2012 Fiat 500c Review and Test Drive
INSIDE THE FIAT 500C
The 500c comes in two trim levels, Pop and Lounge. 
Our bianco perla (pearl white) Lounge model came standard with a six-speed automatic transmission, automatic temperature control, 15” aluminum wheels, a Bose audio system, alarm, and a Bordeaux (red) softtop.
Borrowing yet another page from the Mini playbook, Fiat made over 50 accessories available at launch; these range from a variety of exterior graphics to interior lighting kits and roof racks making each driver’s Fiat a custom creation.
The Luxury Leather Package came with the Avorio (ivory) interior, which includes leather bucket seats that are heated as well as an auto-dimming rear-view mirror. The interior itself is surprisingly spacious for a car this size (and that’s with the top up). With the top down, the sky’s the limit of course.
I found the gauges easy to read. In the center is a digital display for engine temperature, fuel level, date, time, and temperature. 
Surrounding the display is the tachometer and surrounding that gauge is the speedometer. This may sound as if it could be confusing, but it isn’t. Fiat’s gauges are a model of clarity.
Small touches abound. There are four cupholders (even though it’s unlikely you’ll have four people in the car), there’s a small netted storage area on the tunnel,
Of course, the 500c comes with Fiat’s vaunted Blue & Me system that allows the driver to place and receive phone calls and play music using voice commands and is – in my opinion – one of the better interfaces on the market for Bluetooth connectivity.
Fiat hopes to sell 50,000 Cinquecentos in the U.S. and, while this number may be optimistic, it’s clear that the combination of a low price, ultra-cute design, good handling, and unique options will entice many buyers who might otherwise buy something that is just plain boring.
| 2012 Fiat 500c | |
| Base price/price-as-tested | $23,500/$25,750 |
| Drivetrain | Front engine, front-wheel drive |
| Engine | 1.4-liter I-4 |
| HP/Torque | 101/98 |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic |
| Curb weight (lbs) | 2,486 |
| Wheelbase (inches) | 90.6 |
| Length x width x height (inches) | 139.6 x 64.1 x 59.8 |
| 0-60 mph (seconds) | 9.6 |
| City/Highway fuel economy (mpg) | 27/32 – 30/38 with 5-speed manual |
THE FIAT 500C
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[...] 500c gets 71 mpg in diesel guise I just came across a review of the new Fiat 500c (petrol) and looked up the specs for the diesel version. It uses 3.3 l/100 km (71 mpg) in highway [...]