Review Fiat 500 by Gucci – When style is more stylish

What makes Italian cars stand out from their European competition? Above all, they have charisma, spirit and, last but not least, always a perfectly tailored coat. After all, there is nothing to be surprised about. The world's best fashion designers come from Italy . And when a successful fashion brand comes together with an equally attractive car, as the stylish Fiat 500 certainly is, the result cannot be anything other than excellent.

Exterior

But even before we take a closer look at this nice vehicle with retro elements evoking its ancient predecessor, we have to say something about the connection of the fashion brand Gucci with Fiat . This special edition with the nickname Gucci was created as a celebration of the nineties of this fashion brand and offers some interesting ideas compared to the standard five hundred. Our test car was finished in a white painted body with chrome accessories, green and red stripes on the sides of the car and a black and ivory interior. Of course, the fun doesn't end there. In addition, the Fiat 500 Gucci will receive new 16-inch light-alloy wheels in body color. The chrome exterior mirrors are then a sweet cherry on the cake. And so that no one doubts the car in front of him, there is a double G or another Gucci logo, which can be found on the back of the car, on the B-pillars, as well as on the door sills and headrests. The otherwise boring seat belts are splashed with color and perfectly complement the seats and carpets.

In front of us is a compact car with a modest length slightly exceeding 3.5 meters with one side pair of doors. The overall appearance of the car leaves no one in doubt that it will be liked by the fairer sex. For girls and young ladies, it will serve as a stylish approach to the city. For ladies and other more mature women, then as a great shopping bag. However, I definitely wouldn't want to classify the Fiat 500 as a purely female car. This is because the tuning of the chassis and the overall character of the car, which gets along wonderfully with small towns, do not correspond to this.

Interior

As I mentioned in the introduction, the interior is designed in a two-tone design, where we first notice the leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel, which not only looks great, but also fits well in the hands. Behind it hides a large circular speedometer, rated up to 220 kilometers per hour. In the middle of the circular device is the on-board computer display . It took me a while to get here how and where the basic setup is done. However, data on consumption, range and distance traveled are accessible in an instant via a button located at the end of the wiper lever.

The two-tone front seats look great and are also satisfyingly comfortable. I just had to look for the ideal position behind the wheel for a while, and unfortunately I didn't get used to the relatively high seat even after a week. Therefore, people over 190 centimeters can come into contact with the roof even on the front seats, which is not quite common. The back bench then offers space for two passengers. Two ladies can fit in the back, but it's really not for any big foursome travel.

A city vehicle should be able to handle a few basic things. The first is maneuverability, which it handles perfectly with a turning radius of 9.2 meters, and the second is the ability to transport shopping. The volume of the luggage compartment is a satisfactory 185 liters. After folding the rear seats, it increases to a respectable 610 liters. So it is enough for a sumptuous dinner, but not for transporting a desk and a wardrobe. And how is the technique used?

Power unit

Under the hood of the model we tested is a four-cylinder gasoline engine with a displacement of 1.2 liters with eight-valve technology, a maximum output of 51 kW at 5,500 rpm and a torque of 102 Nm at exactly 3,000 rpm. Although these are not dazzling parameters, given the use of the car, they are quite sufficient. If you want to enjoy sharper driving, just stick to higher revs, where the Fiat 500 can use its modest 51 kW really well. After all, the performance of the power unit felt very good and the car is not afraid to accelerate even up steep hills with it thanks to its low curb weight.

Comfort behind the wheel without the need to use the left foot is enhanced by the Selespeed transmission. Its basis is a sequential gearbox, which is robotized and shifting is provided by electronics. In this gearbox we find an electronically controlled classic clutch, the hydrodynamic converter is omitted. The specialty of this transmission is that it engages itself with the intermediate gas when braking. Of course, there is also the option of fully automatic mode. I personally rarely used the automatic mode. The electronics allow the engine to rev up unnecessarily before shifting gears, which may improve dynamics, but not consumption. And since I've had a bite of consumption, I'll mention its value after almost 1,000 kilometers driven, when the on-board computer showed a very pleasant 5.1 liters per 100 kilometers, which, combined with a 35-liter tank, means a range of approximately 700 kilometers.

Drive ability

The Fiat 500 especially enjoys city traffic, where it is practically king. It has no problems with crossing longitudinal and transverse irregularities, nor with quick maneuvers between potholes and channel hatches. It's a little worse on cobblestones. The reason is primarily the more sporty chassis. This corresponds to a well-functioning rear trailed axle and effective brakes. Although there are only drums in the back.

The calm in the cabin is enhanced by aerodynamic noise at a very low value even at higher speeds, and thanks to the high-quality chassis, the car does not undulate on bumps and is very little sensitive to side winds. What the 500, on the other hand, could welcome is more communicative steering with more information being transmitted from the wheels. On the other hand, light driving fits perfectly in the city. In addition, the equipment includes the City button, after which the effect of the booster is even more enhanced. Ladies can easily fit into every nook and cranny in traffic and in crowded parking lots at shopping centers. There you have to be careful of the space around the car. The reason is the large and massive doors.

Conclusion

The Fiat car company has teamed up with the fashion brand Gucci to create a car that you definitely won't miss on the road. The power unit is more than sufficient for a city vehicle, and if anyone wants to turn the Fiat 500 into a rocket, let them get the Abarth version, which we are really looking forward to. And if I had to answer the question of whether I would buy a stylish 500, then I have to answer that I do not hesitate for a minute to have the finances for a second or third car for the family. Every car has its quirks, but the Fiat 500 overcomes them all with its style and playfulness. In short, you will never be bored behind the wheel and no drive will be ordinary.