Cars
The 135-horsepower 500T is no Abarth. This wasn't the car Tracy Chapman was singing about. But it's plenty swift. Horsepower is, after all, up 34% in a car which weighs just 5% more. It is indeed the 500T's weight, the wonderful lack of weight, which makes it such a worthwhile drive.
Tipping the scales at just 2477 pounds, the Fiat 500 Turbo is spectacularly maneuverable and eminently chuckable. Rather fortunately, the 500's ride never deteriorates the way you'd expect from a car with less than eight feet of wheelbase.
Fiat did more to this 500 than just up the underhood ante. There's a subtle bodykit, upgraded brakes, and the 500 Sport's suspension.
Compared with more conventional cars like the best-selling Honda Civic, Good 12-winning Kia Rio, and pricier Volkswagen Golf, the 500 is a bit of an oddball. Yet its flair is distinctly Italian. In North America, unless you can afford a Ferrari, Maserati, or Lamborghini, the 500 is the only way to find that seductive flair.
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Engine: 135 horsepower; 150 lb-ft of torque from a turbocharged 1.4L four-cylinder
Base USD/CAD Price: $19,500 / $18,495
City Fuel Economy: 28 miles per gallon
It's Not Perfect: There are rear seats in the 500T, but they're difficult for an adult to access and even more difficult for an adult to tolerate for more than a moment. Some interior parts don't measure up to the high quality of other parts. Too cute can also be too much of a bad thing. And though clearly not a guzzler, fuel economy isn't the 500's strong suit.
Sales Stats: There was one rival in view when Fiat returned to North America. Fiat's 500 is easily outselling the whole Mini brand in Canada, and in the U.S., the 500 is right in line with equivalent Minis. The turbocharged mid-range car will only generate greater Cinquecento volume.
Viable Alternatives: The Mini Cooper springs to mind.
The Bad 8
- 2013's The Good 12 - Porsche Cayenne S - $70,000-$80,000
PORSCHE CAYENNE S The Porsche Cayenne S actually has a U.S. base price below $70,000 USD, a violation of GoodCarBadCar's eligibility for this price segment. The $65,850 Cayenne S isn't the Cayenne you want, though. It seems necessary...
- 2013's The Good 12 - Mercedes-benz E350 4matic Wagon - $50,000-$60,000
MERCEDES-BENZ E350 4MATIC WAGON Wagons are a rare thing in North America these days. Mercedes-Benz's E-Class is basically without rivals. The BMW 5-Series GT isn't a wagon, and it's ridiculously ugly. The Cadillac CTS and CTS-V wagon won't...
- 2013's The Good 12 - Ford F-150 Svt Raptor - $40,000-$45,000
FORD F-150 SVT RAPTOR GoodCarBadCar was quick to honour the Ram 1500 range with a Good 12 placement, but for customers aiming to spend a little extra, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is downright irresistable. Sure, an off-road truck isn't every pickup...
- 2013's The Good 12 - Jeep Wrangler Unlimited - $25,000-$30,000
JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED Strange as it may sound, Jeep's stretched Wrangler is a pleasant place in which to spend time. A decent sound system, ample room, and moderate equipment levels are just the beginning. Visibility, paired with the Wrangler's...
- 2013's The Good 12 - Volkswagen Golf Gti - $20,000-$25,000
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI At first blush, the Volkswagen GTI has aged, a process made more evident now that it's been overshadowed by the much more powerful Ford Focus ST. Ah, but only like a fine wine. Power isn't everything, and the fact...
Cars
2013's The Good 12 - Fiat 500 Turbo - $15,000-$20,000
FIAT 500 TURBO
Remember all the times you questioned whether 101 horsepower was enough in a modern automobile? Fiat heard your concerns.The 135-horsepower 500T is no Abarth. This wasn't the car Tracy Chapman was singing about. But it's plenty swift. Horsepower is, after all, up 34% in a car which weighs just 5% more. It is indeed the 500T's weight, the wonderful lack of weight, which makes it such a worthwhile drive.Tipping the scales at just 2477 pounds, the Fiat 500 Turbo is spectacularly maneuverable and eminently chuckable. Rather fortunately, the 500's ride never deteriorates the way you'd expect from a car with less than eight feet of wheelbase.
