Chrysler-Fiat's Italian-bred subcompact finally appears to be gaining headway with small-car shoppers.
That should become even more evident with the recent arrival of the Turbo that rounds out a four-model 500 lineup, which already includes a base 500, 500c Cabrio convertible and performance-focused 500 Abarth.
Making its presence felt on the North American automotive stage has been challenging for the two-door 500, especially when compared to other more iconic and established makes, including its Mini Cooper nemesis. Then there are the other small-car brands from Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai and Kia that come with an extra set of passenger doors and some very impressive fuel-economy numbers of their own.
The equally frugal 500 family still has some kilometres to go before reaching icon status in North America. In most cases, its youthful buyers have only minimal knowledge of the Fiat marque or the "Cinquecento" itself. From 1957-'75, the Turin, Italy-built 500 was a bare-bones-basic coupe with its engine in the rear just like the original Volkswagen Beetle. A half-century after its creation, the 500 was revived in Europe as a front-wheel-driver, configured as a hatchback with more passenger and cargo space, just like the current Beetle. The Mexico-built 500 enters its third season, tempting buyers who want to spend less on gas but still crave stylish wheels when commuting.
The base 500 hatch and Cabrio operate with a 101-horsepower 1.4-litre four-cylinder "Multi-Air" engine and standard five-speed manual transmission. For 2013, the engine has been tweaked to produce 6.4 l/100 km in the city and 4.9 on the highway using premium fuel. That's an improvement from the previous 6.7/5.1 rating and is considerably better than models equipped with the optional six-speed automatic transmission. Oh, you can use regular gas in the tank if you're stuck, but output and fuel economy will dip.
At the opposite end of the scale, the Abarth (named for Fiat tuner Carlo Abarth) comes with a turbocharged version of the 1.4 that puts out 160 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque (also using premium fuel) and is exclusively equipped with a five-speed manual gearbox.
Bridging the gap between base and Abarth is the new 500 Turbo. As the name implies, its 1.4-litre engine is also turbocharged, but has been detuned to 135 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque.
That's 25 ponies less than the Abarth, but the $22,600 Turbo model also costs $3,000 less, which, at $120 per horsepower, seems fair enough.
While 135 horsepower might not seem like a lot, look at it this way: it's 35 per cent more than the base cars while torque is ahead by more than 50 per cent. Now those numbers are indeed big.
Also note that the Turbo and the Cabrio are within $1,000 of each other, allowing you to choose between top-down summer fun or extra performance for roughly the same money. Hmm, decisions, decisions.
Keep in mind that the Turbo copies the Abarth's manual-transmission-only requirement, so if you're averse to giving your left foot and right arm a workout while driving, the decision has already been made for you. For the record, the Turbo's fuel consumption numbers are 7.1 l/100 km city and 5.7 highway.
The Turbo arrives with plenty of add-ons, including a distinctive nose and rear end (similar to the Abarth's), unique bodyside trim and alloy wheels and a liftgate-mounted spoiler. Along with a standard sport-tuned exhaust, the transmission, suspension and braking system have been beefed up to better handle the added performance and help tame the dreaded torque steer (the tendency for front-wheel-drive vehicles to veer to one side under hard acceleration).
The Turbo also comes with sporty-style bucket seats and fancier trim, while climate control, voice-activated navigation system, leather-covered and heated front seats and a Beats by Dr. Dre audio package are optional.
For small-car fans with champagne tastes on a beer budget, the 500 Turbo should manage to deliver some extra kick and give Fiat fans a more stylish way to navigate from A to B.
THE SPEC SHEET
Type: Two-door, front-wheel-drive sub-compact hatchback
Engine: 1.4-litre DOHC I4, turbocharged, 135 hp
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Points: One of the least expensive turbo-charged models you can buy; Mild turbo version shores up underperforming base engine; Interior still a comfy spot for front passengers despite diminutive size; Abarth costs $3,000 more for those seeking additional performance, but the Turbo's $6,000 premium over the base cars seems a bit wide.
Safety: Front airbags; side-impact airbags; side-curtain airbags; driver's knee airbag; anti-lock brakes; traction control; stability control.
L/100 km (city/hwy) 7.1/5.7 Base price (incl. destination): $22,600
Wheelbasemedia.com
