2019 Fiat 500

Since its release in 2007, the venerable Fiat 500 has remained a particularly popular boutique hatchback and a style icon for the Fiat brand. Steering into 2019 the two-door minicar Fiat 500 is again powered by a 1.4-liter four-cylinder MultiAir turbocharged engine outputting 135 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels via a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox. The four-passenger two-door Fiat holds the enduring classic Italian design that has made it so popular and with some mild but welcome updates inside and out recently, it retains the cute charm that has become a Fiat hallmark. Starting at an MSRP of $16,245 for the Pop base model and $19,745 for the Lounge and 1975 Retro Edition, prices have gone up from the previous years' editions as a result of the new turbo engine. Although there are many in the subcompact segment, few compete directly with the pint-sized 500, with the closest competition in the form of the larger Honda Fit. In an era where small cars are a dying breed, does the Fiat 500 have what it takes to live on?

Fiat presents the 500 with a marginally increased price for 2019 as a result of the newly added turbocharged engine. With the manual transmission, the base Pop 500 model starts off with a base MSRP of $16,245, while the midrange Lounge, as well as the 1957 Retro Edition, starts at an MSRP of $19,745. An optional six-speed automatic transmission can be selected at an extra $995. All prices are excluding tax, registration, licensing, and the $1,495 destination charge.

The Fiat 500 has never presented itself as a sporty hatchback, it has always been known as the cheeky, European-styled, cosmopolitan mobile. The perfect car for the fashionable city slicker looking to get from point A to point B in a practical-but-fun car that looks snazzy.

Even with the turbo engine, it's certainly no sporty affair. There is wheel spin experienced with a full-throttle startup, followed by a bout of turbo lag with acceleration. The steering and clutch are light, however the steering doesn't communicate road feel very well. The throttle is sluggish and demands a whole lot of revs to keep the engine from losing power.

Designed for the city streets, the 500 offers suitable handling and maneuverability for getting around tight bendy roads and high traffic areas with ease. Taking turns is slow though, as the car feels tall and top heavy around bends which gives the driver little confidence with the amount of body roll felt. The apparently sport-tuned suspension is tight and the 16-inch wheels don't do the small hatchback any favors, allowing bumps and abrasions to be felt right through the cabin making for uncomfortably rough rides. On rougher surfaces and at highway speeds there's a lot of noise intrusion and harshness, while at any speed, large bumps send the short wheelbase on what feels like a mountainous excursion.

Standard with the Fiat is a sports-mode option which unleashes the full capabilities of the turbo engine by livening throttle response, firming up the steering and optimizing engine calibrations to further improve the experience, especially useful when driving on bendy roads, but admittedly not changing the car's city-slicker demeanor all too much.

The Fiat 500 is a good-looking hatchback with its cheeky Italian style, nostalgic design and retro feel, but has elements of cheap interior materials. Its compact nature makes it exemplary for city driving, and its nimble handling is handy in maneuvering around traffic and parking easily. Unfortunately, it's those factors that lend to the 500's cramped passenger space and limited storage capacity. The Fiat 500's direct rivals offer more overall, and at more affordable prices than this boutique hatch. The four-door Honda Fit dominates the division in spaciousness and comfort, and has earned above average safety rankings for its class, but does admittedly occupy a larger vehicle segment. Staying with two-door alternatives, the Mini Cooper hardtop delivers more power than the Fiat along with the compact size advantages and agile handling. The Fiat 500 is no practical or functional performer, but if you drive alone the majority of the time and your priority is getting from spot to spot with ease and in irrefutable style, then the Fiat 500 is your best option in the category.

The base trim Fiat 500 Pop comes with a good variety of standard features but lacks in overall comfort, which is where the Lounge and Retro come into consideration. With the two midrange trims sharing mostly similar interior and exterior features, other than some visual differences, these trims should be the options to choose from. They mitigate some of the interior discomforts found in the Pop with heated front leather seats and features that the Pop only has access to via packages at additional costs, all with only a marginally higher price tag.

Making a decision here will come down to taste and aesthetics, and considering the 1957 Retro Editions styling and design focus, may place it at the top of the scoreboard in terms of looks.

The Honda Fit is top of its class in the subcompact hatchback class. It seats five occupants and comfortably so, whereas the Fiat barely seats four with its cramped rear cabin. The Honda also offers far more storage capacity with its larger trunk and magic back seats that offer a range of configurations geared towards practicality and storage. The Fiat delivers slightly more power than the Honda's 130 horsepower but is again beaten in terms of fuel economy with the Honda also leading in its class. Objectively, the Fiat may offer a fun, funky and aesthetically pleasing hatchback compared to the less-likable MPV-ish styling of the Honda. The Honda Fit is simply a superior hatchback, offering more benefits and advantages over the Fiat 500 and at a similar price.

The 2019 Mini Cooper is the chief two-door rival to the Fiat 500, also featuring retro-European styling and with availability as a hardtop or convertible. The two rivals also have disadvantages in common, particularly with the cramped back seats and limited storage space. The Mini Cooper gains a lead over the Fiat in its premium quality cabin and use of high-end materials, and in its superior driving dynamics which the 500 severely lacks in. Features and technology are also superior in the Mini Cooper offering Apple CarPlay, an 8.8-inch touchscreen, wireless device charging, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. And with a high predicted reliability score, good economy estimates and a cost price of only about $5,000 more, the Mini Cooper proves the best buy of the two.