Is the 85ps FIAT 500 TwinAir a real alternative to the 500 1.4?

I want to buy a FIAT 500 and decided that the 100PS 1.4 engine should provide the kind of performance I am looking for. FIAT has now produced the 85PS 'TwinAir'. Should I consider this, as FIAT claim, as a serious alternative to a 1.4? The car will do about 6,000 miles a year and I calculate that the TwinAir could save me somewhere in the region of £330 per year in fuel costs.

Asked on 27 October 2010 by MC, via email

Answered by Honest John
Test and video at: www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tests/fiat/fiat-500-twin...r. It's VED and Congestion tax exempt, but Autocar’s test showed it is nothing like as fuel efficient in real life as in the EC certification tests. The reason is, it won’t run at low revs. You need third in a 30, whereas my older 500 1.2 is very happy to run in fifth in a 30. I’m hoping to take one on an extended test to see if economy improves substantially on a long run and can match or even beat that of my 500 1.2 petrol.
Similar questions
My company car list has arrived and, having looked at the options available, this is where I am. A new Audi A3 Sportback 1.6 TDI - the MPG is 70+ (claimed) and I only have to put £40p/m to it from my own...
It’s time to replace my noble BMW 520iSE manual saloon, now with 96,000 on the clock and it has not missed a beat. The big question is whether anything has arrived to rival the new model? I’m tempted to...
I am in the market for a convertible and know you extol the virtues of the FIAT 500. Would it be silly to pay the extra for an Abarth pokier version, or just go for a top engine ordinary FIAT 500C? My...
Related models
Stylish and full of character. Really affordable to buy. Low running costs.
 

Value my car

Save £75 on Warranty using code HJ75

with MotorEasy

Get a warranty quote

Save 12% on GAP Insurance

Use HJ21 to save on an ALA policy

See offer