Fiat – the Turin-based carmaker – has hit the refresh button on its 2nd-generation Fiat 500, a refreshed version of which is now available in South Africa. Cars.co.za journalistGero Lilleikeattended the local launch to find out what’s changed…

The Fiat 500 is what you could call a bread-and-butter model for the Italian marque, or better still, “the gift that keeps on giving”. The 2nd-generation Fiat 500 was launched as long ago as2007 and has undergone numerous updates throughout its model life, so you could say it’s been around the block (more thana few times).

Having received a notable update in 2016, the Cinquecentocontinues to dutifully serve buyers looking for a more expressive citycar with loads of charm.In fact, the 2nd-generation Fiat 500 has notched up in excess of 3 million sales since it came to market 14 years ago.

The business environment at Fiat changed dramatically earlier this year when Fiat Chrysler Automobiles merged with the PSA Groupe to form the world’s4th-largest automaker –Stellantis.

While Fiat’s product rollout in South Africa has been a trifle underwhelming in recent times, the merger has seemingly injected fresh energy into the brand and that includes its talismanicFiat 500.

What’s changed?

The 2nd-generation Fiat 500 boutique city car still has charm… even if it’s nearly 14 years old.

In terms of styling, the Fiat 500 remains much the same as before, but Fiat has updated the front-end with a studded lower grille section and a revised LED daytime running light (DRL) design. Moreover, a wide range of new and vibrant colours have been made available across the range.

Inside, the most notable change is the fitment of a larger 7-inch infotainment touchscreen which now offers improved connectivity (courtesy of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility),as well as a fully digitalinstrument cluster on higher-spec derivatives.

Fiat has rationalised the 500 range, which now incorporates 4 distinct trim lines, each with its own personality reflected in distinct exterior styling elements, updated upholstery and trim.

The Fiat 500 Cult is the entry-level derivative followed by the Fiat 500 Connect, Fiat Sport and the Fiat 500 Dolcevita. The Sport and Dolcevita derivatives are available in hatchback and cabriolet guise.

See detailed specification details for the Fiat 500 here!

Under the bonnet, the Fiat 500 forges on with its familiar 2-cylinder 0.9-litre (875cc) turbocharged petrol engine that produces62.5 kW and 145 Nm of torque,mated to either a 5-speed manual transmission or a Manual Transmission Automatic (MTA), which is exclusively offered in the 500 Dolcevita hardtop and 500C Dolcevita cabriolet. Fiat claims an averagefuel consumption figure of 4.0 L/100 km.

What’s the Fiat 500 like to drive?

The interior of the Fiat 500 remains vibrant and youthful.​

We started the evaluation-drive section of the launchin the Fiat 500 Sport and the launch route took us through the suburbs of Johannesburg as well on the city’s extensive network of highways.

The cabin has an airy feel thanks to the fixed panoramic sunroof and the Cinquecento’s cabinseemedtoexhibita sturdybuild quality. The interior is mostly finished in harder plastics, but there is some soft-touch trim on the insides of the doors. The seats are relatively comfortable and the Fiat 500 Sport does feature a height-adjustable driver’s seat, which makes it easier to find acomfortable driving position.

The small-capacity 2-cylinder turbopetrol engine does have a distinct thrum to it and it somehow sounds quite entertaining under full-throttle acceleration. The manual transmission has a positive action;indeed, gear changes are fun to make and confidence-inspiring. The Fiat 500 is fairly nippy in urban spaces and due to its diminutive size, it’s also easily manoeuvrable in tighter spaces.

The Fiat 500 continues to offer class-less appeal, plus it appeals to young and old alike.

We must highlight the Fiat 500’s pliant and forgiving ride quality. The roads in the suburbs of Johannesburg are generally of poor quality,but the Cinquecentodelivered a comfortable ride. In terms of handling though, Fiat’s little firebrand does show its age somewhat… The steering setup is quite vague and bereft of feel by modern standards. Also, during our launch drive, we saw indicated fuel consumption figures of between 7 and 8 L/100 km, which were higher than we expected from the once-award-winning TwinAir motor.

We also had a go in the entry-level Fiat 500 Cult and while it rides on smaller 14-inch steel wheels (with wheel covers), the overall driving experience is much the same. Being an entry-level derivative, the Fiat 500 Cult has a smaller 5-inch infotainment system, manual airconand a single USB port (as opposed to 2 USB ports offered in the Sport derivative).

As you would expect, the petiteFiat 500’s rear bench is compromised in terms of leg and headroom and the load bay has a claimed luggage capacity of 188 litres, whichexpandsto 688 litres with the 60/40- split rear bench folded down. With that said, the Fiat 500 isn’t as practical as a typical compact hatchback, but if practicality is of major concern, the Cinquecento is probably not the car for you anyway.

Summary

Even though the Fiat 500 can be criticised for being long-in-the-tooth and in need of replacement (its successor is an electric vehicle, which is already available in Europe, but unlikely to be offered in South Africa in the near future), it still manages to offer a certain boutique charm that no other conventional and similarly-priced hatchback can match.With the revised range and keen pricing, Fiat is hoping to attract new customers to the fold;it will certainly be interesting to see if local buyers will respond positively to the revised line-up. See pricing details below…

How much does the updated Fiat 500 cost in South Africa?

The Fiat 500 is sold with a 5-year/100 000 km warranty, but note that a service plan is not standard.

Buy a used Fiat 500 on Cars.co.za

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