2016 Fiat 500 1.2 Lounge Goes for a Drive - Modern Mondays 

Say all you want about the "new" 500 but everybody who owns one and drives one on the daily, they'll love their car. I know a few people who own them and each one absolutely loves their car and treats it accordingly. The general public may not like it but all of the buyers of these cars will adore them.

I love retro cars! Modern design with an old school flavor! 🚙

Really enjoyed this video. I'm a mum in her 40s, my 17 year old daughter has just passed her test and we purchased her a Ford fiesta. I have a large 4x4 and now it's just my 10 year old and I, I decided I wanted a small car for around town. I have cancer and naturally I have good and not so good days and the 4x4 was getting too much for me and I can no longer drive too far so I went small car shopping today and have bought a late 2019 500 lounge with 9500 miles on it. Took it for a test drive and I loved it. I have lots of spinal issues and I found the higher up right sitting perfect and it has good lumber support. Tbh the back seats are useless unless you have little ones.... But as it is only my son and I, it's perfect, plus we have my partner's large car when we need something bigger. I can't wait to collect the car and drive it properly. I did manage to get to 70mph on the country rds on my test drive and you wouldn't have guessed it was that speed. Yes I know it is aimed at a younger demographic but hey us 40 plus ladies want fun too 😂

My 500 Lounge is red with the black interior instead of the cream. I’ve had a few small city cars and this is the best I’ve owned and driven. I actually find it really easy to be let out of junctions so plenty of folk must think they’re cute!

So many people hate on these cars saying it’s a only a teenage girls car. Whilst they may have a point I think it still looks good after nearly 15 years, a rare achievement in this day and age. As well as having real character which many modern cars lack as well as being a future classic.

Always enjoy your reviews of newer cars. My 2017 Abarth obviously has alot of similarities. I took a while to get used to the driving position I must admit. Initially kind of felt like I was sitting on the car not in it. One of the best things is the gear shift. Having it so close to hand in a fast little car is great fun!

Hi Matt,thanks for the drive in the Fiat 500 Lounge,I had a Ford KA and they ain't too bad,things have improved since then,a 5 star in a 500 is good,this one has all the toys inside so makes it more desirable.

Would also go for those as retro as possibly, hubcaps and so on! Like them in dark grey also, feels 50's! Always liked the Panda, nearly bought a new one in 1989-90 but felt cheap and bought a used Opel Corsa, what a downshift!

What a great design the new 500 is much prefer it to the "new" Mini and its variations much cleaner design internally glad its such a big seller world wide

Keep up the epic work Matt, loving these uploads!!

I have a Cinquecento Sporting you could borrow if you’re looking to drive all three of the 500s 😁

Two car garage: one of these as a daily driver and a 50s 500 as a weekender

Good watch first thing in the morning! Had an 08-plate 500 Sport which was great fun and surprisingly roomy! Love the Tea Shelf win too 😂 Great video!

Again... first thing in the morning,,, still lazy and sleepy watching furiousdriving.

Fantastic in depth review.

Bought my 57 plate out of an A4 file with a list of every available 500 for sale at launch. Must've chosen well cos it's never gone wrong and the garage long gave up asking me if I fancied trading it in 😂 It's a 1.2 lounge, you're right how they've moved the specs, lounge then got climate control as standard as one example. Don't know how you banged your knee though, 12+ years I've not done it yet 😂👍

This was actually my dream car since I was a kid lol. I remember when it came out in 2007 and I saw it in newspaper ads and billboards, I instantly fell in love with it! I still want it to this day, but I'd rather have the Abarth 595 Competizione or any 595 for that matter. It would make for a good review, don't you think? 🤔

I’m having mine on Tuesday! Really looking forward to it. I’ve owned a Fiat 500 before and I loved it.

I enjoyed hearing about the history of the rapid re-design while the _bean-counters_ had panic attacks.

Very interesting background story including the all important info on the dash-update. I would also suffer from a bashed knee with the old model. What a nice automobile, love the tartan-esque seats

Very smart interior and looks good, loads around too.

