Used 2019 FIAT 500c

Fiat’s 500 and 500c Cabrio convertible for 2019 are just two of many compact cars vying for an ever-shrinking market share. To help the 500 stand apart, Fiat infuses it with quirky styling, an original interior and a number of tech features to help the little Fiat stay competitive with cars like the Nissan Vera Note, Ford Fiesta and even the more expensive Mini Cooper. Around the globe, the 500 is beloved, a fact Fiat is hoping to capitalize upon with younger buyers. Offered in economical Pop, upscale Lounge and sporty Abarth trims, the 500 has some attractive selling points, but its spotty reliability history and poor resale values may turn off some buyers.

With its recently upgraded horsepower and lightweight body, the 2019 Fiat 500 is a much more enjoyable ride. The base 500 is no GTI (you can look to the 160-horsepower Abarth for that), but the 500 is now a competent road car capable of making short work of onramps, lane crossings and nervous passing maneuvers. The 500’s small size makes it ideal for city driving, and because it takes up no more than 140 inches, finding a parking space is child’s play. The 500’s steering is quick and precise, and its new suspension provides less lean and bounce while still keeping the ride fairly comfortable. The 500’s excellent 5-speed manual is wonderful, but we know the realities of bumper-to-bumper traffic make the 6-speed automatic a more logical choice. However, if the enthusiast-oriented Abarth is more your thing, the manual is a must. For the environmentalist, Fiat builds the 500e, an electric version that can travel up to 84 miles on a single charge.

As its bubble-like design might suggest, the 2019 Fiat 500 offers plenty of head- and legroom for front-seat passengers, but with very little of either for those in the rear seat. We love the interior, with its bright colors, European-inspired design and comfortable seats. The materials used inside the 500 have a high-quality feel unusual in this price range, as are some of the nicer options like the Beats audio system. The Abarth gets performance bucket seats in red and black leather, a thick-grip flat-bottomed steering wheel and unique Abarth badges.

The subcompact 2019 Fiat 500 is a modern interpretation of 1957’s tiny, rear-engine original. Although larger than the original, it’s still seven inches shorter than today’s Mini Cooper. The iconic sloping rear end embodies the 500’s personality, though it limits rear headroom. The Fiat 500 is available in a stretched 4-door model that alleviates many of the coupe’s shortcomings. The 500 is offered in Pop, Lounge and Abarth guises, all available in coupe or convertible form. The 500e electric is offered in coupe form only. Wheels, fascias and body trim differentiate the models.

INTELLIGENT POWER CONVERTIBLE TOP
The 2019 Fiat 500c Cabrio is fitted with a unique canvas roll top that slides back on rails rather than fully retracting into the trunk. This design allows the top to be opened at speeds up to 60 mph and retains the protective metal frame around the windows and doors, which also helps maintain structural rigidity.

ABARTH
The 500 Abarth, available as a coupe or a convertible, adds a bit more zip to the 500, with a more powerful turbocharged engine, better suspension and brakes plus unique styling cues like an Abarth-designed flat-bottom steering wheel and sport bucket seats.

For 2019 the Fiat 500 Pop includes a leather-wrapped steering wheel, 16-inch aluminum wheels, a 5-speed manual transmission, air conditioning, cruise control plus power windows, power locks and power heated side mirrors. Also standard are Bluetooth, a rearview monitor and a 6-speaker 5-inch touch-screen audio system with a USB port for portable music players. The range-topping Abarth variant includes 16-inch hyper-black wheels, sport-tuned suspension and a leather-wrapped dashboard. Standard safety features include seven airbags and hill-start assist to help prevent vehicle rollback on steep inclines.

A fully loaded 2019 Fiat 500 Lounge includes a 6-speed automatic transmission, leather seats, heated front seats, rear parking sensors, navigation, Beats audio system and automatic climate control. The 500 Pop Urbana Appearance package adds 16-inch hyper-black alloy wheels and black-trimmed lights, while the Popular Equipment package brings dual-zone automatic climate control and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The mighty Abarth offers larger 17-inch wheels, 2-tone leather-trimmed seats and your choice of either white or red body-side stripes.

Power for the 2019 Fiat 500 comes from an advanced 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine equipped with Fiat’s MultiAir technology that adjusts intake-valve timing and lift for better performance and fuel economy. In the Pop and Lounge, this engine produces 135 horsepower, which might not seem like much power until one considers the 500’s weight and size. In the performance-oriented Abarth, this same engine puts out a healthy 160 horsepower. A 5-speed manual is the standard transmission, with a 6-speed automatic optional. The electric-powered Fiat 500e has the equivalent of 111 horsepower and has a range of 84 miles on a single charge.

1.4-liter turbocharged inline-4 (Pop, Lounge)
135 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
150 lb-ft of torque @ 2,400-4,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 28/33 mpg (manual), 24/32 mpg (automatic)

1.4-liter turbocharged inline-4 (Abarth)
160 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
170 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 28/33 mpg (manual), 24/32 mpg (automatic)

Permanent magnet electric motor (500e)
111 horsepower
147 lb-ft of torque
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 121/103 MPGe (mpg equivalent)
EPA range on a full charge: 84 miles