultiJet turbodiesel engine combined with a five-speed manual gearbox, and 1.2 litre and 1.4 litre petrol engines, both available with manual or Dualogic semi-auto robotised gearboxes. Interestingly, official fuel consumptions with the semi-auto box are marginally better than with the manual.Possibly the one uncertainty that impinges on the positive comments relating to the 500 C is whether it is actually a real convertible at all. The less charitable would say that it achieves its ‘convertible’ status with nothing more than a very large sunroof; the sides of the roof remain in place after all. It all comes down to semantics; what individuals think of as a convertible. The fact is that it feels pretty much like an open-topped car when you’re driving it, though the view to the sides is not of course as unobstructed as it would be in a more traditional convertible. On the positive side, the retention of roof sides avoids the need for the mass of strengthening that usually has to be undertaken with convertibles, and their consequent increase in pounds weight and pounds sterling.The hood, with glass rear window, is controlled either by buttons next to the interior roof light, or from the car’s remote control unit, and it can be operated at any speed under 37 mph (60 km/h). When it’s folded the fabric covers a portion of the boot, but this can still be opened thanks to the automated system that lifts the hood a few centimetres when the boot catch is pressed. The boot itself is 182 litres (6.4 cubic feet), which is virtually the same as the hatchback’s capacity, and though not exactly suited to a Joan Collins wardrobe, it’s a good deal more useful than you expect when looking at the car.The hatchback drives well, and the convertible is no different. There’s no steering reach adjustment, but that for the seat height goes some way to make amends. Ride is medium firm, and with the comfortable seats a journey of a few hundred miles would be no problem. That fairly firm ride also aids the handling, which is excellent. With both petrol engines you need to keep the revs up, but that’s no hardship, for the sound, especially that of the 1.4, has an attractively sporting rasp to it. Bearing in mind its size the diesel is remarkably refined, and is of course the most fuel-efficient choice.With hood down there’s not much buffeting from the wind, even at motorway speed, though for maximum quietude Fiat does market an optional wind-stop which can be positioned behind the rear headrests (attached to the parcel shelf). Vision to front and sides is excellent, but when the hood is down, buyers of the more upmarket Lounge version will be more than grateful for their parking sensors.The hatchback scored five stars in EuroNCAP crash tests, and was actually the first sub-4-metre car to do so. Like the hatch the convertible is blessed with seven airbags as standard equipment – two front, two window, two side and one knee bag. Two equipment levels are offered – Pop and Lounge, and even the Pop versions feature manual climate control, radio/CD/MP3 player, central locking and electric windows, and ignition key with customisable remote control. Customisation is offered through a choice of both hood and interior colours with all eleven body colours, save the Tropicalia Yellow, with which you’re definitely going to have a black hood, not the red or ivory one.The 500 C is a very likeable car. Interior design is much as the hatchback, which means it’s retro; most notably the facia with its large chunk of body coloured plastic. It might sound like an American nightmare, but is actually very easy to live with and enjoy, though the coverless glove box leaves one with nowhere to store precious stuff out of sight. That’s one of the few small minuses, so if the prospect of open-top motoring in a city-sized car appeals, Fiat’s new one is an elegant solution, at a reasonable price.Size: 3.55 x 1.63mEngines: Petrol: 1.2 litres – 69PS 1.4 litres – 100PS Diesel: 1.3 litres – 75PS Gearbox: 5/6-speed front driveBest consumption: 1.3 Diesel – 67.3mpgPrice at July ’09: from £11,300Full details of the 500 C available on the manufacturer’s website: www.fiat.co.ukPeter Cracknell – July 2009
Fiat 500 C
Fiat’s new convertible, the 500 C, is surely bound to be a
success, for it’s based on a car that has had oodles of
positive reports and few negative ones. Take away its roof
and the reception will probably be just as favourable. The
thing is, despite the weather we Brits do like convertibles;
numbers bought are consistently above those of the
sunnier nations, which probably tells its own story. The
hatchback is now sold in 59 countries, and has notched
up 360,000 sales.
