Fiat 500C 1.3 MultiJet 1.4 & 16v FIRE road test

The original, rear-engined Fiat Cinquecento was launched in 1957 and it sported a fold-back fabric roof, manually operated of course. With the advent of the new Fiat 500 things have been done in reverse order; first came the hatchback (the engine’s now in the front), then the sporty Abarth and now the convertible ‘C’. Of course you want one, but here’s a test anyway!

Fiat 500C consumer car reviews
Fiat 500C lease prices
Fiat 500C new and nearly new

This 500 is available with a 1.2 8v and 1.4 16v petrol engines, or a 1.3 16v turbodiesel. I drove the 100bhp 1.4 and the 75bhp 1.3. Although the 1.4’s figures beat the 1.3’s fair and square – 0-62 in 10.5 and 12.5secs, 113 and 103mph top speed – the 1.3 doesn’t feel like it’s lacking in any way. On the road the 5-speed 1.3 feels nippy enough, whereas to extract similar performance from the 6-speed 1.4 requires that bit more effort and commitment, even though ultimately it’s faster. Both have strong brakes, although the petrol 1.4 does sound a little sportier than the diesel.

Read the full Fiat 500C road tests

RoadTestReports.co.uk provides road tests reports written by members of the Guild of Motoring Writers. These reports are complemented by car reviews submitted by the members of the public who drive the vehicles day in day out.

Author: Lee Sibbald, July 14, 2009
Filed under: Fiat,Fleet news,RoadTestReports.co.uk

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