2012 Fiat 500 Pop
MSRP $15,500
Fiat has bought out Chrysler. Now, they are reintroducing the Fiat brand to North America. The 2012 Fiat 500 is the first entry. The Pop is the lowest of three trim levels. The others are the Sport and the Lounge. It is a 2-door, subcompact hatchback that may remind many of the Bug.
The Pop has a 1.4 liter engine that produces 101 horsepower. It has 15-inch steel wheels and a 5-speed manual transmission. It is rated at 30 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. It is currently America’s second-smallest car.
Despite its size, the Pop seems surprisingly roomy. There is plenty of legroom and head room in the front. The back seat, though, is more what you would expect from a very small car.
Even the base model has a lot of nice interior features. The Pop has a trip computer, a height-adjustable driver seat, cruise control, a tilt steering wheel, standard air conditioning, full power accessories, and keyless entry.
The audio system has 6 speakers, AM/FM Stereo, a CD/MP3 player, and an audio jack. It can be upgraded to a Bose system with a satellite radio.
The Fiat 500 has the standard safety features. It has traction control, stability control, anti-lock brakes, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, and driver knee airbags.
Conclusions and driver feedback:
Feedback on the Pop is a mixed bag. On the positive side, it is cute. It has even been described as “adorable.” It’s size gives it great gas mileage. It is inexpensive. It is easy to get in and out of spaces. It handles well and brakes well. It doesn’t have the abysmal acceleration you may expect. There is even three years of complimentary maintenance included with your purchase.
Most of all, there are a lot of features included in the base package at a very reasonable price. So, though the Pop might not be a lot of car literally, it is a lot of car for the money.
On the negative side, the ride is a lot more firm than many expect. Anyone who remembers bouncing around in a Bug in the 1960′s will probably feel nostalgic, but younger drivers may be a bit put off. The back seat and cargo area are extremely small. This is where most of the sacrifices to make this car so small came from.
Also, there is a lot of road and wind noise with this car. And, while it has a lower center of gravity than the old Bug did, it seems to be just as easily knocked around by the wind.
All in all, though, this car is quite well-executed. It manages to be small without being cramped, at least for a driver and one passenger. It gets decent mileage, without driving like a slug. It’s somewhere in the middle of its class.
The verdict: if you want to go this small, you can’t go wrong with three years of free maintenance.
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