Abarth 500 2008–2016 car dimensions: 3657 mm long, 1627 mm wide and 1480 mm high. Unladen weight is 1,035 kg. Braked towing is 800 kg.
The cabin offers sports seats with integrated headrests, a leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel with audio controls and the Blue&Me hands-free Bluetooth system with USB as standard. Manual climate control with pollen filter is standard while automatic climate control is optional. Rear parking sensors are optional on base models and standard on higher trims. A colour TFT instrument display appears on later cars. Touchscreen infotainment with smartphone integration arrives only on the final 2016 update cars. No automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning or lane-keep assist is offered.
Boot space is 185 litres with the rear seats in place and expands to 550 litres when they are folded. The load area is compact and suited only to small bags or shopping.
Braked towing capacity is 800 kg and unbraked capacity is 400 kg. Payload including the driver is 390 kg. The car uses a lowered sport suspension setup with specific springs and dampers plus Torque Transfer Control. It is a performance-oriented city car and not intended for heavy work or frequent towing.
The cabin feels sporty and focused. Figure-hugging one-piece sports seats hold you in place with firm bolsters and integrated headrests. A thick-rimmed flat-bottom leather steering wheel and leather gear knob sit ready. Black headlining and rear privacy glass finish the look. Manual air conditioning is standard. automatic climate control is optional. Seats adjust manually for height on the driver side.
Combined fuel use 6.5 l/100 km, CO2 155 g/km, 95 RON petrol, 35-litre tank
Service interval 30,000 km
Euro NCAP five-star base (Fiat 500 2007 test)
Standard kit: seven airbags, ABS with EBD and HBA, ESP with ASR, Hill Holder, TTC
The 1.4 T-Jet runs on 95 RON unleaded. Official NEDC figures show 8.5 l/100 km urban, 5.4 l/100 km extra-urban and 6.5 l/100 km combined, with 155 g/km CO2. A 35-litre tank gives a practical range for a hot hatch of this size.
Scheduled servicing is set at 30,000 km intervals. The engine uses multipoint injection and a fixed-geometry turbo with intercooler. Keep an eye on the belt-driven camshaft drive and turbo health as miles build.
Safety starts with the five-star Euro NCAP structure of the Fiat 500. Seven airbags cover front, side, curtain and driver knee positions. ABS with EBD and hydraulic brake assist, ESP with ASR, Hill Holder and Torque Transfer Control come as standard to keep the front-drive chassis composed.
Living with the car means accepting a firm ride from the lowered, stiffened suspension and short wheelbase. Rear space and boot (185 litres) stay tight. Red calipers, 16-inch alloys and the Sport mode button mark its character. optional 17-inch wheels and leather seats sharpen the look further.
Length 3657 mm, Width 1627 mm, Height 1480 mm, Wheelbase 2300 mm (500 2008–2016)
Sources: manufacturer data, Fiat Group Automobiles, Abarth 500 Uso e Manutenzione, 4th edition, print 603.81.379, Fiat Group UK press pack “Abarth 500: Rebirth of a Legend” and Fiat Germany press.