2018 Fiat 500

Fiat only sells one vehicle in the U.S., the tiny electric 500e EV. Inspired by the beloved “Cinquecento” that put Italy back on the road after World War II and co-starred in countless art films, the battery-powered runabout is easy to park and short on cargo space. In years past, Fiat sold a gas-powered version of the 500, including a high-powered, sporty Abarth variant. Fiat also sold a handful of lackluster subcompact SUVs that earned low scores in Consumer Reports'' road tests, and the 124 roadster, its version of the Mazda MX-5 Miata. Fiat is part of the Stellantis conglomerate.

The retro-styled 500 has agile handling, a willing engine, and a crisp-shifting manual transmission, all of which combine to make the Fiat fun to drive. The little 101-hp, 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual transmission returned 33 mpg overall in our testing. However, it takes frequent downshifts to keep up with traffic on the highway. Zippy around town and easy to park, this two-door suffers from a choppy ride and a noisy cabin, which detract from the fun. The rear seats are very tight and difficult to access. Front-seat headroom is copious, but the cabin is narrow and some may find the steering wheel too far away. The convertible version has a clever sunroof feature. The sporty Abarth version is quick and fun to drive, but the throaty exhaust note can grow wearisome over time. 2019 was the last model year for the 500.