Fiat 500 TwinAir question

What is your opinion of the concept behind the new FIAT 2 cylinder 875cc car

Asked on 15 January 2010 by JBC, via email

Answered by Honest John

The FIAT 500 TwinAir performs brilliantly in the EC certification tests, emitting CO2 of 95g/km, making it Tax and Congestion Charge free, and theoretically offering 68.9 mpg. But in real life it has very little torque below 1,900rpm, so to run at 30mph requires 3rd or 4th gear.

This means that, for most people, it is running at higher engine revs most of the time and the result is economy closer to 40mpg than to 68.9mpg. I took one on a 610mile cross country run, running up to but sticking to speed limits, mostly in Econ mode, and managed 48.03mpg. That’s the reality.

But I rather like the cheeky way FIAT has managed to certify the car Tax and Congestion Charge free yet also make it huge fun to drive.

Tags: buying advice

Dear Honest John,

Please help me choose my next car. I would like it to have:

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