Fiat 500 boot space, practicality and safety
- Unusually lofty driving position
- Compact body means cramped rear seats
- Boot is small but well-shaped
How much space is there?
The Fiat 500 isn’t a family car. But while rear seat space is compact and the boot is small – which means it’ll struggle to transport young children an all their accompanying detritus, especially if you’re asking it to carry some shopping or luggage at the same time – you can get adults in the back, which for a car this small is remarkable. And, if you do need to use it to transport infants, there are at least Isofix points in the back as well.
Head and leg room up front are acceptable but, the 500’s seats are mounted quite high. This is popular with shorter drivers, as it gives you a surprisingly commanding view of the road ahead, which can promote a feeling of safety. But if you’re much over six feet tall you may have the converse issue of having to duck slightly to see a decent way ahead.
Boot space and storage
The 500 has a 185-litre boot, which is 66 litres less than you get in a Volkswagen Up. And 70 litres smaller than the Kia Picanto. In other words, it’s tiny. While not impossible to find a folding pushchair small enough to fit, you will have to go looking very carefully. And probably won’t be able to put much else in the boot at the same time.
There’s not much cabin storage, either. The door bins are quite narrow, the cupholders small and shallow (which risks drinks tipping over) and there isn’t anywhere safe to store your phone, which is a problem when you’re using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
You’ll end up either leaving your phone on the passenger seat or, if someone’s sitting there, they’ll need to hold it for you or be careful not to tread on it as it rattles around in the footwell. That’s not ideal if you’ve just spent £1,000 on the latest handset.
Is it easy to park?
Very. It’s one of the smallest cars on UK roads, so you shouldn’t have a problem zipping it around tight multistorey carparks or cramped city streets. It only measures 3,571mm long and 1,893mm wide – and, if you opt for the most expensive trim level, you get rear parking sensors as standard.
Rival city cars like the Kia Picanto and Toyota Aygo X are available with reversing cameras. You can’t have this tech on the 500, but we think you don’t really need it. The 500 has large windows, flat sides and short overhangs, which makes it easy to judge where the corners are when parking.
That tall driving position pays dividends when manoeuvring at low speeds around town. Because you’re sitting up high looking down on the road, you can easily spot and avoid potholes. You’re almost at eye-level with cyclists, too, which makes it easier to interact with them.
Safety
- Three-star Euro NCAP safety rating
- No autonomous emergency braking
- But all feature seven standard airbags
When it was first crash tested in 2007, the Fiat 500 achieved a five-star safety rating. But Euro NCAP has tightened up its regulations since then and, when the car was re-tested in 2017, it left the firm’s facility with a three-star safety rating.
This is primarily because the 500 does without a lot of the safety technology expected of modern city cars. For example, it doesn’t have autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist or adaptive cruise control – all of which are fitted as standard to the Toyota Aygo X.
As a result, the 500 is a little more expensive to insure than it should be for a car of its size and power. It does feature seven airbags as standard, including curtain airbags and a knee airbag for the driver. However, Euro NCAP found that, in the 500’s frontal full-width crash test, the head of its driver dummy exceeded the critical limit for deceleration. That means, if the dummy was a human, the crash would have caused serious injury.
Watch: Fiat 500 Euro NCAP crash test
Euro NCAP rating
What is Euro NCAP? ⓘ | |
---|---|
Adult Occupant: | 66% |
Child Occupant: | 49% |
Vulnerable Road User: | 53% |
Safety Assist: | 27% |
Equipment and options
- Body coloured bumpers
- Driver`s airbag
- Front electric windows
- PAS
- Passenger`s airbag
- Remote locking
- Side airbags
- Air conditioning
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Cruise control
- Front fog lights
- Audio remote
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- CD
- Cloth seat trim
- Heated mirrors
- ABS
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Traction control
- n/a
- Alloy wheels
- Air conditioning
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Cruise control
- Front fog lights
- Audio remote
- Folding rear seats
- Partial leather seat trim
- CD
- Parking sensors
- ABS
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Traction control
- Electric mirrors
- Space saver spare wheel
- Leather seat trim
- 3x3 point rear seat belts
- Cloth seat trim
- Heated mirrors
- Climate control
- Alloy wheels
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Cruise control
- Front fog lights
- Audio remote
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Parking sensors
- Cloth seat trim
- Heated mirrors
- ABS
- Climate control
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Traction control
- Air conditioning
- Space saver spare wheel
- CD
- Leather seat trim
- 3x3 point rear seat belts
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Space saver spare wheel
- CD
- Cloth seat trim
- ABS
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Alloy wheels
- Air conditioning
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Front fog lights
- Audio remote
- Sports seats
- CD Multichanger
- Heated mirrors
- Steel wheels
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Traction control
- Alloy wheels
- Air conditioning
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Front fog lights
- Sports seats
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Space saver spare wheel
- CD
- Cloth seat trim
- Heated mirrors
- ABS
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Cruise control
- Audio remote
- CD Multichanger
- Sat Nav
- Parking sensors
- Steel wheels
- Climate control
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Traction control
- Air conditioning
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Front fog lights
- Sports seats
