2012 Fiat 500 Review

After a two decade absence from American showrooms, Fiat has staged a grand return to the States with the Fiat 500, a cute and compact 3-door hatchback that gives the Mini Cooper a run for its money. Featuring an ultra-efficient inline-4 and cool, Cooper-inspired retro styling, this Italian-made minicar is a welcome edition to the city car segment, which has benefitted from an influx of forward-thinking Euro models in recent years.

While Fiat's classic design cues may inspire fantasies of spinning around Italian side streets à la Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday, in reality the new 500 is a high-tech driving machine purpose-built for the modern American consumer. Intelligently redesigned to meet North American regulatory requirements and driver standards, the 500 features a retuned suspension for increased comfort and an advanced MultiAir 1.4-liter engine that offers up to 10% greater fuel efficiency along with reduced C02 emissions. The Fiat's clean exterior lines are continued inside where a minimalist interior design is matched with state-of-the-art technology like Bluetooth hands-free communication and an intuitive navigation system. Of course, no joyride is complete without the right soundtrack, so it is only fitting that this cruise-worthy car comes fitted with a USB hook-up, powerful BOSE speakers and available satellite radio.

Combining classic with contemporary, Old World with New School, this modern minicar is already a hit across the globe, and looks poised to continue its victory lap into American driveways.

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Watch a video of the 2012 FIAT 500