Big fan of these little cars. Looking at buying one in the future.😀

I’ve had a 500C for a few years now. Firstly, I wish Renault still made the 5 but they don’t so the 500 seemed like the closest available thing on sale today. I still love it but wish the ride was softer. I’ve seen it described as “like riding on ball bearings” which seems accurate. Other than that, and the reason you see so many around, is that it’s fundamentally a good, reliable, practical (ish), cheap to run little car with a bit of design flair. That appeals to a very wide range of people.

17:06 The more recent post-2016 twinair engines have a 6-speed manual and if I'm not remembering wrong the main reason the 1.2 doesn't have one is that the 6-speed box simply doesn't fit because of how small the car is, whereas the twinair engine takes up less space so they could fit one for 500's with twinairs.

liking the drone/aerial shot of the car - nicely done !

Actually can't wait to watch the Fiat Dino but I returned to this video this morning because my daughter bought a 2019 Fiat 500S 1200 cc yesterday. It is absolutely gorgeous. Just like the MINI, the 500 just makes you smile ☺. Our MINI, named Amber by my wife, is always referred to as the Wee Happy Car. Now she has a cute little 🇮🇹 Italian cousin. Ok, Dino time!

I test drove both the 1.2 and TwinAir as new cars pre-facelift. The 1.2 was typically Italian (compared with the VW Up I tried at the same time) but was nowhere near as fast as the TwinAir. The hilarious raucous noise it made instantly sold it to me. 50,000 miles at an average 53mpg. It was a bit laggy but great fun and if you put it in Eco you got the very light steering and the engine was smoothed out so you could chuff along sounding like a London to Brighton veteran. Shame the handling wasn't so good.

Great video, if that model year is like my older Abarth 500 Esseesse (2011) the speed limit 'bong' is just a setting in the menu. No high-tech recognition. I don't use it but have HereWeGo nav app running on the phone which has map-based limit reminders. With the Abarth you need it!

I absolutely love my Fiat, so retro and stylish - bit like myself! I work in healthcare management and this car gets me from one hospital to the next with ease, perfect for parking in tight spots in the city, great on fuel. However, I do feel it is a magnate for those 'sporty' car driver types, mostly Audi and BMW owners, they seem to feel the need to boost their ego by driving aggressively, and usually overtaking, even though I am on the nose with the speed limit - they just cannot resist over taking and speeding off. Anyhoo, I don't drive my ego, just a cute little stylish car that I adore. Good video, and very positive about this lil car (way too many car snobs out there) - very comprehensive, thanks.

This, and the Abarth version and the Fiesta ST are the only car choices I’d buy new now. Love the Fiat 500, for a modern car it’s very good looking. Great review Matt👍

Great review. Love your channel I think we need a review on a few different types of Citroen C3!

"Not a car for dog owners" had me laughing. I had the Twinair version with 2 dogs. And yes, it was a tight squeeze with all of us in the car lol

Watching this has cemented my decision in buyin a 500 lounge now. Thank you for this. Im hoping to get the same colour and same year model. Hopefully after xmas.

Absolutely delicious review thank you

I have the 2018 fiat 500 mint green lounge automatic which I hear are pretty rare these days. I absolutely love it, it just makes me smile, handles well, love the apple car play feature and sunroof. I can’t understand why they won’t make the automatic’s anymore 🤷‍♀️

With the most recent refresh they have now officially introduced to UK and European markets the 500e. Before it was purely a compliance car for some states in the US. Some were exported to European markets but not many. The compliance cars didn't even have a rapid charging facility so re charging on a long trip could get rather tedious. Something they have now resolved. It will be interesting to see what comes next with the PSA merger from next year.

I'm going to buy one of these this afternoon. A turquoise blue one. Can't wait!

Superb review

Interesting what you've said about this being the saviour car for Fiat. I remember reading some financial magazine in 2005 - I was lured by the car badges on the cover - that said 2005/6 would be make or break for both Fiat and Rover. Sadly one broke but by golly did the 500 save the other. Such a great reimagination.

