Used Fiat 500 cars for sale

Fiat 500 buying guide

Why buy the Fiat 500?

Few small cars are as chic and characterful as the Fiat 500. There are lots of them on the road but they still look really distinctive, especially in a bold colour combination. The 500 is easy to park thanks to light steering and a good view out through big windows, and it’ll fit in the tiniest of spaces. It’s also great value and running costs are low, particularly for insurance – a great bonus if you’re buying your first car.

Fiat 500 range and updates

The 500 was launched in 2007, inspired by the classic Fiat 500 of the 1950s. It’s been updated many times since, with changes including different rear lights and new interior technology. The most recent update, in 2020, included a new mild-hybrid petrol engine. Fiat launched the 500 Electric at the same time. Although it looks similar to the 500 it’s a completely different model that costs more, is a fraction larger and is powered by an electric motor.

While the 500 is available as a three-door hatchback only, there's also a two-door convertible version called the 500C. The 500X is a five-door compact SUV that’s much larger than (and completely unrelated to) either the 500 or 500 Electric.

In cars sold new before 2020, there’s a wider range of petrol and diesel engines. Of those, the 1.2-litre petrol is the most popular and great for town driving. The more powerful 0.9-litre unit might be better if you spend more time on motorways because it feels less strained at higher speeds. The latest mild-hybrid car feels much like the 1.2. While most 500 models have a manual gearbox, automatics are also available.

There are lots of trims to choose from. Popular ones include the entry-level Pop, sporty-looking S and top-of-the-range Lounge. At the time of writing in 2022, the ‘core’ packages were called Pop, Dolcevita, Dolcevita Plus and Sport. There are also many special editions like the Anniversario, Riva and Vintage ‘57, which have unique colour combinations and styling details.

Fiat 500 tech and features

The last 500 Pop model’s standard features include air con, DAB radio, USB ports, as well as electric windows and central locking. On top of that, Dolcevita has a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, as well as rear parking sensors and a sunroof. Dolcevita Plus also has sat nav and a digital driver’s display. The Sport model has the same features as the Dolcevita Plus, but no sunroof.