The supersized Fiat 500

The Fiat 500L has been created for fans of the 500’s quirky character, but who need more space and practicality than the current two-door version gives.

But can the model grow 
in size and still keep its iconic personality? Angela Pisanu finds out

Devotees of the Fiat 500 may have recoiled in horror at the thought of such an iconic car – famed for being small, fun and cheeky – being meddled with to create a larger, five-door version. Surely growing in size would make it lose everything that defines it? But it worked for the Mini and its supersized Countryman, so maybe it could work for the 500.
    
The 500L was created as an answer for those who like the 500 but need more space and practicality. They’ve done this by making it taller and longer, giving it rear doors, and making the interior space flexible. The boot has 400-litres of space, but by folding and ‘tumbling’ the seats forward, which is easy to do, you can increase the boot size to accommodate objects as long as 2.4m lying flat. The boot also has a shelf that allows it to be split into sections.

Fiat say it “incorporates the spirit and attitude of the 500.” Looks wise, it does have bundles of personality, but in my opinion, it is quite far removed from the classic bubble shape and is altogether ‘boxier’. But it does retain some quirky 500 features like the rounded headlights and retro interior features, and altogether, is a lot more fun and charasmatic than your average mini-MPV.

1.6-litre MultiJet 2
I spent a lot of time in the car, driving around France and Belgium, and I found it very comfortable, both in terms of seats and driving position, and because it did a good job of absorbing bumps and cutting out round noise.
    
The 1.6-litre MultiJet 2 turbodiesel was energetic and responsive, with enough power to nip in and out of eratic French traffic. It can do 0-62mph in 11.3 seconds and has a top speed of 112mph. On paper it claims to do 62.8mpg combined; I however achieved 55mpg on a 364-mile round trip from Essex to Bruges in Belgium. Carbon wise, it emits 117g/km, putting it in VED band C.
    
On the subject of emissions, the 500L has a function called eco:Drive LIVE which helps drivers reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by monitoring driving style in real time and giving tips on how to be even more eco friendly. It also saves the data of every trip onto a compatible USB memory stick or smart phone which can be analysed after.

Safety
Hours of intensive testing have resulted in the Fiat 500L having “safety built into it from the wheels up, both in its structure and the suite of aids that help to avoid an accident in the first place,” says Fiat. This has led the car to be awarded a Euro NCAP five-star crash safety rating.
    
One clever safety feature worth a note is the City Brake Control which is designed to reduce the effects of low-speed collision in traffic. It works by sending out laser impulses and registering how quickly they’re reflected to detect how far the car is from other obstacles. This information is processed and if the system thinks the car is going to crash and the driver isn’t going to stop, the brakes are applied. It operates at speeds between 3 and 19mph so it won’t cut in during parking manoeuvres or at speed when it could create a dangerous situation.
    
Technology & smart refueling
The Fiat 500L has a UConnect touch screen infotainment system, which allows media players and mobile phones to be connected to the car and controlled via voice, steering wheel or touch screen.
    
It also has a cap-less fuel system which opens and closes automatically when the pump nozzle is inserted and removed. There are specific inlets for petrol and diesel pumps, making it impossible to use the wrong fuel. It also means there’s less leakage of vapours from the fuel tank into the environment during refuelling.
    
Espresso Energy
Embracing all things Italian, the Fiat 500L has the option of being fitted with a proper espresso coffee machine fully integrated into the dashboard which uses Lavazza’s A Modo Mio capsules. Could caffeine on demand be a popular feature for fleet drivers doing lots of miles?
    
In summary, the extra practicality, space, and flexibility, together with its fun personality, the Fiat 500L should go a long way in opening up the 500 brand to new markets, including the fleet sector.  
Fiat 500L 1.6 MultiJet
ENGINE: 1598cc, 4-cyl turbodiesel
CO2: 117g/km
MPG (combined): 62.8
VED: Band C
BIK: 18%
PRICE (OTR): £17,490