TOP GEAR

- We find the two-door format appealing. There’s plenty of space in the trunk and the front seats. You just can’t sit in the back for long periods of time.
- Very comfortable, sporty front seats that hug your back.
- The car feels light enough with its punchy 1.4L engine and 5-speed auto box which can also be used in a semi-manual mode. (You pick the speed but there’s no clutch.)
- Tech details like the USB plug and hands-free control look good on paper but the model we tested had its radio locked so we did not get to check it out.

STUCK IN NEUTRAL

- No doubt the sporty suspension feels great when you’re cornering a hairpin turn in the Alps. The rest of the time, it makes for a slightly bumpy ride.
- Past 130kph (or 3,700rpm in fifth gear), the engine’s noise becomes too present.
- The finishing is OK but not luxe either: slight vibrations in the dashboard, car key casing falling apart, dashboard actually made of painted plastic, not metal. We wish the car felt more Vespa and less Fino.
- You need to operate two levers to put the front seat back in place after folding it down to get to the back—super annoying!
- The price: starting from B1,690,000.

Verdict: Interestingly, the upcoming 2012 model mostly addresses issues of noise and suspension harshness, so Fiat’s engineers seem to agree with our main gripes. If you can’t afford to wait but can afford the 500’s import price, this is a fun little car. Available at Thai Prestige Auto, 1707 Phaholyothin Rd., 02-930-1490/-5.