Design and Build

Fiat would've been unwise to mess with the 500C's shape too much, so sensibly, they've kept exterior styling tweaks to the minimum with this 500 model over the last few years. As before, this convertible model pays homage to the original 500 cabriolet of 1957. It's better to think of the roof arrangement as a huge canvas sunroof rather than a full folding canopy. At the touch of a button, the entire centre section of the roof retracts into a concertinaed bundle just above the boot. It's not the most elegant piece of engineering but the sight of car with its roof retracted adds to the retro appeal and with the roof-up, it's tough to tell a convertible 500 from a hard-top one. The roof itself features a glass rear window and is available in a choice of colours, so buyers can personalise their car. The simple roof arrangement also means that there's a decent amount of room in the rear seats of the 500C. There are some convertible cars twice the size of the little Fiat that are stingier with the legroom they lay on for passengers in the back. Delicious design details drip from the 500's interior. It's like a tiny pearl, especially when the ivory finish is specified. There's a very well-judged blend of retro chic and ruthlessly modern contemporary design inside, with circular head restraints and neat 500C badging on the Panda-sourced dashboard. Chrome-ringed vents and a fascia that can be specified in the same colour as the body are other highlights. There's a clever 7-inch TFT 'Uconnect' information screen in the centre of the dash. And boot capacity (182-litres) is only a fraction off what you get in the normal hatch model.

Market and Model

Prices start from around £19,500 - and if you think that's high for a citycar, even an open-topped one, you'll need to know that there's still quite a hefty £2,500 premium to pay for the 500C derivative over an equivalent model in the 500 hatch range. That looks a little steep when the folding roof arrangement on a rival Toyota Aygo X costs less. Still, this Fiat arguably has a character that rival lacks and its specification looks quite generous. Trim levels range from standard to plusher 'TOP'. So what do you get for your money? Base trim has LED daytime running lights and a Uconnect infotainment system with six speakers, plus AUX-in/USB ports and steering wheel remote controls. Plusher 'Pop Star' spec adds air conditioning, 15-inch alloy wheels and heated mirrors with body-colour caps. Top spec meanwhile, gets you a panoramic glass sunroof, rear parking sensors, a chrome front grille, front fog lights, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and a Uconnect 5” LIVE touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone integration. If you want to go further, then your dealer will want to tell you about the latest range of so-called 'Second Skin' decal packages.

Cost of Ownership

There's no efficiency penalty in opting for this convertible bodystyle. One of the advantages of such a small car is that tiny fuel efficient engines are more than adequate for hauling you and your little Fiat around. Particularly the mild hybrid 1.0-litre 'Firefly' unit now fitted to all versions of this car. The electrified system used here recovers energy during braking and deceleration, stores it in a lithium battery with a capacity of 11Ah, and uses it, at a maximum power of 3,600W, to restart the engine in Stop&Start mode and to assist it during acceleration. This technology allows the internal combustion engine to switch off by shifting into neutral, even at speeds below 18mph. The dashboard, which displays information on the hybrid system, prompts the driver when to shift. The mild hybrid propulsion unit works with a 6-gear manual transmission aimed at improving fuel economy in out-of-town driving, thanks to new low-friction bearings and gaskets and the use of a specific high-efficiency lubricant. Expect up to 53.3mpg [WLTP] in regular use and an NEDC-rated CO2 emissions figure of 88g/km (improved from 114g/km before). What else? Well, this car should certainly be cheap to insure. The warranty is a typical three year affair but with a 100,000 mile limit that's significantly higher than some other brands will give you. 500 models hold their value very well and that's unlikely to change any time soon. Don't be tempted to go customisation-crazy with the options list though: not everyone will share your taste or want to pay extra for graphics when it comes time to sell.

Summary

The 500C can't offer the most affordable route to open-topped motoring in your citycar, but it's still a package than many buyers in ths segment will find hard to resist. The latest changes haven't really changed this car's essential appeal, but the extra efficiency of the mild hybrid engine is welcome - its emissions are hugely better. Here's a carefree car that's free, sunny and open in its outlook - and very difficult to dislike, with a sheer joie de vivre that's central to its charming appeal, turning even the most mundane of commutes into something far more attractive: a journey to be savoured, rather than endured.