Bought one a week ago. Automatic 1.2 Lounge 2016. 69HP :):):). Ordered 17 inch rims. It will be interesting to see just about how bad that will be for driving in roads with not perfect asphalt.. But I am sure they will look awesome. Car is black and rims are black with some kind of read thin circular border outlining the rim. Had an VW Arteon 240HP Diesel that I just sold....

Lovely Jubbly, still a very cute little car.

As much as I'm behaving like an old man ragging on about how ugly commuting is now with all these modern cars on the road, I wouldn't even half mind it if all cars were like this. Still wouldn't want to drive one, far too gimmicky for me, but something about the color and small chrome detail just makes it pleasant to look at.

Liking the camera work!

Wait a minute! You're the chap who advertises Diamondbrite products! Well, I have a Fiat 500 with a Diamondbrite Ceramic coating! I'm pleased with the car and the coating.

It's pretty interesting to see the Euro versions have a "city button" my 500 Lounge Turbo has a "Sport" button, which seems to improve throttle response and ease turning.

Early launch today! Great for me as I can't sleep lol Peace Charlie 🇬🇧

The second button along from the driver on the dash is a magnetised mobile phone holder rather than a blanked off button

They should have made more of the Ferrari and Maserati editions. They were seriously cool, especially the Maserati trim level.

Fiat missed a trick not producing a estate version of this, as mini did with the clubman, it would have been very cute and a bit more practical

I have a 1998 Seicento & 2018 Abarth 595 Comp your more than welcome to test drive if your ever in Scotland 😁 Great review of a brilliant wee car!

Beautiful car wow

I'm in SoCal, and If I'm honest, My 2012 Fiat 500 sport is my favorite small car, and it is completely at home on an 80 mph freeway all day. I daily a '58 Minor and 68 Austin America, and had a couple of Audi Coupe GTs, and a midget. Pretty sure none of them could follow this on a twisty road, And it will almost do the alleged top speed of 122 mph (1.4 multiair). It's also great fun on the twisty mountain roads. The giant pickups with a million horsepower can never catch me, if i beat them to the first corner. I'm babbling, but I always try to figure out why sports car people don't seem to love them...

Really like the 500 and imho the best retro car so far.

Nice review. I have a Canadian-market (Mexico-built) 2015 500C Lounge, 1.4 manual (most sold in the NA market are automatic, which are just wrong for this car). Despite the naysayers opinions of FCA in general and Fiat in particular, mine has been pretty good! We have few choices of small cars in our market, and the other choices have no style, no flair, nothing interesting about them. With these being taken off the market here, I'll have to keep this one going for a long time.

Very good! Slightly biased though as my OH is on her second one of these now. Both have been the 'twin-air' version... she likes because zero road tax, I like because they sound like a load of angry wasps trapped in a bucket... honestly the 2-pot versions are way more fun than the limp 1242cc 4-banger... 4cyl may have better torque characteristics but they run out of puff very quickly, whereas the twin-airs you just keep your toe in. Disagree about the motorway stability, I think they're incredibly well-planted, and you've to be doing silly speed for it to feel wobbly. And incredibly comfortably for long-hauls for such a small car... so much so that I am planning a roadtrip for next year through france, basque country, central spain and down to Gibraltar for a bit, coming back via valencia... and thinking that it would be way more fun to take the 500 than the BMW. (Current 500 is a Convertible version too, so more suited to sunny climes). Not sure on the digital dash on the version tested here. Both of ours have had convential dials, but the analogue version is fun as the rev counter sits within the speedo, so the needles chase each other around. 6-speed is available on the 2-cylinder 105bhp version... Only negative I have of the 500 is that the gearshift is a bit clunky and lumpy... I guess it's a convaluted linkage: only direct comparison I can make is to my son's Hyundai i10 which has an absolutely delightful change (especially considering it is a cheap & cheerless city car rather than a more upmarket solution a-la the 500)

Looks like you're getting some good use from that Business Park...

Frank Stephenson, Legend. Dante Giacosa, Legend. Alec Issigonis, Legend. Rover, Legend for building the Mini long enough to inspire the MINI and BMW Legend for building it. Not only did the MINI and The Fiat 500 sell millions they provided countless livelihoods to thousands. Very positive test Matt and to link it to the 1969 500D was genius. Absolutely nothing not to like. I agree about the plain retro type wheels VW did something similar with the new Beetle face lift.

