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Road Test

Fiat 500 1.4 Lounge

Test Date Wednesday, September 19, 2007  Price When New £10,900

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Verdict

The 500 is already sold out for months, and it's not hard to see why. The style it exudes on the outside is carried through to its cabin; it's a charming car that also feels well built, and if Fiat keeps its promises it will be keenly priced when it lands at British dealerships at the start of 2008.

What's harder to determine is whether the 500's appeal will diminish over not just the next few months, but the next few years, when other body styles arrive, the facelift comes and goes and a second-generation car is due. It takes substance behind the cheeky face to maintain the sort of desirability that the Mini still enjoys.

But while the 500 is not without its foibles — its dynamics can't match its design verve, and it's less practical than most city cars — it has enough about it to remain appealing as a car to drive and own, not just to look at and be seen in.

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