fiat-500-cabrio-long-term-test-report-3

Hatchback

Fiat

Sports

Modern Fiats fall into two categories: the retro models and those with more functional designs.

Cars in the first camp appeal to the heart and include the 124 Spider sports car and the 500 series: a hatchback, a convertible, an SUV and two MPVs.

By contrast, the remaining models rely on their practicality and attractive pricing, with the Panda city car, Tipo hatchback and Fullback pick-up truck all prime examples.

Fiat can trace its roots back to the 19th century but is now part of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles group, along with Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Jeep and Maserati.

FIAT

The car Fiat 500 Cabrio Icon Run by Claire Evans, consumer editorWhy it’s here The Fiat 500 is our 2021 Convertible Car of the Year, and we’ve got six months to find out how it stacks up as a real-world runaboutNeeds to Be comfortable, efficient and fun to punt around local rural roads, and have enough range for occasional longer journeys

<hr />Mileage 2365 List price £31,145 Target price £31,145 Price as tested £34,010 Test range 162 miles Official range 188 miles <hr /><h3>30 October 2021 – Fast but not furious  </h3>I’ve been enjoying zipping around in my <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n84">Fiat 500 Cabrio</a>, making the most of the immediate burst of speed you get when you press the accelerator. To be fair, I’m not really tearing around the countryside, because the 500 takes 9.0sec to go from zero to 62mph. But with no lag in the power delivery it feels substantially faster than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n22352">500 Hybrid</a>, which takes up to  12.9sec to complete the same sprint.

However, not all of the Fiat’s systems are as responsive. The infotainment touchscreen is decidedly laggy and takes too long to respond when it’s prodded. And the other niggle that’s surfaced is the poor response of the car’s gear selector buttons.

If you rush it and press Drive too soon after turning the car on, it simply refuses to acknowledge that you’ve done anything and won’t let you drive away until you’ve pressed the start button and Drive again.  For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><h2 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/fiat-500-cabrio-long-term-test-report-2/n23704">Read more on our long-term Fiat 500 Cabrio &gt;&gt;</a></h2><h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/long-term-tests">Read about more long-term test cars &gt;&gt;</a></h3>

The car Fiat 500 Cabrio Icon Run by Claire Evans, consumer editorWhy it’s here The Fiat 500 is our 2021 Convertible Car of the Year, and we’ve got six months to find out how it stacks up as a real-world runabout

Needs to Be comfortable, efficient and fun to punt around local rural roads, and have enough range for occasional longer journeys <hr />Mileage 2365 List price £31,145 Target price £31,145 Price as tested £34,010 Test range 162 miles Official range 188 miles <hr /><h3>30 October 2021 – Fast but not furious  </h3>I’ve been enjoying zipping around in my <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n84">Fiat 500 Cabrio</a>, making the most of the immediate burst of speed you get when you press the accelerator. To be fair, I’m not really tearing around the countryside, because the 500 takes 9.0sec to go from zero to 62mph. But with no lag in the power delivery it feels substantially faster than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n22352">500 Hybrid</a>, which takes up to  12.9sec to complete the same sprint.

Fiat 500 Cabrio long-term test: report 3

What we're looking for:<ul><li>Wind-in-the-hair excitement</li> <li>Roof that’s quick and easy to raise and lower</li> <li>Comfortable seating for four adults</li> <li>Sufficient practicality for everyday use</li> <li>Little wind buffeting</li> <li>Quietness, whether the roof is up or down</li> <li>Minimal shaking and shimmying over bumps</li></ul>

Despite the British weather, UK car buyers are among the biggest enthusiasts for wind-in-your-hair motoring, so convertibles have always been surprisingly popular here. It’s best to be able to react to the fickle climate, though, so a roof that opens (and closes) quickly is every bit as important as good top-down cruising refinement.

There are precious few bespoke drop-tops these days, so your choice of models is generally limited to soft-top versions of existing models. But there are still some fantastic options out there.

Convertible

Is an electric convertible a viable proposition or too much of a compromise? We're finding out by living with the Fiat 500 Cabrio

Fiat 500 Cabrio long-term test: report 3        

Yes, Aston Martin is the preferred manufacturer of a certain (not so) secret agent, but its latest cars offer a lot more than the chance to indulge your Bond fantasies.

