Category: City Cars 
Price Range: £8,700 to £13,605
Styling, interior, willing engine, handling
Illegible speedo in some versions; ride can be choppy; limited rear headroom
Fun to drive, fun full stop. Would be desirable at twice the price
From the first moment you lay eyes on Fiat's new 500, it's easy to become infatuated. Like BMW's Mini, this is a slick, modern recreation of a much-loved retro design, and it's hard to be cynical about it. Best still, beauty runs more than skin-deep with this diminuitive Italian - it deservedly romped away with the 2007 European Car of the Year accolade.
We've already driven the diesel 1.3 and the petrol 1.4s, and thought it was time to try the cheapest version, the 69bhp 1.2. This is priced from £7,900 (Pop trim) and goes up to just £9,300 (Sport and Lounge specification). With this engine, the 500 could be one of this year's irresistible bargains.
