Fiat revives combustion 500, but its 65 hp makes it one of Europe’s slowest cars
Published on Nov 26, 2025 at 3:18 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Nov 26, 2025 at 3:18 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Claire Reid
Fiat has revived the combustion engine for its latest mild-hybrid Fiat 500, but the new city car doesn’t exactly pack a punch.
The Fiat 500 was introduced in 2007, and has since sold more than 2.5 million units across the globe.
The current-generation 500 was designed to be all-electric, but the carmaker has now unveiled its 500 Hybrid, which sees a combustion engine back under the hood.
The new model is powered by a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, that produces just 65 horsepower.
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The Fiat 500 Hybrid isn’t built for speed
The Fiat 500 has been a beloved city car in Europe for years.
The most recent generation uses the 500e all-electric platform, but the carmaker has now launched a model that has returned the car to its roots by retrofitting it with a mild-hybrid combustion engine.
Its three-cylinder engine is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox and produces up to 65hp and 68 lb-ft of torque.
The powertrain gives the new 500 a 0-62mph time of 16.2 seconds, meaning it’s one of Europe’s slowest accelerating cars.
Alongside that, the 500 Hybrid has a top speed of 93mph for the convertible, and ever-so-slightly speedier 96mph for the hatchback model.
However, given that the car is usually used for journeys in the city, and not spins around the Nürburgring track, it seems unlikely that its average customer will care about its less-than-average speeds.
“500 Hybrid offers affordable electrification and iconic style, proof that social relevance is at the core of the brand mission,” Fiat CEO Olivier Francois said back in May.
It will be available with three trim levels
The 2026 Fiat 500 Hybrid will be introduced with three trim levels: the standard Pop, the mid-range Icon, and the top-of-the-line La Prima.
Outwardly, the car looks pretty much identical to the 500e, and will be available as a hatchback or convertible.
Inside, all trims come with cruise control, keyless entry and startup, and a digital cluster as standard.
While the top-end La Prima also features a high-definition rearview camera, an infotainment system with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, and built-in sat-nav.
Prices in Italy start at around $21,920, and – as yet – there are no official plans to launch the car into the US market.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