The DB11 grand tourer, for example, won its price point at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards, thanks to its beautifully crafted interior and the fact that it’s both fun in the corners and a convincing long-distance cruiser. Meanwhile, the latest Vantage is Aston Martin’s best sports car to date.

The modern Aston Martin isn’t afraid to move with the times, either, with a luxury SUV part of its future model plans.

ASTON MARTIN

Audi is a brand that sets the standard for interior quality, and this, combined with its vast and ever-growing model line-up, has helped it become one of the ‘big three’ German prestige car makers, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The A3 hatchback, A4 executive saloon and Q7 SUV have all won their classes at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards in recent years, while the TT coupé is the most decorated car in the history of the ceremony.

At least some of Audi's success over the past 30 years can be attributed to the growth in sales of vehicles with four-wheel drive; the company arguably led the way in bringing 4x4 technology into the mainstream, with its Quattro coupé in the early 1980s.

Today, most Audis are available with at least the option of four-wheel drive, while the list of SUVs from the brand includes the Q2, Q3, Q5 and Q7.

AUDI

In many ways, modern Bentleys offer the best of both worlds, blending traditional British craftsmanship with modern mechanicals developed with the help of the company’s owner, Volkswagen.

The Bentayga SUV, for example, is closely related to Audi’s brilliantly engineered Q7 (another VW Group car). Yet the Bentayga still feels every inch a Bentley, thanks to its hand-finished interior and the fact that it’s available with Bentley’s outrageous W12 engine.

Other Bentleys you can buy today include the Flying Spur and Mulsanne saloons and the Continental GT coupé.

BENTLEY

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, which costs more than £100,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has six in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

If Caterham were a band, it would be a one-hit wonder. But a one-hit wonder with a catchy, seasonal song that re-enters the charts year after year.

The ‘song’ in question is the Seven, a lightweight, two-seat sports car that started life as a Lotus.

Caterham itself was a Lotus dealer. However, when Lotus decided to discontinue the Seven in 1973 so that it could concentrate on more complicated and expensive cars, Caterham bought the rights to the design.

It’s been building the Seven ever since, although Caterham has continued to refine the car and now offers numerous versions and power outputs.

CATERHAM

Picture a Chevrolet and chances are something huge and all-American springs to mind. However, in reality, the cars sold on these shores were all a sensible size, aimed at budget-conscious buyers.

The early cars, for example, started life as Daewoos but were rebranded after Chevrolet’s owner, General Motors, bought the ailing South Korean firm’s car division. Meanwhile, later models were based on Vauxhalls.

Chevrolet withdrew from Europe in 2015 after struggling to make an impact, but used examples do at least have the virtue of being incredibly cheap.

CHEVROLET

DS has only existed as a standalone manufacturer since 2015&nbsp;(prior to that the badge was used on upmarket&nbsp;Citroëns), but it is now the premium brand in the PSA Group, which also includes&nbsp;Citroën, Peugeot and Vauxhall.

In 2018, DS stated that it planned to launch a new model every year, with all of these influenced by the French fashion industry and&nbsp;designed&nbsp;to take on the ubiquitous offerings of Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

First to arrive (that same year) was the&nbsp;DS 7 Crossback – a large SUV that competes with the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC. Then in 2019 this was followed by the smaller DS3 Crossback SUV, which is not only available&nbsp;with petrol and diesel engines, but also in fully electric E-Tense form.

More recently, DS&nbsp;unveiled its answer to the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class luxury saloons. And while this DS 9 won't now go on sale until 2021, when it does arrive it will be offered with a choice of petrol, hybrid and fully electric power.

One of the world’s most famous brands and an integral part of the Formula 1 grid since the first championship in 1950, Ferrari fully lives up to its exalted reputation, producing some of the best sports cars money can buy.

Its entry-level model (although that term hardly seems appropriate) is the Portofino convertible, which is powered by a twin-turbo V8 and capable of blasting from 0-62mph in 3.5sec.

Then further up the range you find the mid-engined 488s, in coupé and Spider forms, and two GT cars: the GTC4 Lusso and the appropriately named 812 Superfast, a V12 monster that can hit 211mph.

FERRARI

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

Lamborghinis have been adorning bedroom posters since the mid-1960s. Not bad for a company whose origins lie in making tractors.

Today, Lamborghini is part of the Volkswagen Group, and as well as bolstering its core sports car portfolio, it has branched out to launch the Urus – a luxurious SUV that’s a rival to the similarly rapid Bentley Bentayga W12 and Porsche Cayenne Turbo.

