Introduced to the UK in June 1998 the Fiat Seicento is the classic small hatchback with a big personality. At just under 11ft long and 5ft wide it is perfect for city use and is fun to drive, even though its power is modest.

In basic form it came with an 899cc engine producing just 39bhp, but there was a sprightlier version with a 1108cc, 54bhp engine.

The 899cc unit returns a frugal 50mpg, but small engines often have a downside — durability — and used Seicentos are no exception. They need regular oil changes to avoid excessive wear and all models can be prone to head gasket failure.

A separate problem is that catalytic converters can rust through, and it’s also important to check there is no smell of petrol — a sign of a rusty fuel tank. Fiat replaced many faulty tanks under warranty but some cars could still retain the problem.

The Seicento is at home in the city, with eager brakes and excellent visibility. The absence of ABS on most models is disappointing but at the speeds the car was designed to travel this is hardly a major problem. Although the Seicento’s steering could never be described as heavy, the introduction of power steering across the range as part of an October 2000 facelift was a welcome improvement. When reversing into a parking space there is a button to press that makes the steering ultra light so the wheel can be twirled with ease.

For such a small, light car the ride is surprisingly supple and the soft seats are good on shorter runs, although their lack of support is obvious on long journeys. Space in the front is fine but rear passengers may be cramped.

The Seicento was never an expensive car and equipment levels were sparse. Base models had reclining seats and heated rear windscreens. At least there wasn’t much to go wrong. The Seicento also enjoys low insurance premiums.

When Fiat ended production of the model in June 2004 a top spec Sporting model would have cost about £6,500. Now it can be yours for less than half that.


VITAL STATISTICS

Model Fiat Seicento Sporting
Engine 1108cc, four cylinders
Power 54bhp
Transmission Five-speed manual
Fuel 46mpg (combined)
Acceleration 0-62mph: 13.1sec
Top speed 93mph

THE ONE TO BUY

Fiat Seicento Sporting 2002 02 with 20,000 miles. Pay £2,925 from a dealer or £2,250 privately.

OR, FOR THE SAME MONEY...

2001 X Toyota Yaris 1.0 VVt-i S

2001 Y Nissan Micra 1.0 S

2001 Y Ford Ka 1.3

2001 51 Peugeot 106 1.1 Zest

VALUES

Source: estimates based on confidential CAP black book prices. ‘Trade’ is what a dealer would pay to buy your car; ‘Retail’ is what you would pay a dealer