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Space saver spare wheel
- CD
- Cloth seat trim
- ABS
- Metallic Paint
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Alloy wheels
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Cruise control
- Audio remote
- CD Multichanger
- Sat Nav
- Parking sensors
- Heated mirrors
- Steel wheels
- Climate control
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Traction control
- Alloy wheels
- Air conditioning
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Audio remote
- Folding rear seats
- Space saver spare wheel
- Partial leather seat trim
- CD
- ABS
- Climate control
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- n/a
- Alloy wheels
- Air conditioning
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Cruise control
- Front fog lights
- Audio remote
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Partial leather seat trim
- Sat Nav
- Parking sensors
- ABS
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Traction control
- Climate control
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Alloy wheels
- Air conditioning
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Cruise control
- Front fog lights
- Audio remote
- Sports seats
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Partial leather seat trim
- Sat Nav
- Parking sensors
- ABS
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Traction control
- Climate control
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Alloy wheels
- Air conditioning
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Cruise control
- Front fog lights
- Audio remote
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- CD
- Parking sensors
- Cloth seat trim
- Heated mirrors
- ABS
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Traction control
- Space saver spare wheel
- Leather seat trim
- 3x3 point rear seat belts
- Climate control
- Alloy wheels
- Air conditioning
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Cruise control
- Front fog lights
- Audio remote
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Partial leather seat trim
- CD
- Parking sensors
- ABS
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Space saver spare wheel
- Leather seat trim
- 3x3 point rear seat belts
- Cloth seat trim
- Heated mirrors
- Climate control
- Traction control
- Air conditioning
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Space saver spare wheel
- CD
- Cloth seat trim
- ABS
- Steel wheels
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Traction control
- Heated mirrors
- Air conditioning
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Cruise control
- Front fog lights
- Audio remote
- Sports seats
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- CD
- Parking sensors
- Cloth seat trim
- Heated mirrors
- ABS
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Traction control
- n/a
- Alloy wheels
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Front fog lights
- Audio remote
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Space saver spare wheel
- CD
- Parking sensors
- Leather seat trim
- Heated mirrors
- Climate control
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Traction control
- ABS
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Cruise control
- Front fog lights
- Audio remote
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Parking sensors
- ABS
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Traction control
- Alloy wheels
- Air conditioning
- Partial leather seat trim
- Sat Nav
- CD
- Leather seat trim
- Cloth seat trim
- Climate control
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Alloy wheels
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Cruise control
- Front fog lights
- Audio remote
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Partial leather seat trim
- Sat Nav
- Parking sensors
- Cloth seat trim
- Heated mirrors
- ABS
- Climate control
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Traction control
- n/a
- Alloy wheels
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Audio remote
- Sports seats
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Space saver spare wheel
- CD
- Leather seat trim
- Heated mirrors
- ABS
- Service indicator
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Traction control
- Air conditioning
- Climate control
- Air conditioning
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Cruise control
- Front fog lights
- Audio remote
- Folding rear seats
- CD
- Parking sensors
- Cloth seat trim
- Heated mirrors
- ABS
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Traction control
- n/a
- Alloy wheels
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Cruise control
- Front fog lights
- Audio remote
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Partial leather seat trim
- Sat Nav
- Parking sensors
- ABS
- Climate control
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Traction control
- n/a
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Audio remote
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- ABS
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Alloy wheels
- Air conditioning
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Cruise control
- Front fog lights
- Space saver spare wheel
- CD
- Parking sensors
- Leather seat trim
- 3x3 point rear seat belts
- Cloth seat trim
- Heated mirrors
- Climate control
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Traction control
- Alloy wheels
- Air conditioning
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Front fog lights
- Audio remote
- Sports seats
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Space saver spare wheel
- CD
- Cloth seat trim
- Heated mirrors
- ABS
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Cruise control
- CD Multichanger
- Sat Nav
- Parking sensors
- Steel wheels
- Climate control
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Traction control
- Air conditioning
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Audio remote
- Electric mirrors
- CD
- 3x3 point rear seat belts
- Cloth seat trim
- Heated mirrors
- ABS
- Steel wheels
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Traction control
- Alloy wheels
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Folding rear seats