LAMBORGHINI

In the same way that Infiniti acts as Nissan’s premium arm, Lexus has a similar tie-in with Toyota. And since most of Toyota’s models are offered as hybrids, it’s no surprise to see the same from Lexus, although there are some traditional petrol engines, too.

The brand focuses heavily on SUVs – namely the NX and RX – but also has the CT hatchback, ES executive saloon and LS luxury car among its portfolio. More small and large SUVs are expected in the future.

Like Toyota, Lexus has built a very strong reputation for reliability and regularly finishes very close to the top of our annual Reliability Survey.

LEXUS

Mazda can be summed up in a single word: bold. Not only do its cars generally look like nothing else on the market, but it’s also invested heavily in innovative engine technology.

So, while many car makers have moved to smaller turbocharged engines, Mazda instead offers larger motors that are still efficient. For example, the entry-level petrol option in the Mazda 3 is a 2.0-litre unit –&nbsp;far larger than what you’ll find in most rivals – but it remains very clean.

Highlights of Mazda’s line-up include the MX-5 sports car, which has won our Convertible of the Year Award multiple times, and the CX-5 large SUV, which was named as our inaugural best car for dog owners.

MAZDA

To many, McLaren will always be best known for its motorsport activities, but it also has a growing range of high-performance cars designed to challenge the likes of Ferrari and Porsche.

Most McLaren models share two key components: a central tub made out of carbonfibre and a powerful V8 petrol engine. And with cars ranging from the entry-level 540C to the hardcore (but still road legal) Senna, McLaren cars rival everything from the Jaguar F-Type to the Porsche 911 and Ferrari’s 488 Pista.

MCLAREN

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

Talk about taking an idea and running with it. The big-selling Mini hatchback is still at the core of the firm’s range, but its cute styling and relatively compact dimensions have been spun off into an estate (the Clubman) and an SUV (the Countryman), as well as a convertible.

Despite its small size, the Mini is a firmly premium product, and the three-door hatchback counts the Audi A1 and Volkswagen Polo among its key rivals.

The fact that Mini is owned by BMW brings some big advantages –&nbsp;not least the fact that its infotainment system is based on BMW’s industry-leading iDrive.

MINI

Porsche is best known as the quintessential sports car maker, but its line-up is increasingly diverse, interesting and successful, from its SUV family to the Panamera hatchback and shooting brake and, in time, a planned family of electric vehicles.

Whatever your choice, What Car?’s testers rate the cars highly; Porsche has an unusually high percentage of five and four-star cars.

Without exception, its sports cars are class leaders or among the class leaders, standing out for combining driving thrills with surprising luxury and comfort. Likewise, its SUVs are among the sharpest handling, as well as offering high levels of practicality and quality. Meanwhile, the Panamera is a true rival to the very best large executive saloons.

Porsche also sees itself as an electric car pioneer and has already enjoyed sales success with its plug-in hybrid range. Its first all-electric sports car is imminent, signalling the firm’s intent to stay relevant for many years to come.

PORSCHE

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

Small and sweet – that’s the easiest way to describe the little Fiat 500C Hybrid. The cooler, breezier sibling of the now-iconic Fiat 500 hatchback, it’s one of the cheapest options you can look at if you’re after a small&nbsp;convertible.&nbsp;

There’s no doubting it’s a style-focused choice, with a long list of customisation options to continue the fashion-heavy theme. But, while the trims may be many and varied, under the bonnet the only choice you have is a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-a-mild-hybrid-and-should-you-buy-one/n22776">mild-hybrid engine</a>.

Rivals for the 500C Hybrid are few and far between, but you might also be considering the more premium (and more expensive) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/convertible/sports/review/n17156">Mini Convertible</a>. And if you're interested in running an electric car, there's the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n84">Fiat 500 Electric</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/smart/fortwo-coupe/city-car/review/n18076">Smart EQ ForTwo</a> – which are both available in convertible versions.

So, if you don’t need huge amounts of space but want a bit of the wind-in-your-hair thrills, read on to find out if the Fiat 500C Hybrid is the car for you. You can also read about the non-convertible version in our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n22352">Fiat 500 Hybrid review</a>.

The 500C Hybrid is fun around town, but it's outclassed&nbsp;by the&nbsp;Mini Convertible

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