Quick Highlights:
- Under the bonnet sits a small 1.0-litre turbo triple making 65 horsepower and 92 Nm — exactly the kind of output you expect from a city runabout.
- The hatchback needs 16.2 seconds for 0–100 km/h, and the convertible is a touch slower at 17.3 seconds.
- Fiat is offering it only with a six-speed manual, which is unusual for a city car but gives it a bit of old-school charm.
- Pricing should come in noticeably lower than the 500e — roughly €10,000 / £5000 less depending on the market.
Fiat’s little charm machine has made a comeback with something nobody expected in 2024: a petrol engine. The latest 500 was designed from day one as an electric car, but the EV wave didn’t rise the way Fiat hoped. So the brand has quietly brought back an ICE option, giving the city car a second life in familiar territory.
To pull this off, engineers reworked the 500e’s platform to house the small 1.0-litre turbo triple, the same unit the older 500 used. It’s a mild-hybrid setup making 48 kW (65 PS / 65 hp) and 92 Nm of torque, enough for everyday urban running and nothing more. Power goes to the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox, which feels almost nostalgic in a segment where automatics practically rule. And if you do want an auto, Fiat gently points you toward the electric 500e instead.
Slow? Absolutely. But That’s the Point.
No one is purchasing a Fiat 500 to expect fireworks, and this new Hybrid does not apologise as it is leaning into that reputation. It takes the hatch a total of 16.2 seconds to reach 0 to 100 km/h and the cabrio even has an even slower time of 17.3 seconds. Such figures ensure that it is among the slowest new cars sold in Europe and the reality is that the 500 was never about catching lap times. The city is its play-ground, narrow turns, small spaces, and places to park, which seem impossible to enter until one squeeches into them.
Top speed is not something dramatic either:
- 155 km/h (96 mph) for the hatch
- 150 km/h (93 mph) for the convertible
It will do such speeds one day, but the car is happiest at city speed. To its advantage is the economy figure of approximately 5.3 L/100km that makes the day to day running costs very acceptable. And this is one of the primary reasons why Fiat reintroduced this engine in the first place.
Lighter, Cheaper, and Just as Charming
The choice made by Fiat is reasonable in an EV-cooling market. The 500 Hybrid costs significantly less than the 500e which in the market would be about 10,000 lower, and thus it is immediately more affordable. In the UK, it is projected to cost at least £5000 under the entry electric version upon its entry into the market in mid-2026.
The Hybrid is aesthetically near the EV. The Hybrid badge is only a small badge, a new air intake under the oversized 500 badge, and a manual shifter pod in the inside makes it give it away. The hatch weighs 1055 kg and the convertible weighs 1102 kg to maintain the car agile even at city speeds.
And similarly to the EV, customers can have all three body styles:
- Hatchback
- Cabrio (convertible)
- 3+1 “Trepiuno” with the cute rear-hinged mini-door on the passenger side
Production and Launch
The 500 Hybrid is already under production in the historic Mirafiori plant of Turin where EV is also being assembled. Fiat anticipates about 5000 units in the current year which will increase to 100,000 per year after the demand has stabilised.
In the honour of the occasion, Fiat is linking the launch with the Torino Film Festival, various events in Italy and a succession of events under the banner L’Italia che piace- a reference to Italian culture, cinema and design.
Trims will include:
- Pop
- Icon
- La Prima
- Torino (special edition)
Why This Version Matters Now
Bringing back a petrol-powered 500 says a lot about where the market really stands. Europe’s big electric push hasn’t moved as fast as policymakers or carmakers predicted, and the 2035 ICE ban is already up for review. In the middle of all this uncertainty, buyers are still asking for small, stylish, inexpensive cars that don’t depend on charging infrastructure. Toyota proved the point with the Aygo X, and Fiat clearly wasn’t ready to hand over the city-car crown.
What the new 500 Hybrid offers is exactly what made the nameplate popular in the first place—easy charm, low running costs, and just enough performance for daily life. It’s not quick, and it isn’t pretending to be. It’s simply a familiar, cheerful little runabout built for the world most people actually live in.
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