- Space saver spare wheel
- Alloy wheels
- Air conditioning
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Cruise control
- Front fog lights
- Audio remote
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- CD
- Parking sensors
- Cloth seat trim
- Heated mirrors
- ABS
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Traction control
- Space saver spare wheel
- Leather seat trim
- 3x3 point rear seat belts
- Climate control
- Air conditioning
- Electric sunroof
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Audio remote
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Space saver spare wheel
- CD
- Cloth seat trim
- ABS
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- n/a
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Cloth seat trim
- ABS
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Alloy wheels
- Air conditioning
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Front fog lights
- Audio remote
- Sports seats
- Space saver spare wheel
- CD Multichanger
- CD
- Heated mirrors
- Steel wheels
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Traction control
- Alloy wheels
- Air conditioning
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Space saver spare wheel
- Cloth seat trim
- Heated mirrors
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Traction control
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Audio remote
- CD
- 3x3 point rear seat belts
- ABS
- Air conditioning
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Cruise control
- Front fog lights
- Audio remote
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- CD
- Cloth seat trim
- Heated mirrors
- ABS
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Traction control
- Alloy wheels
- Partial leather seat trim
- Sat Nav
- Parking sensors
- Leather seat trim
- Metallic Paint
- Climate control
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Alloy wheels
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Cruise control
- Front fog lights
- Audio remote
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- CD
- Parking sensors
- Leather seat trim
- 3x3 point rear seat belts
- Heated mirrors
- ABS
- Climate control
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Traction control
- Air conditioning
- Sports seats
- Space saver spare wheel
- CD Multichanger
- Cloth seat trim
- Steel wheels
- Alloy wheels
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Cruise control
- Front fog lights
- Audio remote
- Sports seats
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Partial leather seat trim
- Sat Nav
- Parking sensors
- ABS
- Climate control
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Traction control
- n/a
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Front fog lights
- Audio remote
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Space saver spare wheel
- CD
- Leather seat trim
- Heated mirrors
- ABS
- Metallic Paint
- Climate control
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Traction control
- Alloy wheels
- Air conditioning
- Cruise control
- Parking sensors
- 3x3 point rear seat belts
- Cloth seat trim
- Alloy wheels
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Front fog lights
- Audio remote
- Sports seats
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- CD
- Parking sensors
- Cloth seat trim
- Heated mirrors
- ABS
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Traction control
- Air conditioning
- Cruise control
- Space saver spare wheel
- Partial leather seat trim
- 3x3 point rear seat belts
- Service indicator
- Climate control
- Alloy wheels
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Front fog lights
- Sports seats
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Cloth seat trim
- ABS
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Air conditioning
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Cruise control
- Audio remote
- Space saver spare wheel
- Sat Nav
- CD
- Parking sensors
- Heated mirrors
- Climate control
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Traction control
- Alloy wheels
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Cruise control
- Front fog lights
- Audio remote
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Sat Nav
- Parking sensors
- ABS
- Climate control
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Traction control
- Partial leather seat trim
- Leather seat trim
- Air conditioning
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Audio remote
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Space saver spare wheel
- CD
- Cloth seat trim
- ABS
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Electric passenger`s seat
- n/a
- Air conditioning
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Front fog lights
- Audio remote
- Sports seats
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Space saver spare wheel
- CD
- Heated mirrors
- ABS
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- n/a
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Cruise control
- Front fog lights
- Audio remote
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Sat Nav
- CD
- Parking sensors
- Cloth seat trim
- Heated mirrors
- ABS
- Climate control
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Traction control
- n/a
- Alloy wheels
- Air conditioning
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Sports seats
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Space saver spare wheel
- CD
- Cloth seat trim
- ABS
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Heated mirrors
- Alloy wheels
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Audio remote
- Sports seats
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Space saver spare wheel
- CD
- Cloth seat trim
- Heated mirrors
- ABS
- Climate control
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- n/a
- Alloy wheels
- Air conditioning
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Audio remote
- Folding rear seats
- Electric mirrors
- Space saver spare wheel
- CD
- Leather seat trim
- Heated mirrors
- ABS
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Traction control
- 3x3 point rear seat belts
- Cloth seat trim
- Isofix child seat anchor points
Dimensions
Length | 3546mm - 3571mm |
---|---|
Width | 1627mm - 1893mm |
Height | 1488mm |