Fiat simplifies Aussie 500 line-up and adds more pink

Fiat Australia has updated their 500 city car offerings for 2020, with a streamlined range and some extra standard equipment.

The Italian brand has dropped the entry-level Pop variant while retaining similar pricing for the new model year.

The 500 is still the most stylish of the current supermini crop, although it lines up against the Mazda 2, Toyota Yaris and Volkswagen Polo, all of which pack way more tech, though the 500 still possesses some unique Italian panache.

Resplendent here in a new hue – powder-pink ($500) is the name – a fitting colour name for the little supermini, we reckon the 500 is still a successful exercise in retro-design although it won’t be to everyone’s tastes.

It remains a cute homage to the original vehicle that transformed Italy’s transport.

Inside, the retro theme continues with bubbly design preferencing round shapes over sharp angles, again, it won’t excite all. A centrally mounted 7-inch touchscreen and partially digital instrument cluster do look contemporary.

Fiat Australia has dropped the entry-level Pop $17,990 (driveaway) variant, so the range now starts with the Lounge from $19,250 (driveaway pricing not yet available) available with a five-speed manual gearbox only.

Safety specification is lacking against peers with no true AEB, blind-spot monitoring or rear-cross-traffic alert available for the 500, though it does get city brake assist and stability control systems.

The level of technology isn’t particularly astounding the Lounge gets a 7-inch touchscreen with wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, cloth seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and cruise control.

For the range-topping $23,250 (driveaway pricing not yet available) Club model you get a five-speed (yes, still only five in 2020) automatic gearbox, premium upholstery, chrome exterior trims including grille and rear-bumper, auto headlights, auto wipers and cruise control.

Both Club and Lounge variants can be optioned as convertibles for $25,250 (driveaway pricing not yet available) and $27,250 (driveaway pricing not yet available) respectively, and both convertibles are automatic.

All variants are powered by a carryover 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine with fairly measly outputs 51kW and 102Nm, ripe for a 0-100km/h sprint of 12.9 seconds.

The Fiat 500 may not be the most feature-packed supermini out there, but it’s certainly the funkiest looking, the updated 500 range is available now.