In Canada, the fiat 500 just launched and promises 55 mpg - whats going on here??

[Brummy]

I have fell in love with the Fiat 500 (yes, I'm a woman!) and fed up with driving 107 km per day in my Santa Fe.  Looking for an economical car and VOILA! up pops the 'POP' here in Canada.  It's sooo cute and I'm pretty much decided to buy one when I start doing some research and see that, in fact it doesn't do 55 mpg - more like 33 according to one article I saw on line.  Will someone PLEASE tell me if you know what's going on here?  I live in Edmonton, Canada and drive on a highway to work twice a day.  Is this car going to be a good choice for me do you think?  I'm also looking at an Elantra - the sensible choice probably.

Appreciate some feedback from someone.

[ciddyguy]

Brummy wrote

I have fell in love with the Fiat 500 (yes, I'm a woman!) and fed up with driving 107 km per day in my Santa Fe.  Looking for an economical car and VOILA! up pops the 'POP' here in Canada.  It's sooo cute and I'm pretty much decided to buy one when I start doing some research and see that, in fact it doesn't do 55 mpg - more like 33 according to one article I saw on line.  Will someone PLEASE tell me if you know what's going on here?  I live in Edmonton, Canada and drive on a highway to work twice a day.  Is this car going to be a good choice for me do you think?  I'm also looking at an Elantra - the sensible choice probably.

Appreciate some feedback from someone.

Root around here as there is a post on here where people are listing the ACTUAL mileage they are getting and remember, most of these will be US gallons and what it seems to be happening is that the Fiat is getting HIGHER mileage than is stated  by the EPA, the 33 you quoted is the AVERAGE from a mixed cycle of city and highway driving, the car is rated, again, in the US at 30 city, 38 highway, the 30 city figure is the best, so far I've seen, even by the EPA estimates but it seems some are getting a bit more than that.

The thing to remember is, the more sporty you drive it, the lower the mileage but if you drive normally, the mileage may be as good or even exeed the EPA estimates. The highway averages some are reporting is closer to 40mpg (again, US figures) but extrapolate that to the Canadian figure and it should give you an idea of what to expect but the real thing to think about is, do you just want a sensible car or do you want a fun car that also gets good to very good mileage depending upon how you drive it?

The automatic figures WILL be less than the manual but if ultimate mileage is for you, the Fiat may not be for you but it IS getting good mileage as long as you don't flog it and even if you do, it'll still be better than many cars in that regard.

[bloglo]

it'a all about imperial gallon vs us gallon

Imperial gallon : 4,54609 litres
US gallon : 3,785411784 litres

[Brummy]

Thanks so much for your input.  Yes, Ciddyguy I am looking for good mileage BUT a fun car too.  Luckily I do prefer to drive a standard, so I shouldn't complain too much - the fiat will still outperform my Santa Fe when it comes to filling up.  I know the Elantra is a sensible choice - but just can't do it somehow........

[Alvon Elrod]

38 miles per US gallon is equal to about 45.6 miles per Imperial gallon.  Where did the 55 number come from?  Is it a different engine / tranny combination.  The twin air turbo engine in Europe gets in the the low to mid 60's miles per US gallon, and has the same HP and better low end torque than the 1.4 multiair.  I wish that engine was available for our US cars.  It would be a piece of cake to sell cars that get 65 mpg!  FIAT would certainly control the small car market with that kind of an edge on the other manufacturers.

[cogtooth]

Read some of the reports on the actual twinair mileage.  The real world mileage may only be half as much, which is a pretty big error.  Here's one test:

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/videos/featuresvideos/262693/fiat_500c_twinair_vs_500c_abarth.html

[Welshy]

For the little time we've had ours, it's did 32.4 mpg (average over two tanks of gas). I got to say though, gas mileage aside, the car on the freeway needs to be in Sport mode as the steering wheel is a bit sensitive and moving to sport mode makes it a bit stiffer. I don't know whether you've read my other posts, but I've had a lot of problems with my car (quality wise). Albeit one of the first built, it's spent nearly a dozen days back in the Dealers garage so far with issues (see my posts on "Laura, do your ears burn...").
I'm not convinced on the quality at this stage, but others in this forum think different. My advice, wait a while until they iron out the kinks.
The Fiat 500 is a great design and so different, but so far I haven't enjoyed the ownership experience.