Fiat did more to this 500 than just up the underhood ante. There's a subtle bodykit, upgraded brakes, and the 500 Sport's suspension.
Compared with more conventional cars like the best-selling Honda Civic, Good 12-winning Kia Rio, and pricier Volkswagen Golf, the 500 is a bit of an oddball. Yet its flair is distinctly Italian. In North America, unless you can afford a Ferrari, Maserati, or Lamborghini, the 500 is the only way to find that seductive flair.
-----
Engine: 135 horsepower; 150 lb-ft of torque from a turbocharged 1.4L four-cylinder
Base USD/CAD Price: $19,500 / $18,495
City Fuel Economy: 28 miles per gallon
It's Not Perfect: There are rear seats in the 500T, but they're difficult for an adult to access and even more difficult for an adult to tolerate for more than a moment. Some interior parts don't measure up to the high quality of other parts. Too cute can also be too much of a bad thing. And though clearly not a guzzler, fuel economy isn't the 500's strong suit.
Sales Stats: There was one rival in view when Fiat returned to North America. Fiat's 500 is easily outselling the whole Mini brand in Canada, and in the U.S., the 500 is right in line with equivalent Minis. The turbocharged mid-range car will only generate greater Cinquecento volume.
Viable Alternatives: The Mini Cooper springs to mind.
The Good 12
Kia Rio 5-Door - Fiat 500 Turbo - Volkswagen Golf GTI
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited - Dodge Ram - BMW 328i
Ford F-150 SVT Raptor - Chevrolet Suburban -
Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic Wagon - Porsche Boxster S -
Porsche Cayenne S - Land Rover Range Rover
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited - Dodge Ram - BMW 328i
Ford F-150 SVT Raptor - Chevrolet Suburban -
Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic Wagon - Porsche Boxster S -
Porsche Cayenne S - Land Rover Range Rover
The Bad 8
Chevrolet Spark - Chrysler 200 Convertible -
Ford Escape Titanium AWD - Honda Crosstour -
Lincoln MKS - Nissan Versa Sedan -
Toyota Corolla CE - Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid
Ford Escape Titanium AWD - Honda Crosstour -
Lincoln MKS - Nissan Versa Sedan -
Toyota Corolla CE - Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid
The Good 12 Rules
- 2013's The Good 12 - Porsche Cayenne S - $70,000-$80,000
PORSCHE CAYENNE S The Porsche Cayenne S actually has a U.S. base price below $70,000 USD, a violation of GoodCarBadCar's eligibility for this price segment. The $65,850 Cayenne S isn't the Cayenne you want, though. It seems necessary...
- 2013's The Good 12 - Mercedes-benz E350 4matic Wagon - $50,000-$60,000
MERCEDES-BENZ E350 4MATIC WAGON Wagons are a rare thing in North America these days. Mercedes-Benz's E-Class is basically without rivals. The BMW 5-Series GT isn't a wagon, and it's ridiculously ugly. The Cadillac CTS and CTS-V wagon won't...
- 2013's The Good 12 - Ford F-150 Svt Raptor - $40,000-$45,000
FORD F-150 SVT RAPTOR GoodCarBadCar was quick to honour the Ram 1500 range with a Good 12 placement, but for customers aiming to spend a little extra, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is downright irresistable. Sure, an off-road truck isn't every pickup...
- 2013's The Good 12 - Jeep Wrangler Unlimited - $25,000-$30,000
JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED Strange as it may sound, Jeep's stretched Wrangler is a pleasant place in which to spend time. A decent sound system, ample room, and moderate equipment levels are just the beginning. Visibility, paired with the Wrangler's...
- 2013's The Good 12 - Volkswagen Golf Gti - $20,000-$25,000
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI At first blush, the Volkswagen GTI has aged, a process made more evident now that it's been overshadowed by the much more powerful Ford Focus ST. Ah, but only like a fine wine. Power isn't everything, and the fact...