Vehicle crash and safety data is provided by NHTSA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA testing was established by Congress to reduce highway deaths and injuries.
Now sliding into its second year, the 2013 Fiat 500 is a small, stylish car that specializes in urban environments. It is also available as a convertible (covered separately) or a high-performance Abarth version.
Competing with other small cars like the MINI Cooper and Scion iQ, the 500 has a few new tricks up its sleeve for 2013. It debuts the 500 Turbo trim which gets a more powerful engine to go along with a sport suspension and some styling tweaks.
The 500 is most easily described as “cute” due to its stubby profile and small size. Up front are circular headlamps that flank a slim grille highlighted by the prominent FIAT logo in the center. There’s more than a little old-school VW Beetle in the 500’s design. 15-inch steel wheels are standard (15- or 16- inch aluminum wheels are available), while fog lights, a power sunroof, and a glass roof which lets in extra sunshine are all optional.
Under the hood, the Turbo adds a third engine option to the base engine and the Abarth’s high-performance engine. The base engine remains a 101-horsepower, 1.4-liter four-cylinder that is mated to a five-speed manual or automatic transmission, while Turbo models feature a 135-horsepower, turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder that is mated to a five-speed manual. Fuel economy ratings are 31 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway for 500s with the base engine, while Turbo models 28/34 mpg/highway.
The 500 Abarth is a high-performance variant that while small in stature has a big exhaust note. Power comes from a 160-horsepower, turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder that produces 170 pounds-feet of torque and is mated to a heavy-duty five-speed manual.
Inside, the 500 is just as stylish as it is on the outside. The front is dominated by a large plastic trim piece that surrounds the instrument panel and covers much of the passenger side of the dash and is colored to match the exterior of the car. There are technically four seats in the 500 but we wouldn’t recommend putting people you like in the backseat for extended trips. Standard features include remote keyless entry, cruise control, air conditioning, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB/iPod input. Automatic temperature control and a Beats By Dre audio system are optional.
Safety might be a concern for those buying a smaller car, but fear not: the Fiat 500 won an IIHS Top Safety Pick award for its performance in crash tests. Standard safety features include seven airbags, antilock brakes, electronic stability system, and active front head restraints.