Fiat

Fiat is an Italian automaker and a subsidiary of the multinational holding corporation, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Fiat vehicles were markedly popular in North America in the 1960s but the brand quickly became infamous for cheap quality builds and inferior reliability standards. Subsequently, sales plummeted and the company was forced to pull out of the USA in 1983.

After a 25-year hiatus, the Italian automaker acquired a 20% stake in the US car company Chrysler LLC, and soon thereafter, Fiat cars once again flooded the market. Amongst all of the latest models, the new Fiat 500 was the first to debut and quickly became the most popular of all Fiat models, internationally. Currently, only a handful of nameplates make up the 2021 Fiat range, a result of America’s appeal for larger SUVs and pickup trucks.

Types of Fiat Vehicles

There is only a single nameplate in the current 2021 Fiat lineup, with the rest having been discontinued in either 2019 or 2020. Below are the most recent vehicle types which the Italian marque has had on offer:

• Hatchback: The 500 line initially held the title of best-selling automobiles from the company and was also offered in convertible and Abarth form. With a small 1.4-liter turbo-four engine under the hood, two doors, and a 90.6-inch wheelbase, these compact, retro runabouts were solely purposed for inner-city driving. Their front-wheel drivetrains made them nimble in tight streets and their size made them effortless to park. Unique exterior and interior styling helped them stand out from the crowd but, unfortunately, larger SUVs and trucks inevitably pushed these icons out of the spotlight.
• Wagon: The 500L, though a highly practical MPV, was a rarity in a world of high-riding luxury cruisers. Still utilizing the diminutive 1.4L turbo-four found in the smaller ride, 160 horsepower made this bug-eyed MPV a lethargic and mundane urbanite. It did return some decent gas mileage figures, however, but its more modern rivals outclassed it in pretty much every regard. Standard features were mostly driver-centric and minimal. Because of its low-sales status, none of the US’s major safety agencies ever evaluated it for its crashworthiness. If anything, it was a relatively affordable and practical automobile.
• SUV: Filling this classification is the 500X, a stronger-engined, slightly larger, and better-looking version of its siblings. A more powerful 1.3-liter turbocharged motor imbues its all-wheel-drive system with 177 hp. But, just like its siblings, it’s still as bland as ever to commute. Its ZF-sourced nine-speed automatic transmission is part of its bore. It’s not all bad, however, being that it comes with a good selection of features as standard and with a modern and fully integrated infotainment setup in an upscale and ergonomic cabin.
• Sports Car: If cruising around the city in a scenic European drop-top is your intrigue, then the 124 Spider is right up your alley. In the regular variant, a 1.4-L turbocharged four-cylinder unit cedes outputs of up to 160 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels via either a six-speed automatic manual gearbox. It reaches 60 mph in around 6.4 seconds from off-the-line and top speed is limited to 140 mph. The more performance-purposed and exclusive Abarth variant gets four extra hp for only a slightly faster 0 to 60 mph sprint time and a higher top speed of 144 mph.

The Fiat Lineup

• 500
• 500X
• 500L
• 124 Spider

New Fiat Models and Prices

Fiat Reviews and What To Consider When Buying Fiat Cars in 2021

If you’re looking to buy a new or used car from Fiat, browse CarBuzz’s review-list located in the shopping tools tab on the website homepage. These comprehensive reviews go into detail on prices to performance specs and everything in-between. Each vehicle is also given a ranking out of ten based on the BuzzScore ratings in ten important criteria. This score, along with the comparison section and high-quality pictures, makes it easy for readers to compare different nameplates, brands, and direct competitors. All this can help prospective buyers find the best possible vehicle to meet their requirements.

Pros

• Great maneuverability due to smaller size
• Retro-styled looks are unique
• Infotainment systems are generally user-friendly
• 124 Spider offers genuine driving pleasure
• Zippy performance from turbocharged versions
• 500X has standard AWD
• Abarth variants are peppy, sporty, and nimble

Cons

• Lack of variety in brand - most Abarth variants discontinued in 2019
• Tech features aren’t dating well
• Not many standard safety features on base spec

FAQs