Is Fiat expensive to maintain? We look at the costs involved in maintaining a Fiat car. Find out more about how expensive a Fiat is to repair and fiat reliability.
How reliable are Fiat?
Italian Fiat is one of the world's most popular car manufacturers, but especially so for motorists here in the UK. This popularity is mainly thanks to the Fiat 500 - one of the most popular subcompact cars ever to leave their factory for the roads of Britain.
Its unusual shape and interesting colours have earned the Fiat 500 a place in our hearts. Fiat has had a chequered past, however. For many years, the manufacturer struggled with one crucial element of their iconic cars - reliability.
This struggle was so endemic that it almost became a joke shared by many motorists and their mechanics. But where is Fiat's reliability score today? This article will take an in-depth look at Fiat and how its famous models are faring on our roads.
In short, Fiat is still having some problems, but not anywhere near as many as it used to. In recent surveys for brand reliability, Fiat places a respectable 12th, while ReliabilityIndex data places it at 15th, with a score of 78/99 (the lower the number - the better).
Ultimately, according to consumer reports, the Fiat 500 is a dependable vehicle, but there are still a few common issues that owning one entails. But the 500 is only one of the Italian manufacturer's models, with much more in the product line to take a look at. Here we'll take a look and compare the reliability of some of Fiat's most popular models.
Fiat 500L
Starting with the black sheep of the family, the Fiat 500L is notorious as one of the most unreliable cars. However, this reputation has little to do with the mechanics and more with the infotainment system.
Despite many motorists complaining of dysfunctional multi-use controllers and touchscreens that didn't register touches, the running of the car as a car didn't come into it.
Fiat 500
Again, the reliability of the Fiat 500 is a bit of a mixed bag. Some owners find them fairly easy to look after, while others have mentioned a few persistent problems, ultimately leading to the average reliability score.
On some reliability scales, you'll find the Fiat 500 gets a score of 5/5, while others score it a little lower.
On the whole, the 500 gets majoritively positive feedback from drivers, and with over 300,000 models registered in the UK, that's a fairly representative consensus.
Despite the odd issue, Fiat 500s are one of the more affordable vehicles in terms of repair costs. With the average running around £300, this puts them in a much better light compared to other popular vehicles on our roads.
Fiat Panda
Compared to the other models in Fiat's range, the Panda scores the best on the ReliabilityIndex with an impressive 58. To make things even better, the Panda has a similarly affordable average repair cost to the 500 at around £300.
In terms of the most common complaints, it seems the axles and suspension suffer the most on the Panda, with the electrics being the second most common issue.
Fiat Punto
The Fiat Punto is another unfortunate high scorer on the ReliabilityIndex, requiring more maintenance and repairs than other models.
While it may be up at a worrying 86/99, it's still more dependable than models from many other manufacturers listed on the index.
Despite running into more problems than average, the Punto has the most affordable average costs out of the Fiat range, and you can expect to pay an average repair cost of around £225.
Electronics are the most troublesome component of the Punto, with nearly 40% of all major issues occurring here.
Is it expensive to repair a Fiat?
We've already considered one-time costs for major repairs to Fiat models, typically running between £200-£300. However, looking at the average yearly costs for Fiat maintenance will also be worthwhile. This is possibly where Fiat's popularity might spring from, given its affordability in this area compared with other cars.
Looking at the annual maintenance costs for all vehicles on the UK's roads, including engine oil changes, replacement brake pads, replacing filters and general repairs, we see that the average yearly maintenance cost for a car is around £570. For Fiat models, this related yearly maintenance cost is closer to the £450 mark, over £100 cheaper than average. Therefore, while their reliability may leave something to be desired, at least Fiat vehicles are much cheaper to maintain.
Do Fiats break down a lot?
Again, putting Fiat into a wider context regarding the frequency of breakdowns will give us a better idea of where they stand as a brand. Of the 32 major global car manufacturers, Fiat has been placed in 18th, with an average rating of 3.5/5, putting it above average in terms of breakdowns.
Twin this with it's more affordable maintenance costs, and Fiat starts to look quite attractive. Additionally, the flagship Fiat 500 has a more than dependable engine, with the average one lasting between 200,000 to 250,000 miles, so long as it's properly maintained.
Which is the cheapest Fiat model for an MOT?
Every car requires an MOT to be on UK roads, and of all the Fiat models out there, the Fiat Tipo is one of the cheapest regarding MOT costs. Coming in at just £39.17 for an MOT, the Tipo is definitely above average in terms of affordability.
As a five-door hatchback, this means the Tipo is competing against the likes of the Volkswagen Golf and the Peugeot 308. While the Fiat doesn't hold its value quite as well as these other brands, it is still much more affordable regarding MOTs. After the Tipo, the next cheapest Fiat model for MOT costs is the Panda.
With its impressive reliability scores, this shouldn't be much of a surprise. On average, the MOT costs for the Panda are around the £39.83 mark, not quite as good as the Tipo, but it's not that much of a big deal in the grand scheme of things. The Panda is also available in a five-door hatchback with plenty of cargo space and a 4x4 version, making it one of the most versatile, affordable and reliable vehicles - an unbeatable combination.
Fiat 500 running costs & reliability
On average, the running costs for the Fiat 500 are relatively affordable, regardless of the particular model year you choose. The initial purchase prices are more wallet-friendly than other similar vehicles on the market.
Additionally, the Fiat 500's engine typically has impressive fuel economy, with the vehicle as a whole holding onto much of its value after you've driven it out of the dealership.
The Fiat 500 engine is a turbocharged 1.2-litre with three cylinders producing up to 69bhp with options for an automatic transmission or manual transmission with the original clutch.
It also boasts just 88 g/km of CO2 emissions through the original exhaust system and has a fuel efficiency mileage of 53.3 mpg.
Although, if you want a truly efficient version of the Fiat 500, one of their new cars, the naturally-aspirated hybrid first released in 2020, is the way to go.
Thanks to its modern technology, it uses up to 20% less fuel than other models within the Fiat 500 range. Fiat also boasts of its 2-cylinder TwinAir engine being a fuel-efficient power source providing up to 51.4 mpg. However, this theoretical figure will vary depending on your driving habits. Of course, for buzzing around city streets and short journeys, you can come close at around 50 mpg when you aren't in a hurry.
However, as soon as you try to make any larger or quicker journeys, driving records show the figure moves more towards the 40 mpg mark and below. Despite how much of a careful driver you believe you are, you may find it difficult to avoid the temptation to put your foot down. The engine notes of the Fiat 500 are particularly harmonious, something which car lovers might find hard to limit their enjoyment of.
Naturally, driving everywhere in second gear will produce a fantastic noise, but it'll do nothing for your fuel efficiency. The TwinAir produces up to 85 bhp and generates 106 g/km of CO2 emissions.
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