Remember the first-generation comeback of the Fiat 500? Launched in the UK back in 2007, it was a consistent best-seller and spawned Convertible and sporty Abarth versions. It certainly had staying power, as it lasted until 2025, with a minor facelift, until tightening emissions regulations forced Fiat to halt production.

Its replacement, the all-electric Fiat 500e, was sold alongside the original mild-hybrid ICE car from 2021. However, a stagnation in EV sales meant that Fiat needed a quick solution to halt sliding sales. As a result, the Italians have reverse-engineered the 500e in just 20 months so it can be fitted with a hybrid ICE engine. This 500 Hybrid is the result.

Design and technology

Outside, the new 500 Hybrid is almost identical to the five-year-old 500e design, which, although all-new, looks like an evolution of the 20-year-old original styling.

Key changes over the 500e are the new small lower grille slot below the chrome detailing at the front, new colours such as Yellow Gold (as seen in the pictures), plus a small ‘Hybrid’ badge on the back. Modern design features such as the solenoid door handles, and the fact that you can’t even see the pea-shooter-sized exhaust, help keep this design and feel current.

The Fiat 500 Hybrid is fitted with a comprehensive suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), as you’d expect. Key features include parking assistance with rear sensors (including front sensors and a rear-view camera on the range-topping and most popular La Prima trim), as well as assisted driving features such as cruise control, a speed limiter, Active Safety Brake and Lane Keeping Assist.

La Prima models also include Level 2 autonomous driving as standard, with the front-facing camera monitoring technology checking all areas of the car, while the intelligent adaptive cruise control system brakes or accelerates in response to the actions of other road users.

Inside, the most obvious change over the 500e’s interior is the gearstick sprouting from the centre of the Fiat’s horizontally styled dashboard. The push-button doors, mixture of finishes and colour-coded elements make the 500 Hybrid’s interior feel a lot more special than it is.

Still, this Fiat feels solid and well-made, with plenty of stowage in the floating centre console and underneath.

The driving position is tall, while the seats are well-padded and trimmed in faux leather. The front pillars are reasonably thin, giving decent forward visibility. However, the thicker rear pillars and small rear screen mean the rear camera fitted to the range-topping La Prima is useful when reversing. Another driving position concern is the lack of pedal space in the front footwell, which adds to the feeling of being shifted to the right.

There is a 7in driver’s screen, but it’s the thankfully basic 10.25in infotainment screen that controls many of the 500’s functions. Thankfully, because it’s an older design, there is still a bank of switches controlling some functions below the screen.

Just like the 500e, space is tight for two adults in the front, while the back seats are best left for small children. And although it offers just 185 litres, the small boot is surprisingly practical in use.

Drive and performance

The 500 Hybrid is powered by the Panda’s 1.0-litre, three-cylinder mild-hybrid engine. It surprises, as it’s not turbocharged and is mated to a six-speed manual rather than an automatic transmission.

Called the ‘Firefly’, it has just 64hp, 92Nm of torque and, as you’d expect, a rather pedestrian 0-62mph time of 16.2 seconds, or 17.3 seconds if you choose the Convertible version.

The 500 Hybrid might be slow, but it feels sprightly off the mark, with the standard, slick six-speed manual transmission helping here. The UK launch was in an out-of-town location, and a combination of the performance, the fact that our test car had less than 200 miles on the clock and the super-light steering resulted in a small car that felt out of its depth on country roads.

Our La Prima-spec test car was fitted with the biggest 17in alloy wheels, although the ride remains impressively composed. However, the imprecise steering and body roll in corners spoil the fun.

With rivals such as Hyundai’s i10 exiting the market, there could be a real opportunity for the 500 Hybrid as a job-need fleet vehicle. The Fiat is one of the most frugal, affordable and characterful ICE-powered cars available – as long as you can live with its limitations

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Positive: Characterful exterior and interior styling, slick manual transmission, well-equipped in La Prima form.

Negative: Performance is limited out of town, upright driving position won’t suit all, tight rear space.

Standard equipment: 16in alloy wheels, full LED headlamps, bi-colour monogram fabric seats in black and ivory, body coloured dashboard, 10.25in touchscreen, soft-touch black steering wheels, automatic air conditioning, wireless Apple Carplay/Android Auto, rear parking sensors.

Fiat 500 1.0 Hybrid La Prima 65hp