While it still wins on design, style, and personality, the 2016 Fiat 500 faces a newer and tougher group of small-car competitors than it did five years ago.
The two-year-old Honda Fit is a perennially strong subcompact, with its fold-away seats giving it the most flexible interior in the segment and enough space to hold four adults comfortably.
The Fiesta's not as large as the Fit, but delivers a lot more driving fun and good fuel economy.
The Mini Cooper was also redesigned in 2014, and its latest incarnation is both larger inside and far more fuel-efficient in its base model than the 500, whose fuel economy is only so-so.
(The MINI's considerably pricier, though.) Both the Chevrolet Spark five-door and the two-seat Smart ForTwo are all new for 2016.
The former especially may prove a strong, cost-effective, and more practical minicar than the aging 500--while the latter offers urban parking ability that can't be beat and (finally) decent driving qualities.
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 2016 FIAT 500Browse Used Listings |  2016 Chevrolet SparkBrowse Used Listings |  2016 Ford FiestaBrowse Used Listings |  2016 Honda FitBrowse Used Listings |  2016 MINI CooperBrowse Used Listings |  2016 smart fortwoBrowse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | |||||
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The 2016 Fiat 500 remains distinctive and stylish, with the Abarth and Turbo models scoring high for driver excitement and the electric 500e perhaps the best all-round version (but only for Californians). |
The 2016 Chevrolet Spark is an all-new version of the minicar that actually seats four adults; its more "adult" styling, higher-quality materials, and optional active-safety features may make it the best of the tiny cars. |
The 2016 Fiesta offers fun and features not expected at these prices, but it lacks interior space compared to top rivals. |
The 2016 Honda Fit isn't as entertaining to drive as it once was, but it's unmatched in safety and space, thanks to the Magic Seat. |
The 2016 Mini Cooper is as cheeky as its retro style implies—and its three-cylinder engine is a charming surprise. |
The 2016 Smart ForTwo promises parking ease—and this time, maybe better fuel economy and handling. |
| MSRP From | |||||
| $16,995 | $12,660 | $14,580 | $15,890 | $20,700 | $14,650 |
| Gas Mileage | |||||
| 28 MPG City / 40 MPG Hwy | 30 MPG City / 39 MPG Hwy | 26 MPG City / 36 MPG Hwy | 29 MPG City / 41 MPG Hwy | 23 MPG City / 39 MPG Hwy | 32 MPG City / 39 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | |||||
| Premium Unleaded I-4 | Gas I4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-3 | Premium Unleaded I-3 |
| EPA Class | |||||
| Minicompact Cars | Subcompact Car | Subcompact Cars | Small Station Wagon | Minicompact Cars | Two-Seaters |
| Style Name | |||||
| 2-Door HB Easy | 5-Door HB Manual LS | 4-Door Sedan S | 5-Door HB Manual LX | 2-Door HB | 2-Door Coupe Pure |
| Drivetrain | |||||
| Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | |||||
| 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| Passenger Doors | |||||
| N/A | 4 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | |||||
| Hatchback | Hatchback | Sedan | Hatchback | Hatchback | Coupe |
| Transmission | |||||
| Manual w/OD | Manual | Manual w/OD | Manual w/OD | Manual w/OD | Manual w/OD |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | |||||
| 2016 FIAT 500 vs. 2016 Chevrolet Spark | 2016 FIAT 500 vs. 2016 Ford Fiesta | 2016 FIAT 500 vs. 2016 Honda Fit | 2016 FIAT 500 vs. 2016 MINI Cooper | 2016 FIAT 500 vs. 2016 smart fortwo | |
