Costs & verdict
Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is
Costs, insurance groups, MPG and CO2
The 500 isn’t as cheap to buy as many of its rivals, many of which have more doors and more standard equipment. And if you’re hoping that the desirability of the 500’s image will result in it holding onto its value better than its peers, you’ll be slightly disappointed. Over three years it's predicted to suffer worse from depreciation than an equivalent Hyundai i10 or Volkswagen Up.
Fuel economy and CO2 emissions, meanwhile, don’t stand out against the 500’s rivals, despite its 'hybrid' badge.
Like all Fiats, the 500 comes with a two-year manufacturer’s warranty and a further one-year dealer warranty. Mileage is limited to 100,000 during that three-year period. If you’re after a city car with longer warranty we’d suggest that you look at the Kia Picanto. Its warranty lasts for seven-years or 100,000 miles – that's longer than you get on any rival.
Safety and security
The 500 is let down massively by its lack of safety systems, with no sign of automatic emergency braking (AEB) – even on the options list. In fact, Euro NCAP only gave 500 three stars out of five for its overall safety, and that was back in 2017 when the standards were far less stringent than they are today.