1.3 16v Multijet Dynamic 5dr Hatchback

Frequently install another turbo.

I would have little hesitation in recommending this car, were it more reliable.

It's at the top end of three stars for driving. Visibility is good, there is a reasonable amount of feedback, and all the controls but especially the gearstick are well positioned. A couple of other drivers have used it occasionally, and their only significant complaint was that the accelerator pedal felt floaty and imprecise. Talking of which, if you need dodgem-like steering lightness, that can be achieved by pressing the "City" button. Sadly, there's no button to stop the indicators self-cancelling partway through roundabouts. It's no Peugeot 205, but easy to drive with a bit of character when pushed. However, the driver's seat is not comfortable on long journeys, which is one thing that the Fiat 500 does much better.

It's small enough to park easily, and almost big enough to take four adults with the standard fixed rear seats. There's plenty of headroom, but not enough leg room in the back for tall people to endure a long journey. If that matters, look for the sliding rear bench option, which also gives rear head restraints. The boot is adequate for weekly shopping, or a suitcase and hand luggage. The engine takes too long to warm up for short runs, but is quite happy on a motorway for hours. When it snows, the car copes fairly well even on summer tyres.

The fuel economy is exceptional. On a thirteen mile commute through a mix of urban areas, B roads, and A roads, I average 70mpg. For occasional short runs around town it does about 60mpg. It's possible to get 80mpg on motorways, though expect 70mpg at normal cruising speeds. Insurance and tax are relatively cheap.

Dealership servicing is quite expensive. £200 for the second year oil change and basic checks, compared to £60 at an independent garage, then £600 for the third year service. The original dealership has been pricey but competent. I used another official dealership once, when the turbo first failed after two years and 15,000 miles, because the car was now undriveable and they were the nearest place capable of warranty work. They were slow to do the repairs, uncommunicative, and returned the car with coolant below the minimum level. As I later found out, they had also bodged the sump back together: when it started leaking oil, the original dealership wouldn't repair it under warranty, citing defective workmanship. Other failures under warranty were the steering rack and the springs in the driver's seat, both rectified by the original dealer without much fuss.

Turbo number two failed in the fourth year at 34,000 miles. To date, this makes the turbos slightly less durable than a set of tyres. Now out of warranty, the total repair cost for this and associated parts was about £1,300. I asked Fiat for a goodwill contribution but got nowhere.

So, in conclusion, a well designed small car, with exceptionally low fuel costs when commuting, that have more than been offset by expensive dealer servicing and large repair bills. You'll probably be happy if you get a reliable one, and there might be a better chance of this with a petrol version.

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