Yeah a loud horn is essential my Skoda has one tone not working so everyone is looking for a noddy car on the pavement, the first thing I did to my first car was fit an air horn a loud horn is essential especially on motorways and with people listening to i pods.

I switched years ago from manual cars to automatic, firstly because I have a worn out left knee because of all that shifting in those trucks (double clutch etc) so I started driving trucks with automatic gearboxes like the Volvo, the best there is the iShift !!! So afterwards also with the passenger cars, also because you do not have to take your hand off the steering wheel and it drives a lot more relaxed than those handboxes, it is even so nowadays that you have to pay more for a manual gearbox than for a machine (trucks). among other things)

that been a facelift and a 1.2 it must of had the retune by the dealer, when these were launched it was a big story pushed by watchdog that the 1.2 engine couldn't now climb hills and struggled at motorway speeds, even though before facelift the 1.2 was fine It turned out that fiat not having the twin air engine ready yet just retuned the 1.2 to meet euro 6 emissions and now it was proper gutless, so much so many Fiat dealers were offering the 1.4 for the price of a 1.2 After many weeks of the story circulating and Ben Collins (the stig) going on watchdog failing to be able to drive a 1.2 fiat 500 up a hill eventually Fiat crumbled and said all 1.2 models would now get a dealer retune which was dealers basically putting the ECU back to a post facelift car to gain its performance back

Ford Ka or Fiat 500?? Would take the 500 any day. Cracking review Matt, nice to see a comparison between the original 500 and the new version.

nice intro!

Lunchtime viewing sorted

I love the color, and when this 500 was introduced to the US 🇺🇸 after 25+ year absence, I loved the size! We in this country have the 1.4 MultiAir, naturally aspirated or turbo, and of course, the Abarth! The head unit is out of the Chrysler bin, made for FIAT. The sound system, when first sold, was a special Bose speaker system, then switch to beats audio, now owned by Apple 🍏. I am of the Android user, a Sony Xperia™, and the ports in front of the cup holders are for audio inputs. It is unfortunate that this FIAT is no longer popular, that sales have fallen off dramatically. The reason is poor quality, something FIAT, after all these years, has not overcome, and extremely poor customer service experience. First year US production produced a Gucci edition, of which I loved. A friend had the Gucci edition, she loved it, and was always caught speeding! Brilliant video Matt!

Nice Spaceballs reference! 5:46

The TwinAir is discontinued, they now have the 3 cilinder unit with mild hybrid support. Great little cars! Will you also be doing an Abarth in the future? 😁

Not watched the full vid yet but the facelift had fairly big interior changes too. The sad face steering wheel was replaced with sobering a bit more three spokey, the terrible original instrument binnacle was replaced, HVAC controls revised. All in all it made a disastrous interior a little better than adequate. Always feel like you're sat on it rather than in it, sadly. I keep nearly considering an Abarth then driving one and remembering now compromised it is.

My mum's got one about the same age as this, that I sometimes drive. Looks pretty inside and out, but lacks power and seems a bit noisy. It struggles on hills. A bit claustrophobic inside if you are a big guy like me. So, not a fan myself, but my 88 year old mum loves it, tho' she mainly uses it just to pop down to Waitrose and says it's easy to park..

the speed bong is set to user choice not by the car. The Airbag is turned off in a menu thats a light not a button. digtal speedo is option on most models, although a few did have its standard.

My mum has a 13 plate (pre-facelift) one of these in Tech House Grey. It's not too bad to drive, certainly not unpleasant, and it handles quite nicely. It got a lot nicer to drive after I got used to its drive-by-wire throttle, which makes rev-matching quite difficult as you have to convince the ECU that you actually want to open the throttle. It handles decently in my opinion, although the steering is very light and to be honest I prefer the 53 Ka I used to have. I do think the 500 looks ugly though, its face reminds me of a pug. Also, I'm surprised you found the back seat headroom to be ok, I don't know if they changed it for the facelift but I'm an inch shorter than you and can barely squeeze into the back of the 500 with my head against the ceiling. It's certainly not a car I'd buy, and not one I'm overly happy to be seen in, but not terrible.

