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Shouldn’t really be called a hybrid
The Fiat 500 in its current form began its life as an ‘e’ and was intended to remain purely electric. Until it turned out that demand was severely disappointing. That’s why we are now driving a 500 Hybrid that looks the same as the 500e, but with a petrol engine, coupled with a 12-volt mild hybrid system.
How hybrid is the Fiat 500?
It says ‘Hybrid’ on this Fiat 500, but the electrical assistance from the 12-volt hybrid system is very minimal in practice. In fact, you only notice the relatively large green bar in the instrument cluster indicating the presence of a starter-generator that can store energy. While driving, you don’t experience any boost, and Fiat doesn’t even specify a power value for the electrical assistance. It didn’t do so when this powertrain, a 1-liter three-cylinder with two valves per cylinder, debuted in the Panda in 2021.
How much power does the Hybrid have?
Compared to the Panda, the Fiat 500 delivers five hp less, bringing the total to a very modest 65 hp. That’s not much in these times, and the step back with this powertrain feels extra significant if you’ve ever experienced how easily the electric 500e performs, with 95 or 118 hp. With that powertrain, the ‘rolling handbag’ is a nimble city sprinter that eager to move forward quickly. But here in Turin, where production has only just started for a month, the 500 Hybrid has to work hard, just like the original 500 once did. In the city, it doesn’t matter much; 65 hp is sufficient there. The lack of power is painful when you have to merge onto the highway or when you drive away from a tollbooth. A sprint from standstill to 100 km/h takes a good 16 seconds. An acceleration time we rarely encounter in modern cars anymore.
A hybrid, so an automatic? No!
Stirring the six-speed gearbox is the motto! The gear stick is located at the bottom of the center console and is quite close to the steering wheel. The round, classic gear knob fits well with the retro-style interior’s design language. You can leave something like that to the 500 makers. The gear change offers a good feel, and the throws are short. Shifting with this Fiat is a lot of fun, especially since as a test editor of modern cars, you rarely do it anymore. In that sense, the ‘old-school’ powertrain fits the 500 perfectly. Especially the sixth gear has a long ratio, which means that at 100 km/h, the engine speed is well below 3,000 revolutions per minute. If you go a bit faster and the speedometer reads 120 km/h, the three-cylinder engine revs at about 3,100 rpm. That is low for a car in the A-segment.
But certainly very economical?
According to Fiat, the 500 Hybrid should average 5.2 liters of Euro 95 per 100 kilometers, which doesn’t seem like an overly exaggerated claim to us. This equates to CO2 emissions of 117 grams per kilometer. For a car in this class with a ‘Hybrid’ badge on the back, it’s actually quite substantial when you look at what a Kia Picanto with a 63 hp three-cylinder engine without any form of electrical assistance achieves. The Korean car is listed at 5 liters per 100 kilometers, or exactly 1 in 20.
Does the Fiat 500 have the same hybrid powertrain as the Grande Panda?
A milder form of mild hybrid is unimaginable. The Fiat system is therefore completely separate from the 48-volt mild hybrid system that powers many other Stellantis products, including the Fiat Grande Panda. That model is positioned a bit higher in the market, bordering on the B-segment, but in the same class as the Fiat 500 Hybrid, we should certainly mention the new Toyota Aygo X Hybrid. The Japanese car more than lives up to its Hybrid badge with a full-fledged hybrid system from the larger Toyota Yaris. The Aygo In a direct comparison, the Fiat 500 really has to throw all its charms into the battle, especially when you consider that the trendy but equally very sensible Aygo
How does the 500 Hybrid drive otherwise?
You operate the Fiat 500 Hybrid with a light, numb clutch, and in city traffic, the steering is also very light. The target audience likes it, so why change it? Suspension and damping are firm, and due to the short wheelbase, speed bumps are felt hard. The configuration could be a bit softer, especially since this ‘hybrid’ weighs 966 kg, which is considerably less than the 500e with the largest battery (42 kWh), which weighs no less than 1,265 kg. Much has been modified underneath, as there is no battery pack in the floor of this 500. The Hyundai i10 and Kia Picanto show that it can also be softer and more comfortable. You sit high in the 500, and unfortunately, the less expensive variants lack height adjustability for the driver’s seat. This is offset by the beautiful material usage; it all looks tasty. The upholstery and the stylish shape of the seats undoubtedly elevate the little Italian car to a kind of premium division within the A-segment.
The retro gadget is distinctive. Its look and feel make it charming; it never had to rely on its driving characteristics and powertrains. The current 500 is, design-wise, a very good continuation of the first ‘new’ 500 that was on the price list from 2007 to 2024. Place the differently proportioned current generation next to the previous one, and it is completely different, yet so recognizable as a Fiat 500. Renewing a retro design is considered one of the most difficult tasks for car designers.
How much does the Hybrid cost?
The fact that the Fiat 500 Hybrid takes a step back with its technology is good news for those who want a car around €25,000. The 500 Hybrid starts just below that, making it much more accessible than the 500e, which costs at least €4,000 more. However, as a driver, you have to work much harder with this 500 Hybrid. To keep up well with traffic, you occasionally have to really push it. The employees at the Fiat factory can also get serious to work. Stellantis occasionally halted the production line due to moderate demand for the 500e. That line is now running at full capacity again thanks to the arrival of this relatively affordable Fiat 500 Hybrid.
The Fiat 500 Hybrid is also available as 500C and as Trepiuno.