2022 Fiat 500 hybrid review – is there a good car behind that cute face?

The Fiat 500 may have a funky new electric brother, but it's twice the price of this – the regular petrol 'hybrid' Fiat 500. It's undoubtedly a car you buy with your heart thanks to those cutesy looks, but join Tim for a walkaround and driving review to see if it's actually a good car too. We test out the 500's boot space, rear-seat legroom (hoho) and see if it's comfy on motorways.

00:00 Surprisingly stylish intro
00:45 How much does a used Fiat 500 cost?
01:00 What about the electric one?
01:09 Looks
01:28 How big is it?
01:54 Does it feel good inside? What tech is there?
02:53 Back seat space in the Fiat 500
03:37 The hybrid badge is bit misleading
04:00 How big is the boot?
04:26 BIG BOOT CHALLENGE
04:44 BIG BOOT CHALLENGE: THE SEQUEL
05:26 Driving first impressions
05:56 What engines are there?
06:40 What's it like on the motorway?
07:36 Is it fun on a country road?
08:30 Conclusion!

[lvpelt]

I've had a Fiat 500. It was my first car. Since I drive mostly in the city and was quite inexperienced, it was the perfect car: it's easy to park, and you're always on your lane. i'm also not rich, and mine (1.4 version, manual gearbox) was very low maintenance (and not a heavy drinker). But it is a city car, and you must be aware of that when you buy it. Don't shove your whole family there to go on holiday, ffs.

[Nanou]

Thanks Tim! I've had a 500 hybrid for about 2 years now, and I'm very happy with it. As you say, it's not very punchy on the motorway but it's not what it's been designed to do in the first place (the Abarth would fix that). I'm 5'6 and the steering is on the left - meaning that my left foot can rest on the side unlike the right hand drive - worth pointing out. It's cheap to buy, cheap to run because to compensate for the "punch" it's not using up much petrol, it's very easy to park, it's fun to drive, and if I'd had a penny for every time someone told me how beautiful it is, I'd be a millionaire by now! I've had 2 minor incidents with it. The first one when a tree branch crashed on the bonnet as I was driving (I'd have preferred winning the lottery on the odds of that!!) and I've had to replace the part - my insurance covered it. 2nd incident more recently: a deer ran across the road as I was driving at 50 mph on a country road and I could not avoid it. I hit it. Damage? luckily no other car was around me, and I didn't brake hard or veered off the road - it stayed well put on the tarmac as I slowly stopped the car. The bumper took all the shock, and moved very slightly. The pieces of chrome smashed, but none of the lights were broken. The part that holds up the radiator broke too, but that was it. I didn't even claim it on insurance because it didn't cost much to fix. As for the deer, it escaped!! It carried on running and I never saw it again - so I guess it survived. This experience taught me that it's actually a very secure tough little car as well as being cute, cheap and fun.

[dalepinney]

Being a fiat employee I often watch videos on fiat products and here goes :-
Q Not much room in the back ?
A What did you expect it to have ?
Q Boots small
A It's a small car
Q It's not very fast
A It's a 1.0
Q It's a bit plasticy
A It's a cheap car
Ok I might be sounding a bit biased as a fiat employee but I myself ran a 1.2 500 for 2 1/2 years and in all honesty it wasn't a bad car for what it was
So would I buy 1 or recommend 1
Yes but here's the but !!!

1.2 ONLY !!!
Check for noises from the front suspension
Check the Speedo works ok
Blue and me go wrong often on early cars
Buy a warranty as big as you can budget certain repairs could be expensive
But on a whole 50mpg easy to park cheap to repair mostly ie tyres brakepads decent enough to drive and good residual values

[lea]

I’ve had a Fiat 500 for 4 years now absolutely love it best car I’ve ever driven (I’m a woman and like little cars) I’m off to pick up my new Fiat 500 hybrid tomorrow and can’t wait . They are quite cheap to run and mine hasn’t had a problem fingers crossed I get another nice no hassle 4 year out of new one 😊

[geofffd]

We drove through France to Spain with ours rear seats down and filled with luggage it was great, overall 64 mpg over 2100

[tomvansoelen]

I have a 2015 convertible here in the states. Automatic. I believe 1.4 ltr. I love it for what it is. I had a 2012 5 speed which was much quicker and much better mpg. Auto mpg tops out at only 27 mpg. But I still love it. No problems with either one except for power window actuator on both cars. But not a huge expense.
I wish they were still selling the 500 POPs here in the states.
Great fun around town inexpensive car.

