New cars: 2012 Fiat 500
What the critics say about the $15,500 Fiat 500
The Wall Street Journal
The U.S. arrival of Fiat’s “spunky” update of the original Nuova 500 “will have
Mini/Honda Fit/Smart car owners looking up trade-in values.” This somewhat larger—but still ultracompact—version sports a peppy 1.4-liter engine and modern safety and driver-control features, along with an upbeat attitude. Owning a “Cinquecento,” as Italians call it, is all about “being economical” while “looking like you’re having the time of your life.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Car and Driver
Though the new 500 is “retro-adorable inside, too,” it has an interior “befitting a $16,000 car”—with lots of hard, hollow plastic. The 101-hp engine lacks accelerating power, and fuel economy isn’t great if you choose automatic transmission. Still, we suspect buyers will opt for the 500’s “personality” over its performance.
Motor Trend
From its driver’s seat, “you’d never know” how small it looks to bystanders. Fiat has carefully calibrated its “Renaissance” mini car to American tastes, with a roomy interior and enough power to drive with “relaxed smoothness” at highway speeds. We were “all prepared to find fault with this car.” Instead we came away “infatuated.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Big Tech's answer for AI-driven job loss: universal basic income
In The Spotlight A new study reveals the strengths and limitations
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'I will not be silent' on Gaza, says Kamala Harris
Speed Read In a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Harris supported Israel's right to defend itself while expressing a desire to end Palestinian suffering
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
'How long can TikTok dominate as a social network?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published