It's impossible not to love Fiat's 500 cabrio
"The Fiat 500 has it all – loveable looks, retro roots and an affordable price tag – and now there's an open-top variant to broaden its appeal further," says AutoExpress. In a homage to the 1957 original, the cabrio model, the 500C, features "an innovative electric soft-top that peels back rather than stowing away completely". This means the car's structure isn't compromised, so you get the same "go-kart handling, safety levels and interior space" as the hardtop.
You get the same range of options as with the hardtop, says Ben Whitworth in Car, so you can choose from 69bhp 1.2-litre and 100bhp 1.4-litre petrol and 75bhp diesel engines, five- and six-speed manual boxes, "as well as the familiar Pop and Lounge trim levels". Prices range from £11,300 for the 1.2 Pop to £14,100 for the 1.3 Lounge.
But whichever model you choose, it's "impossible to not like this car". Its "sheer vitality and brio is central to its charming appeal, turning even the most mundane of commutes into something far more attractive, a journey to be savoured, rather than endured".
It's not going to win any prizes when it comes to performance, says Vicki Butler-Henderson in the Sunday Times. She drove the 1.2 Pop model, which "has even less power than some two-seater Smart cars". It will take you 13 seconds to reach 62mph.
But what it lacks in performance it makes up for in "plucky charm" – you may only be going at "pedestrian" speeds through the corners, but the "gutsy grip" will mean you "can't help but grin". The car has its faults, including the ludicrously small boot and poor rear legroom, but it has so much character you just won't care. "Quite simply, the 500C is irresistible."
The cabin is colourful, with matching metal strips along the dash and colour-coordinated seat trim, says Butler-Henderson. It's also gimmick-free, with straightforward controls.
Two alternatives you could have for similar money
At £11,300, the cheapest Fiat 500C 1.2 Pop cabriolet is good value, says Richard Hammond on Mirror.co.uk. For £15,995, you could have a Mini Cooper instead. That's "serious money", but for that you do get a "real convertible" as opposed to a cabrio, and the Mini is "stylish and well made". It provides all the open-top driving thrills you could possibly ask for, says What Car, and residual values are "exceptional".
Cheaper than both the Mini and the Fiat, however, is the Mitsubishi 1.5 CZC1 – an "eccentric-looking little funster that has a folding hard top", says Hammond. "It's the right money, too" at £10,199. The ride is a little unsettled over poor surfaces, says What Car, but performance is brisk, the body stiff, and it comes with a decent level of kit as standard, including air-conditioning, electric windows and full safety kit.