[BigDukeixx]

These are fine on the motorway. Get them to 60 you'll get there and get good MPG. I think some reviews forget the the speed limit is 70 on the motorways and these will do 70. He calls it a 'compromise car' but what car isn't?

[milosciric]

I bought one today for my gf. In this price range was either this or hyndai i10, it's crazy how much car prices went up this days.... I could buy decent used car for same amount only few years ago.

[TheMildperil]

I have just one of these as a hire car in Spain for 10 days. I grew really like it. It performed brilliantly on tight, twisty single track mountain roads where narrowness is a boon for passing. It needed to be worked hard, but could carry more speed through the corners than most other cars on the road. It was less convincing on the motorway, where it struggled with hills was a bit bouncy at speed. The computer calculated range was all over the place going from 100km to 0km climbing 400m up a mountain, back up to 150km by the time I reached the nearest petrol station.

[paulphillips]

Quite fancy the Dolce vita Plus, because it's now one of a very limited range of 3 door cars. OK the Mini is still on sale, but the bumpers, front and back, just look hideous. The 500 may not be the biggest for rear legroom, but in the 6 years I've had my 3 door Swift, the back seats have been used twice. Seems that car companies expect drivers to want ever-bigger cars and down sizing isn't catered for. Personally, I really don't want an SUV or a crossover but some manufacturers just expect me to like it or lump it.

[RJ-cxgt]

2:04 orange peal paint job 😮 or is the image being reflected already distorted, either way not a good camera angle

[mtedwards]

I currently have one of these 500 limited edition mild hybrids as a courtesy car. My regular car is a Honda Civic Type S GT. Well, I was pleasantly surprised by the way this little Fiat 500 drives and handles. It's a fun car to drive. It oozes style and pizzazz. Most of my driving is around town. I'm thinking about buying one now!

[fenegroni]

Got one at the moment as a courtesy car. It ‘ok’ for short journeys but my commute to work is about 23 miles each way mix of town, A and B roads, and motorway.
I get 60 mpg without tying, it can do 70mph on the motorway it simply seems unhappy at that speed.
I find the seating position the worst thing about it though, for me it’s too uncomfortable.

[PaulReaney-Sygrive]

We love our Fiat 500 it is a 2020 model and it is brilliant around the city We do the odd long trip and it's fine as it has cruise control and very good MPG we average about 56 MPG on a long run The car is well built for a cheep car and let's face it you see loads on the road so that says a lot Bear Hull UK

[GOGO]

I never had a problem with them after 70000km!

[JustRupes]

Sorry but I've had a Fiat 500 1.2 Cult for the last 6 years, after having a BMW 325, Jaguar XJR, S Type, MK2 Gold GTi, the Fiat is a little pocket rocket, chucked on a set of Yokoyama's and there is little that can keep up with it down through the twisty back lanes. It's incredibly sure footed and driven right you can smoke most things on handling. Sure straight line it's gonna get smoked by most things. I put just over 100, 000 miles on mine and all it had in that time was servicing, a gear cable linkage, brake disks and pads, and an exhaust backbox, Regular servicing includes the CAM belt (budget circa £500) every 60, 000 miles, mine had 20, 000 on it when I bought it, so I put 2 CAM belts on mine. My fiancée has it now, as her car went pop (I think she always had her eye on my Fiat!) I have literally just ordered a replacement and yes it's another Fiat 500! Love it. Just a note the Blue and Me is a pile of S*** on the early models, rip it out and you have to get someone to code it out the computers or the ODO flashes at you! The Cult was the model I had which had full leather, climate control and the flash TFT screen, new one I just ordered is the Rockstar which seems to be similar to Cult spec with Cruise Control and 6 speed manual.

[cal]

I'm italian and hearing you saying "grazie mille" killing me bro...🤣 you sayid very good congrats!!!🤣🍻cheers

[michaelkaligis]

thanks Tim, I am going to rent this car in Positano, do you think I can put 2 big luggage size 79 cm and 2 cabin size in the car with back seat folded ?

[susanlindsay]

I think the fiat colours are the classiest on the road. I’ve borrowed one a couple of times. The seats were the MOST uncomfortable I’ve ever sat in.

[markwell]

Thanks for explaining the mild hybrid feature.