Fiat 500 1.3 Multijet Sport

Jul 4 2009 Patrick James

SOMETIMES describing a car as funky and fun can be code for cheap and nasty.

Fiat's reborn icon, the 500 is both funky and fun, and it is cheap - starting at under £8,000 - but it is far from nasty.

In fact in terms of quality it is probably the best effort yet from Fiat and ticks just about every box for someone looking for a bargain on a budget.

It is cheap to buy, cheap to run and insure but also exceptionally safe.

It gained the maximum five stars in Euro NCAP crash testing and offers a host of safety features, not least the seven airbags. No wonder it was named European Car of the Year for 2008.

The retro styling on the original has been brought up to 21st century standards and both the interior and exterior look superb and the car is a real challenger to the new MINI.

It has a solid feel to it with door and hatch closing without a tinny clang and the bright metal door handles nicely complement the alloys on this particular model.

There are even a number of go-faster stripe and cheque stickers so much loved by the Italians that can also be added for an ever funkier look.

The interior is both chic and practical with a standout centrepiece binnacle that houses both speedo and rev counter.

The retro touch is enhanced by the swathe of metal across the front of the fascia that is body colour coded and that is inset with neat and tidy dials and switchgear.

The four seats are comfortable and supportive and certainly the front two provide acres of headroom, but the slope of the roof means it is more cramped in the back.

All round vision is good and it is all offset nicely with a sporty steering wheel.

For a city car, boot space is good and the hatchback allows for the rear seats to fold and create extra room.

The only niggle I had with the interior was the driver's seat belt, which refused to stay in place and proved a pain, having to search for it every time I got in the car.

The car comes with three engines, two petrol and a 1.3 diesel in the test model. The diesel proved an incredibly economical engine, delivering economy in the mid-60mpg region.

I had expected the turbodiesel engine to be a little more punchy, but acceleration from rest proved slightly disappointing, but at mid range revs it picked up beautifully, particularly useful on the motorway.

Despite this, the gear box proved a precision delight and the car a comfortable and composed ride - even at high motorway speeds but it can get lumpy on rougher roads.

The car also handles quite well thanks to the wheel in each corner layout, which gives good stability.

Pop, Sport and Lounge are the three trim levels. All are well equipped with the usual electrics and the higher spec models offering a USB port for iPods and other music players.

Prices start from £8,300, a bargain indeed.

FAST FACTS

Fiat 500 1.3 Multijet Sport 3dr

Price: £11,100

Mechanical: 75bhp, 1,248cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 5-speed manual gearbox

Max speed: 103mph

0-62mph: 12.5 seconds

Combined mpg: 67.3

Insurance group: 5

CO2 emissions: 110/km

BiK rating: 10%

Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles