The Fiat 500 lineup expands with the addition of a hybrid option. Just like its battery-electric sibling, the 500 Hybrid is available in both hatchback and convertible body styles. The former also has an optional 2.5-door configuration featuring a rear hinged half door on one side of the vehicle.
Three variants are available on the Fiat 500 Hybrid. The Icon trim includes 16-inch alloy wheels, a 10.25-inch touchscreen, LED headlights, and two-tone seats in black and ivory. Rear parking sensors and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard. Slotting above the Icon trim, the La Prima variant adds 17-inch alloy wheels, a fixed glass roof on the hatchback, a two-tone steering wheel, a matte pearl dashboard finish, heated front seats, a rearview camera, a heated windshield, and automatic high beams. Meanwhile, the 500 Hybrid Torino pays tribute to Fiat’s hometown of Turin, Italy and the renaissance of the Mirafiori Plant. It features Torino badges, model-specific fabric and vinyl seats, unique 16-inch alloy wheels, and more.
Now for the not-so-good part. The 500 Hybrid barely passes as a hybrid vehicle. That’s because it uses a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine with only 65 hp and 68 lb-ft of torque. What about the battery? Only a 12-volt lithium-ion unit, meaning the 500 Hybrid likely can’t drive in all-electric mode. As a result, calling it a hybrid…doesn’t seem right because it lacks the operational profile of a true hybrid. On the bright side, the 500 Hybrid comes paired to a six-speed manual transmission, making it unique among electrified vehicles.
Power goes to the front wheels. The 500 Hybrid also hits 60 mph in 16.2 seconds for the hatchback or 17.3 seconds for the convertible. That’s really slow. At least it’s WLTP-rated at up to 53 mpg combined in the WLTP cycle.
Source: Fiat
