While 2011 marks the return of Fiat to America, the vanguard 500 already isn’t living up to the hype. The five-speed manual is rated at 30/38 MPG, while the six-speed automatic manages only a 27/34 rating.
40 MPG is the new magic number for small cars, and while the $15,500 Fiat 500 offers a lot of bang-for-your-buck in the small car department, the gas mileage isn’t up to par with other offerings. The Ford Focus, Chevy Cruze Eco, and Hyundai Elantra all get 40 MPG highway with automatic transmissions and are available with six-speed manuals. So the Fiat’s five-speed manual kind of falls short.
However, Fiat has beefed up the 500 in other ways to make it more suitable for American tastes. That means more horsepower (around 100) and a reworked suspension among other changes. which have added 80 pounds to the tiny Italian. And the Fiat 500 is still an adorable little coupe with a competitive price tag. Considering that over 90% of American cars are sold with an automatic these days though, the Fiat is up against some stiff competition.
These numbers are somewhat akin to the disappointment associated with the Honda CR-Z’s MPG numbers. Given these lower-than-expected numbers, will you still consider the 2011 Fiat 500? Or will your eyes wander elsewhere?
Source: Automotive News
Chris DeMorro is a writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to HEMI’s. You can follow his slow descent into madness at Sublime Burnout.