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Which model of Fiat 500 is the best to buy for motorway journeys and city driving?

My girlfriend is very keen to purchase a Fiat 500 Lounge. She will cover 12-14,000 miles a year of which two-thirds will be motorway commuting, the rest city driving. I am not sure which engine is best to go for. The 1.2 seems adequate, the Twin-Air intriguing, fun and more powerful (albeit the dealer says often heavy on fuel), the 1.3 diesel perhaps suitable for the motorway, but I am not sure about reliability and whether the mileage will justify the £1400 price premium over five years.

Asked on 14 September 2013 by MA, Bristol

Answered by Honest John
The 1.3 Multijet is by far the most economical but has had DPF problems and I cannot say they are resolved. Real life fuel economy for the old 1.2 and the TwinAir (using Eco mode) are about the same at around 52mpg in the summer, 48mpg in the winter. If you thrash a TwinAir it's huge fun but economy drops to mid 30s.
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