Fiat 500 Prima Edizione #408

[cogtooth]

Isn't the sport setting supposed to be the same as the regular setting when the speed is over around 44 mph?

[PE#454]

If you buy the Elantra, you'll regret it.

If you don't buy the Fiat, you'll regret it.

I'm a woman, also. Never underestimate the value of the great feeling you get from driving a great car.

I've had sporty cars and I've had ho-hum cars. If I could go back and do it all again, I'd never have driven a ho-hum car--regardless of the gas savings. I think the difference will be fairly minimal, anyway, but especially when it is weighed against your overall well-being from buying and driving a car you love.

[Mike S]

I love you.

[SeaDawg]

It was said in a video on You Tube about the intro to Canada....I watched it this afternoon.

[Brummy]

PE#454 I love what you said - That's how I'm feeling right now!  Have a feeling that I might not get my Fiat though as my husband doesn't think it's a good buy - Could end up with an Elantra - will keep you posted.  Going for a test drive on Saturday at the Fiat dealership.  The sales guy told me on the 'phone today that he can "prove" that the 500 can do 55 MPG.

By the way, the poster who put "where does that 55 mpg" comment come from?  The answer is that it's on ALL the ad's for the car that are bombarding our newspapers.

[fredfrey]

I've had my car for two days now and put on over 500 miles. My average MPG is 35 with a mix of city and highway. I have a lead foot and always drive in sport - and sport is better at all speeds.

My car is a low number (23) and the build quality is fantastic. I have yet to find any issue.

Slightly better MPG is not worth buying the wrong car.

[PE#454]

Brummy wrote

PE#454 I love what you said - That's how I'm feeling right now!  Have a feeling that I might not get my Fiat though as my husband doesn't think it's a good buy - Could end up with an Elantra - will keep you posted.  Going for a test drive on Saturday at the Fiat dealership.

Brummy, tell your husband I said:

Fiat = happy wife
Elantra = unhappy (or, at best, "meh") wife

I'll be interested to know what end result he'll be most pleased with.

[CaliberSRT4]

Alvon Elrod wrote

38 miles per US gallon is equal to about 45.6 miles per Imperial gallon.  Where did the 55 number come from?  Is it a different engine / tranny combination.  The twin air turbo engine in Europe gets in the the low to mid 60's miles per US gallon, and has the same HP and better low end torque than the 1.4 multiair.  I wish that engine was available for our US cars.  It would be a piece of cake to sell cars that get 65 mpg!  FIAT would certainly control the small car market with that kind of an edge on the other manufacturers.

The testing is much different in Canada. Our EPA numbers are more pessimistic than fuel economy numbers anywhere else in the world. Maybe Canada's testing is a little lax too, who knows. But the point is that the 55 mpg number for the Fiat 500 in Canada is correct.

[Brummy]

PE 454  I laughed out loud!!!  Read your post to my husband.  

He smirked............!

[Brummy]

I'd like to hear from Fiat 500 owners who absolutely love their car, have had NO problems with it and find that there's sufficient room in the back.  My husband cannot be convinced that we won't be buying a potential lemon - even though it's been on the market for years in the UK and he's read all the 'best car' blurb advertising it.

[ciddyguy]

Brummy wrote

I'd like to hear from Fiat 500 owners who absolutely love their car, have had NO problems with it and find that there's sufficient room in the back.  My husband cannot be convinced that we won't be buying a potential lemon - even though it's been on the market for years in the UK and he's read all the 'best car' blurb advertising it.

I would just drag him to a showroom to see the car himself, sometims seeing one, driving one will make a believer out of him and remember, if YOU are doing the buying, it should be up to YOU to get what YOU want, right? If that's the case, then you ONLY need to convince yourself and let him deal with his views.

After all, we only live once, right? :-)

[Gavin]

I have had absolutely no issues (except the wait :) )...fun to drive, wife loves the front seat...I've had my wife and daughter in the back seat...smallish, but fine for them (5'4" and 5'6").

The sport rides a bit stiff with the sport suspension...the pop or lounge should have a smoother ride over bumps and such, but will not hug the corners as much...just depends on what type of driving you want to do and whether you want a stick or not.

Gavin

[prima 109]

Gavin, your wait was an adventure, to say the least.  glad you are loving your car.