Turbo Tyke
THE 500 LIVES UP TO THE FIAT PROMISE OF FUN
All you have to do is glance around a parking lot and it will become apparent that Vancouverites love small cars, so it’s no surprise that when Chrysler brought the tiny Fiat 500 to our shores it quickly found a home in many car parks and driveways.
The diminutive 500 is perfectly suited for urban transportation duty as it has the ability to navigate through congested city streets like a champion, but the same can’t be said when the roads get twisty. While it’s true that the majority of Fiat 500 buyers want an economical urban runabout, there’s a segment of this population who appreciate a little extra performance to help enliven the overall driving experience. Unfortunately, the first 500s to come to B.C. didn’t offer much in this department.
In an effort to attract younger buyers and broaden the company’s appeal to the enthusiast crowd, in 2013 Fiat brought to market a 500 tweaked by the Abarth performance brand, but the little firecracker of a hot hatch is a little too raucous and temperamental to serve as a daily commuter.
Fiat Chrysler solved this problem by introducing a new model, the 500 Turbo, which is positioned between the standard 500 and the Abarth and offers sporty performance at a moderate price.
The Fiat 500 Turbo comes equipped with the same 1.4litre MultiAir in-line four-cylinder engine as the standard 500 model, but is enhanced by the addition of a turbocharger which boosts horsepower by 34-per cent. This high-revving engine produces 135-horsepower and 150 foot-pounds of torque, which does not sound like much in this day and age, but given the car’s small size and lightweight, it’s a respectable output.
A five-speed manual transmission is standard, but most buyers will opt to purchase the optional six-speed automatic to make commuting a little less work.
Our test vehicle featured the latter, and while it seemed a little sluggish when left to work on its own, I was able to completely transform my driving experience by electing to make my own gear selections manually.
Acceleration is peppy, with the nose of the car gently lifting as the car squats down on its haunches and sprints to 100 km/h from a standstill in a tick over eight seconds. In order to handle the extra dose of power provided by the turbocharger and reduce torque steer, the 500 Turbo comes equipped with larger half shafts and heavy-duty constant velocity joints.
In an effort to give the car more dynamic handling, it’s equipped with a sport-tuned suspension which helps keep the rubber on the road and sharpens handling characteristics. For a short wheelbase car the 500 Turbo delivers a very smooth ride and tracks with precision.
With the boost to both power and dynamic capabilities the product planners at Fiat Chrysler installed a high-performance brake system with larger front rotors to help keep things in control and inspire driver confidence. A throaty exhaust system has also been added to the Turbo’s build sheet.
The interior of the 500 Turbo seems to be well constructed and the level of fit and finish has been improving with each evolution of the now iconic little car. The classic contrast of the largely black interior and white dash panel of our test unit is pleasant to the eye, while the optional Rosso Red leather seats and door inserts helped give the car an added dose of curb appeal.
The dash layout is a study in simplicity as there are minimal controls and very little clutter to distract you. The car’s compact dimensions ensure that everything is within easy reach of both hand and eye, although I found operating the shift lever rather awkward as it is mounted on a dash plateau rather than on the floor or centre console.
The thick-rimmed, threespoke steering wheel features a leather wrap and a full complement of secondary controls for the audio, Bluetooth and cruise functions. Electric power assist is light, which means the driver always feels in control.
As a taller individual (I stand 6-2) I have always found the driving position in a Fiat 500 to be rather uncomfortable. You sit very high in the driver’s seat and the foot well is very short if you have long legs. In fact, my right knee was forced to make regular contact with the dash protrusion and my size 13 feet seemed to grow even larger whenever I got behind the wheel of this little Italian firecracker of a car. Fortunately, there is an abundance of headroom, even in car’s fitted with the optional sunroof upgrade.
The Fiat 500 has been designed to fit four adults, but in all honesty, this car is best suited for a couple of adults and their weekend gear. The rear seating area is very small and the mere act of slipping past the front seatbacks into the tiny space should be reserved for small children.
The front bucket seats feature a fair amount of side bolstering but they don’t do much to inspire confidence as the foam used in their construction seemed abnormally pliable and soft. As a result, the bolsters proved unable to hold me firmly in place during situations where more aggressive handling manoeuvres were in play.
Visibility is an issue to the rear, as the headrests block the view out the rear windows making shoulder checks difficult.
The Fiat 500 in any guise is a great car for singles or couples looking for a small runabout that is high on style and easy to handle. Pricing is reasonable given the equipment levels and performance, but if you tend to carry passengers or gear, you may want to consider the larger Fiat 500L or 500X as things tend to get pretty tight in the 500 in short order.