2013 Fiat 500 Pop, Lounge And S Review
What's Hot: Fantastic pricing, eager engines and handling, seven airbags
What's Not: Front seats are too high, limp steering
X-Factor: "Fashionable", “affordable” and “aspirational” - and throw in "cute" as well - that's gotta win friends.
Vehicle style: Light three-door hatchback
Engine/trans: 1.2 litre inline four (500 Pop), 1.4 litre inline four (500S), 875cc inline two (500 Lounge)
Price: $14,000 drive-away (500 Pop manual) to $22,700 (500C Lounge convertible)
Fuel consumption listed: 5.1 l/100km (500 Pop manual), 6.1 l/100km (500S manual), 3.9 l/100km (500 Lounge)
OVERVIEW
One of the benefits of a fiercely competitive market and high dollar (still high, but down a bit) is the downward pressure it's exerted on car prices over the past decade.
Like the Fiat 500. In a short space of time, the asking price for the tiny 500 (or Cinquecento, parlato in Italiano) has plummeted.
When Chrysler Group Australia took over local Fiat distribution 12 months ago from auto importer Ateco, the 500 cost in the mid-$20,000s. Now, the cost of entry is more than ten grand less.
Any way you care to peel it, $14,000 drive-away is not a lot of money for a car, but that’s all Fiat Australia wants for the base model Fiat 500 Pop manual.
Fashionistas on a budget will love it, but so will anyone looking for a cheap and cheerful light hatchback.
There’s some additions to the range too. The 500S has a slightly athletic aesthetic, and the 500 Lounge is blessed with Fiat’s charming TwinAir powerplant.
All have their positive attributes, but for us the most intriguing model at the 500’s local re-launch was the one that will undoubtedly be the biggest seller: the $14k Fiat 500 Pop.
THE INTERIOR
The most remarkable thing about the Pop is that it doesn’t feel like a sub-$15k hatchback. Quality inside is good, and the large body-colour panel that makes up most of the dashboard looks great.
Switchgear feels solid, and the leather-wrapped steering wheel is chunky and comfortable to hold. There’s also electric windows, power-adjustable mirrors, manual air-con, Bluetooth and USB audio input.
However, Fiat hasn’t solved the 500’s problem of seat height (even this 5’8” correspondent was unusually close to the rooflining), and the chunky A-pillars still impede vision around corners.
Cost-cutting is evident in the single-piece rear backrest, which doesn’t offer the flexibility of the 50/50 split rear seat in other 500 models. The standard wheels are also 14-inch steel items with plastic hubcaps, which are far from stylish.
But what you do get is a huge array of colour choices. For the base Pop, Fiat waives the special paint surcharge and all 15 colours are available at no extra cost.
There’s also two interior colour schemes available, and the light beige scheme looks fantastic when offset against bold exterior body colours like yellow, red or light blue.
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