Totally agree with your comments at the start of the video Matt. The 'new' 500 and Mini are great little cars. But, personally, I think some of the variants are a step too far and dilute the concept. Indeed some are quite ugly, although popular. So what do I know! Many thanks, great review.

Reading through the comments I noticed a brief mention of the 4x4 Panda , see if you can get hold of a mk1 Panda version for a video, my wife used to have a 750 Panda, a cracking little runabout, I’d always fancied the four wheel drive version. A few years back they got hold of one on Wheeler Dealers, the little thing would go anywhere off road. Glad to see the cabriolet moving forward . ( I’ll admit I was one of the commentators who said you were crackers but it is actually coming on.)

Hoping for a c1, Aygo drive soon, esp a MK2 to get your opinion

Much nicer than my banjaxed 2013 Sport.... beginning to wonder if it thinks it’s Layland at heart

Nice colour

I have the exact year and model you test , mine is in yellow

I admire Fiat for this, they tried to appeal to a massive market with this car, and it worked. 595 on my get list.

Always liked the look of these. There’s a couple in the Family. The 1.2 was just to underpowered. Couple of adults and a child and you had to avoid banks

Lol good space balls reference!

I wish that Fiat had taken the hint from the early new Mini Clubman, and reinvented the Fiat 500 Giardiniera. I would love one.

Felt like 20 minutes of the rear wheel going along the road 😂

Pretty cool little thingy. Bit to stylised for me maybe. Shame there isn't an Abarth Panda, that would be really nice. I s'pose it would have to be a Fiat Grizzly, Pandas are a bit too cuddly to be Abarth compliant.

Great car we love them here in America USA

Had a yellow diesel sport and loved it, but the exterior door handles do like to come off in your hands (not just on mine either, but a known fault) and the dpfs on the diesels have to be watched carefully as they clog up VERY easily which means its impractical for city driving. Unfortunate for a city car.

You mentioned Mini and Honda Civic but omitted to mention it is actually a rebodied Fiat Panda !

Do all new fiat 500 lounges come with a digital speedometer? I saw another car tour where their lounge had the screen in the centre, but their speedometer was an ordinary dial... I am looking at buying a fiat 500 but I would really like the digital speedometer rather than a dial? x

You need to try the fiat 500 Abarth it goes like its got a rocket for an engine.

I LOVE THIS CAR IN GRAY MY FAVOURITE ,

It's a 500, lapdogs don't go in the boot. Always thought it a decent little car under all the retro facade, I'll take a Panda 4x4 and go green laning for about 50p.

Are you going to test the 1972 Ford F-100 Ranger parked next to the FIAT?

The only problem I have with all these retro people's car turned modern upmarket reboot is that they miss the point of the original. They forget that all those design bits are the result of constraints, they were designed to be cheap. The sun roof on the original was there because canvas was cheaper that metal. It was tiny again to keep the costs down. When I look at a 500 I can't help thinking that the more fitting inheritor to the concept is the panda, it's cheaper, it's objectively better, it's cheap to run, you can fit a push chair in the boot, no it doesn't hark back to a bygone age but it's fitting the same design brief as the original 500.

No ashtray! where does one put ones boiled sweet wrapper apart from a door pocket or the floor. That eccentric steering wheel would drive me nuts.

Little on the outside,big on the inside great looking car but i think its a city car for the girls!!!!!! STAY SAFE🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧👍👍👍👍👍👍☕☕☕☕☕☕☕☕

Love these fiat's and the mini. Both great modern cars in a very ugly fat new car world.

Sadly it’s just about the only modern FIAT worth bothering with......which is a shame - it was always one of my favourite car brands. Had a go in a cabrio - an absolute hoot of a car!

There was a Fiat 500 involved in a car chase in Spectre - but Bond wasn't driving it.

Frank Stephenson has his own RU-vid channel where he shows how he designed cars.

Now I want to watch Spaceballs.

The American 500 has more insulation than its European counterpart, making them the more quieter of the two.

The 500 HAS appeared in a Bond film..!