Name: Fiat 500 (2026 onwards) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Fiat 500
Rating: 0.0

Fiat 500 (2026 – present) | Expert Rating

Summary

The Fiat 500 is a small three-door hatchback originally launched in 2007, echoing the beloved 1957 Fiat Cinquecento. This is the latest petrol mild-hybrid version, which Fiat calls the ‘500 Hybrid’, which arrived on sale in the UK in Summer 2026.

After retiring the former petrol-powered Fiat 500 range in 2025, Fiat decided to launch this latest petrol 500 range using the battery-powered 500 Electric’s underpinnings. “The 500 Hybrid is just as charming as its predecessors with the advantages of all the latest tech”, comments Autotrader’s Catherine Kent, adding however that the “Kia Picanto, Hyundai i10 and Toyota Aygo X offer a more rounded package.”

Amrit Kaur of Parkers praises the city car for its “well executed” design that “manages to feel timeless rather than derivative”, the car’s fun urban driving experience and argues that the car has “bags of charisma – like any 500”. That said, she adds that “the charm quickly wears a little thin because of that ancient, very mild hybrid powertrain.”

This criticism of the car’s mild-hybrid engine is very common among reviewers, with Richard Ingram of Auto Express explaining that without a turbocharger or any kind of meaningful electrical assistance, the 500 “quickly runs out of steam on faster roads.”

As of October 2026, the Fiat 500 holds a New Car Expert Rating of D with a score of 54%. Beyond the car’s rather poor collection of review scores and basic warranty cover, this overall rating is bolstered by low predicted running costs.

500 highlights

Stylish exterior looks
Fun handling and agile city driving
Competitive pricing

500 lowlights

The previous 500 hatch was just as practical
Underpowered petrol engine
Rivals are more fuel efficient

Key specifications

Body style: Small three-door hatch and cabriolet
Engines: petrol mild-hybrid
Price: From £18,995

Launched: Summer 2026
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Featured reviews

“Confined to city streets there’s plenty to recommend, but the lack of a turbocharger or any kind of meaningful electrical assistance means it quickly runs out of steam on faster roads.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 7 / 10

Read full review

Auto Express

Richard Ingram

“It’s very easy to be charmed by the 500. But strip away the cutesy timeless design and romantic setting, the Hybrid model falls short of what a supermini can really offer.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 4 / 10

Read full review

Car

Amrit Kaur

More reviews

Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The 500 Hybrid is just as charming as its predecessors with the advantages of all the latest tech. However, many of the car’s ergonomic and practicality compromises remain and while the 500 Hybrid is very easy to fall in love with, models like the Kia Picanto, Hyundai i10 and Toyota Aygo X offer a more rounded package.”
Author: Catherine Kent
Read review

Business Car

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“It is a good small car, if you can live with its limitations.”
Author: Martyn Collins
Read review

Carwow

Model reviewed: Range overview
“The new Fiat 500 Hybrid adds a petrol engine to the super-cool new 500 – but it’s not particularly efficient, very slow and won’t be any more practical.”
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 4.2 / 10
“The 500 Hybrid still packs bags of charisma – like any 500 – the design is so well executed it manages to feel timeless rather than derivative, and this little car remains fun to fling around town. It’s just that we found the charm quickly wears a little thin because of that ancient, very mild hybrid powertrain.”
Author: Amrit Kaur
Read review

RAC

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.4 / 10
“Cabin quality, in-car tech and comfort levels have taken a big step up, while the new car is also notably more refined and stable at speed. Having said that, we reckon all but die-hard petrol manual drivers who can’t charge an EV at home are better served by the much smoother and quicker 500e.”
Author: Lawrence Allan
Read review

The Telegraph

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“It’s slow, but this is a car for your daughter, for the young and the old, for the tiny streets of Florence, or Paris, or York. It’s refreshingly cheap and still good looking.”
Author: Andrew English
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

No safety rating

As of October 2026, the Fiat 500 Hybrid has not been assessed by Euro NCAP. This model shares its underpinnings with the Fiat 500 Electric, which was assessed by Euro NCAP in 2021 and awarded four-star safety credentials.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of October 2026, the Fiat 500 Hybrid has not been assessed by Green NCAP.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score
Petrol models	53 mpg	B

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	119 g/km	B

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	6	A

The Fiat 500 is an affordable car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

While not particularly impressive by modern supermini standards, the petrol mild-hybrid’s average fuel efficiency of 53mpg (the cabriolet soft-top version is slightly less fuel efficient as its heavier) is pretty competitive when compared to the market at large – on par with the pure petrol Hyundai i10.

That said, the larger petrol mild-hybrid Suzuki Swift delivered up to 64mpg in official tests, and the similarly-sized full-hybrid Toyota Aygo X Hybrid has a fuel efficiency of up to 76mpg.

On the insurance front, the 500 hatchback is one of the cheapest new cars to insure in the UK, according to Thatcham Research, with models sitting between brackets 5 and 8, while Swift models occupy between 20 and 22 on the scale.

Warranty rating

New car warranty information for the Fiat 500

Overall ratingE15%
New car warranty duration3 years
New car warranty mileage100,000 miles
Battery warranty duration0 years
Battery warranty mileage0 miles

Fiat’s new car warranty is fairly basic, and worse than a couple of rival brands in a similar price bracket as the 500. The duration is three years, with a limit of 100,000 miles.

Warranty on a used Fiat 500

If you are buying an ‘Approved Used’ Fiat 500 from an official Fiat dealership, you will get a minimum 6-month or 12-month Spoticar warranty (depending on the specific retailer and vehicle age/mileage) included.
If you are buying a used Fiat 500 from an independent dealership, any warranty offered will vary and will probably be managed by a third-party warranty company.
If you are buying a used Fiat 500 from a private seller, there are no warranty protections beyond any remaining portion of the original new car warranty.

If you’re looking to buy any used car that is approaching the end of its warranty period, a used car warranty is usually a worthwhile investment. Check out The Car Expert’s guide to the best used car warranty providers, which will probably be cheaper than a warranty sold by a dealer.

Recalls

Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Fiat 500

As of October 2026, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Fiat 500. However, recall information is updated regularly, so this may have changed.

You can check to see if your car has any outstanding recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local Fiat dealer.