2014 FIAT 500 vs. Its Competition

Bengt Halvorson Senior Editor

Some might expect the cars in this class to be frugal champs capable of turning out 50 or 60 mpg, but that's not so much the case; the Fiat 500 goes up mostly against models that focus on fitting into small spaces in the city—and also making the most of their diminutive dimensions.

For the latter, the Honda Fit does best; it's nearly a micro-van, or MPV as the Europeans would call it, and its Magic Seat, with real adult passenger space and excellent cargo space, is unbeatable.

The Toyota Yaris is a little plain, yet this current version has more driving personality, plus a record for reliability.

The Ford Fiesta is a half-step larger, and it's newly offered in high-performance Fiesta ST guise—which makes it an absolute hoot to drive.

The Fiesta is also much more practical as a three- or four-passenger car, and it has its own, edgy modern style.

Other alternatives include the base MINI Cooper, which has a lot of charm but is a bit pricier.

And the Smart Fortwo is ungainly where the 500 is suave; yet some might prefer the space-efficiency and safety reputation of the two-seat Fortwo.

The new Chevy Spark manages to fit seating for four into an exterior size and shape that isn't all that much larger than the 500—although it doesn't have nearly the level of flair or charm as the Fiat.