Fiat 500 by GUCCI: A Comprehensive Review

Being a rather large person (186 CM to be exact), I am a big fan of big cars such as pickups and full-sized SUVs. So when I got the call about test driving a Fiat 500 by GUCCI, I was a little hesitant due to its tiny size and the association with “GUCCI”. However, I thought, why not? Let’s take a look at how that went.

Style

The Fiat 500 features one of the simplest exterior designs I have ever seen. It is designed for exactly what is needed, consisting of a hood, a cabin, and a hatchback end. There are no special lines or aerodynamic features. This was Fiat’s vision for the 500, and then GUCCI added its touch. The noticeable exterior features are all designed by GUCCI:

• GUCCI Stripe: A horizontal stripe running through the middle of the car, which is a sticker and not paint, making it easier to peel and fade.
• GUCCI Badges: Featured on both doors and the trunk.
• GUCCI Hubcaps: On the wheels, also designed by GUCCI.

The light arrangement on the Fiat 500 is quite simple, with larger xenon lights, smaller first-stage lights right below, and tiny fog lights integrated into the bumper.

Head Turner

Being a unique car, the Fiat 500 by GUCCI attracted considerable attention. Many times I parked the car in open spaces and counted how many people stopped to look at it. In a span of 2 hours:

• 30 people stopped to look at the car
• 23 of them took a photo
• 22 of the photographers were girls, likely to post on Instagram with the caption #CuteCar

This car is tailored for a specific owner, which does not include a 186CM tall big guy with a beard, as evident from the confused expressions of people at red lights.

Interior

Inside the GUCCI-mobile, the invasion continues. The seats are genuine leather adorned with the GUCCI logo in a tile format, on both the front and back seats. Additionally, there is a GUCCI stripe running through the middle of every seat, and the seatbelts also feature GUCCI stripes. However, the "special" factor of the interior stops there. The dashboard is made of black and white hard plastic, which significantly cheapens the interior feel.

Comfort

I don’t think I can categorize the Fiat 500 as a sub-compact since it is even smaller than a Toyota Yaris or a Mazda 2. Therefore, interior space and comfort can be somewhat challenging for someone of my stature. The legroom in the front is limited, and it is practically nonexistent in the back if you are seated behind a tall person. The seat does not sit low enough, causing a feeling of sitting too high, although headroom remains decent.

The car's size has its advantages; for instance, during traffic, the compactness allows for easy maneuvering without the risk of hitting anyone. Blind spots are minimal, making it easy to navigate tight spaces. Parking is even easier—80 percent of parking spaces are more than sufficient for the Fiat 500 by GUCCI.

However, highway driving can be somewhat annoying for two main reasons:

• Wind noise becomes noticeable over 80 KMPH and is very loud above 130 KMPH.
• Lack of cruise control, which can be inconvenient.

Drive Performance

This compact car is powered by a 1.4-liter inline-4 engine paired with a dual-logic gearbox. This setup gives the GUCCI-mobile 100 horsepower at 6000 RPM and 131 Nm of torque at 4300 RPM. The Fiat 500’s gearbox is unique; it's a manual gearbox where the clutch is automatically pneumatically operated. The Gucci-mobile is notably underpowered below 5000 RPM, with a 0-100 time of 12.3 seconds.

The Fiat 500 is nimble, able to weave effortlessly through traffic. Its size, combined with a low center of gravity, limits body roll and increases chassis responsiveness. Like other front-wheel-drive cars, understeer is present but surprisingly less than in most vehicles of its kind.

Fuel Efficiency

The Fiat 500 features a 35L fuel tank, which is small compared to other cars. Nevertheless, I achieved approximately 500KM from a full tank, even with rough driving. The car is fuel-efficient, averaging:

• 5.8 L/100KM at highway speeds
• 8.3 L/100KM in city driving, even while flooring it most of the time

Verdict

Driving the Fiat 500 by GUCCI was certainly an interesting experience. It is a fun car to drive but lacks power, especially at low RPMs. I personally believe that the Fiat 500 by GUCCI is suitable for fashionistas who want a designer car to showcase occasionally but do not intend to use it daily. Think of the Gucci-mobile as a special pair of shoes in your closet—rarely worn but still desired for that elusive event that never comes.