Exactly the same size as the hatchback, the 500 C is a
pretty small car as you can see from the dimensions. Leg
room up front is plentiful, but rear seats are,
understandably, best left to children. Power units are the
same as those in the hatchback: 75PS 1.3-litre MultiJet
turbodiesel engine combined with a five-speed manual
gearbox, and 1.2 litre and 1.4 litre petrol engines, both
available with manual or Dualogic semi-auto robotised
gearboxes. Interestingly,
official fuel consumptions
with the semi-auto box are
marginally better than with
the manual.
Possibly the one
uncertainty that impinges
on the positive comments
relating to the 500 C is
whether it is actually a real
convertible at all. The less
charitable would say that it
achieves its ‘convertible’
status with nothing more
than a very large sunroof;
the sides of the roof remain
in place after all. It all
comes down to semantics;
what individuals think of as
a convertible. The fact is that it feels pretty much like an
open-topped car when you’re driving it, though the view to
the sides is not of course as unobstructed as it would be
in a more traditional convertible. On the positive side, the
retention of roof sides avoids the need for the mass of
strengthening that usually has to be undertaken with
convertibles, and their consequent increase in pounds
weight and pounds sterling.
The hood, with glass rear window, is controlled either by
buttons next to the interior roof light, or from the car’s
remote control unit, and it can be operated at any speed
under 37 mph (60 km/h). When it’s folded the fabric
covers a portion of the boot, but this can still be opened
thanks to the automated system that lifts the hood a few
centimetres when the boot catch is pressed. The boot
itself is 182 litres (6.4 cubic feet), which is virtually the
same as the hatchback’s capacity, and though not exactly
suited to a Joan Collins wardrobe, it’s a good deal more
useful than you expect when looking at the car.
The hatchback drives well, and the convertible is no
different. There’s no steering reach adjustment, but that
for the seat height goes some way to make amends. Ride
is medium firm, and with the comfortable seats a journey
of a few hundred miles would be no problem. That fairly
firm ride also aids the handling, which is excellent. With
both petrol engines you need to keep the revs up, but
that’s no hardship, for the sound, especially that of the
1.4, has an attractively sporting rasp to it. Bearing in mind
its size the diesel is remarkably refined, and is of course
the most fuel-efficient choice.
With hood down there’s not much buffeting from the
wind, even at motorway speed, though for maximum
quietude Fiat does market an optional wind-stop
which can be positioned behind the rear headrests
(attached to the parcel shelf). Vision to front and sides
is excellent, but when the hood is down, buyers of the
more upmarket Lounge version will be more than
grateful for their parking sensors.
The hatchback scored five stars in EuroNCAP crash
tests, and was actually the first sub-4-metre car to do
so. Like the hatch the convertible is blessed with
seven airbags as standard equipment – two front, two
window, two side and one knee bag. Two equipment
levels are offered – Pop and Lounge, and even the
Pop versions feature manual climate control,
radio/CD/MP3 player, central locking and electric
windows, and ignition key with customisable remote
control. Customisation
is offered through a
choice of both hood and
interior colours with all
eleven body colours,
save the Tropicalia
Yellow, with which
you’re definitely going to
have a black hood, not
the red or ivory one.
The 500 C is a very
likeable car. Interior
design is much as the
hatchback, which
means it’s retro; most
notably the facia with its
large chunk of body
coloured plastic. It might
sound like an American
nightmare, but is actually very easy to live with and
enjoy, though the coverless glove box leaves one with
nowhere to store precious stuff out of sight. That’s one
of the few small minuses, so if the prospect of open-
top motoring in a city-sized car appeals, Fiat’s new
one is an elegant solution, at a reasonable price.
Size: 3.55 x 1.63m
Engines: Petrol: 1.2 litres – 69PS
1.4 litres – 100PS
Diesel: 1.3 litres – 75PS
Gearbox: 5/6-speed front
drive
Best consumption: 1.3 Diesel – 67.3mpg
Price at July ’09: from £11,300
Full details of the 500 C available on the
manufacturer’s website: www.fiat.co.uk
Peter Cracknell – July 2009
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