2014 (141) Fiat 500

Considering this topsy-turvy history of automotive reinvention, the outstanding triumph of the Fiat 500 is all the more impressive. With hugely successful small cars such as the Panda, Uno and Seicento nestling in the Fiat back-catalogue, the 500 had a lot to live up to. It was released in 2007 amid great fanfare and quickly heralded as one of the best designs of the decade thanks to its cute retro looks. It is also far more spacious than it looks with plenty of head and leg room for drivers and passengers alike. The boot is quite usable for a car of its size and capacity can be increased by folding the rear seats down. One of the main selling points of the new 500 upon its release was the myriad of engine and specification options available to prospective buyers. While there are also 1.2, 1.3 and 1.3 turbo diesel engines to choose from, not to mention the 135hp Abarth model, we believe the 1.4 unit to be the best of the lot and the one most agreeable to Irish driving conditions.