1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Fiat 500c gets 71 mpg in diesel guise

Discussion in 'Other Cars' started by eheath, Oct 12, 2011.

  1. eheath

    eheath Member

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2011
    207
    14
    0
    Location:
    New York
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    I just came across a review of the new Fiat 500c (petrol) and looked up the specs for the diesel version. It uses 3.3 l/100 km (71 mpg) in highway driving with a 1.3-liter 95 hp motor that develops 200 Nm (147 pound-feet) of torque.


    Unfortunately, it probably wouldn't meet emissions requirements in the U.S. but getting 71 mpg would be pretty awesome.
     
  2. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    5,596
    3,770
    0
    Location:
    So. Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    I assume that the 71mpg figure comes from the Euro drive cycle which returns dramatically higher results than the US EPA cycle. The Prius pulls big numbers on it too but I agree that it's a shame we can't get these kinds of vehicles.
     
  3. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,035
    10,010
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Knowing which scale that is, is essential. Prius already gets 71 mpg, combined, on U.S. CAFE scale. On gasoline even, not diesel.
     
  4. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2008
    4,003
    944
    118
    Location:
    Los Angeles Foothills
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    In the last 7 days or so, I have seen 6 different 500c's on the LA freeways. It would appear they are selling in LA. I will look closer to see if gas or the D word!
    Strangely they are so small and Dalik like, they are easy to spot!
     
  5. cyclopathic

    cyclopathic Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2011
    3,292
    547
    0
    Location:
    2014 Prius c
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    It won't last long from side by side comparo iQ wins in every possible way
     
  6. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2009
    6,722
    2,120
    45
    Location:
    North Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    They'll be petrols. I believe you only get a 1.4 litre petrol engine which will be regarded as tiny over your side of the pond. Shame as the 875cc twin air engine is revvy and economical. You'd have great fun thrashing it through a manual box round bends and city streets. It'd put a smile back on your face when driving.
     
  7. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,594
    11,213
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    I would choose an iQ over the 500. But I saw a new Fiat on the road yesterday, and the iQ won't be available until Nov of next year here at the earliest.

    The Smart reportedly returns better fuel economy than the EPA numbers. It will be interesting to see if the Fiat's real world reports.
     
  8. billnchristy

    billnchristy Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2009
    924
    123
    11
    Location:
    GA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    N/A
  9. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2009
    6,722
    2,120
    45
    Location:
    North Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
  10. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,594
    11,213
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Fuelly doesn't break down by transmission type?

    I'm sure some of those UK iQs are manuals which we can't get here.
     
  11. PriQ

    PriQ CT+iQ

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2010
    377
    113
    0
    Location:
    Europe
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Two
    You can get them with CVT, but I don't see why anyone would mate a 1.0 liter petrol engine with a CVT... They would no longer be eligible for the free entry to emission zones like most of London.
     
  12. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,594
    11,213
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    I was commenting on the Fuelly links. UK owners are getting some great numbers with their iQs. People on this side of the pond can't use that info to compare to US driven Fiat 500s, or even to make a judgement of what they could expect from an iQ, because Fuelly doesn't break down the numbers between transmission types. I'm sure the higher numbers are mostly manuals. Making those results nearly unatainable in the North American iQ.
     
  13. Skoorbmax

    Skoorbmax Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2010
    2,641
    264
    0
    Location:
    Western NY
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Let's all remember a UK gallon is also 20% larger than a US one. Something that is almost universally ignored when incredible claims are first made about the superb mileage of some European vehicle.
     
  14. Mike Dimmick

    Mike Dimmick Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2008
    963
    247
    0
    Location:
    Reading, UK
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    The Prius achieves 3.9 L/100km on the European cycle, when equipped with the 15" wheels. For the UK market this figure is presented as 72.4mpg (imperial gallon), although it is computed and rounded in metric before conversion.

    I assume that the Fiat 500 number was therefore converted from imperial to US gallons, but with no account taken of the different driving cycles.

    The UK government fuel economy website shows that 3.3 L/100km is the result of the extra-urban part of the test. The combined economy is the same as the Prius combined figure, 3.9 L/100km.
     
  15. ItsNotAboutTheMoney

    ItsNotAboutTheMoney EditProfOptInfoCustomUser Title

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2009
    2,287
    460
    0
    Location:
    Maine
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    A typical rough conversion is to multiply NEDC by 0.83 to get EPA.
     
  16. PriQ

    PriQ CT+iQ

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2010
    377
    113
    0
    Location:
    Europe
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Two
    And I'm arguing that you can expect all (13?) iQs in the study to be 1.0 manuals.
     
  17. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2009
    6,722
    2,120
    45
    Location:
    North Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    lol we have a 1.0 litre engine with the cvt auto. :cool:

    It's not as economical as the Prius but can get mid 50's mpg UK on a run with ease. Sometimes you can get 60+ mpg UK, but would get 75 mpg UK in the Prius on the same route. It is a tad slow on the take up but will happily sit at 80 mph on the motorway.

    There are other benefits in the UK for cars like the IQ other than free entry to the London CCZ, and being able to park it in spaces that would otherwise be impossible more than pays for iteself.
     
  18. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,604
    8,036
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Not too many weeks ago, I got an invite to do a survey on a 100% EV version. It was pretty slick. It had a few issues, and I'm certain Fiat/Nissan techs are working out the kinks. But yea, one of our south O.C. neighbors has one of the 500c's already.