2013 Fiat 500 Turbo: Photo Gallery

Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays recently called the Turbo version of the Fiat 500 the best variant of the tiny hatchback for its even blend of the base model and unruly Abarth model. The Turbo is one of five versions of the 500; it follows Pop, Sport, Lounge and Abarth editions.

Under the hood is a toned-down version of the Abarth's turbocharged 1.4-liter; it makes 135 horsepower here instead of the Abarth's 160 hp. Outside, Turbo-specific cues include unique side skirts, a liftgate-mounted spoiler and 16-inch aluminum wheels with black pockets. Gloss black headlamps also give it more attitude than regular models. 

With a starting price of $20,200, including the destination charge, it slots significantly above the base model ($16,700) but slightly below the top-line Abarth model in price ($22,700). All prices include a $700 destination fee.

Check out Cars.com photographer Evan Sears' photo gallery below.

Cars.com Reviews the 2013 Fiat 500 Turbo

The Fiat 500 Turbo is the Goldilocks version of the compact coupe, offering a just-right blend of the base model and the raucous Abarth model, says Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays. However, Mays cautions that several features annoy — subpar interior materials, underwhelming fuel economy and poor visibility mar the car's charm.

2013 Fiat 500 Turbo Review

Insurance Study Finds GMC Sierra 1500 Best for Safety

A new study of insurance rates for injury protection and medical payments ranked the GMC Sierra 1500 pickup truck highest for occupant injury protection. The Fiat 500 ranks lowest.

Insure.com studied prevailing insurance rates across hundreds of ZIP codes from six major auto-insurance carriers: Allstate, Farmers, Geico, Nationwide, Progressive and State Farm. The firm analyzed premiums for injury coverage, including provisions for uninsured motorists and lost wages, on more than 750 new cars.

Besides the GMC Sierra 1500 (SLE/SLT/Work Truck), the best rates came from the Porsche Cayenne, GMC Yukon (SLT/Denali), GMC Sierra 2500 (SLE only) and GMC Terrain (SLE1 only) — all trucks or SUVs. On the other end, multiple trim levels of the Fiat 500 and 500c (cabrio) rated worst among injury-protection rates. The Kia Rio5 (LX/SX), Toyota Corolla (L only), Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart and Mercedes-Benz CL600 joined the small Fiat among the worst cars for injury-related insurance rates. Four of those five are compact or subcompact, and three of them start under $17,500.

Chrysler to Offer Dealer-Activated Navigation Systems

Until now, new-car shoppers who want a navigation system have to pick a more expensive navigation-equipped vehicle at the dealership or have an aftermarket system installed into a lower trim level. At this week's 2013 Consumer Electronics Show, Chrysler announced plans to address that with a dealer-activated navigation system. Basically, the automaker will offer standard — but deactivated — navigation in cars equipped with the Uconnect dashboard screen. Pay for the option and dealers will activate it. It's sort of like how your TV's cable receiver could play a gaggle of premium channels but locks them out until you pay up.

Dealer-activated navigation requires Chrysler's Uconnect Access system, the latest version of Uconnect. It debuts in the 2013 Ram 1500, 2013 SRT Viper and 2014 Fiat 500L, with screen sizes ranging from 6.5 to 8.4 inches. Dealers can activate navigation when you buy the car or if you decide you want it later on. Chrysler spokesman Eric Mayne said dealer-activated navigation will run $595 in the Ram, but there's no pricing on the other two yet.

We'll see if Chrysler finds many takers down the road. A handful of Ford owners are clamoring for a similar post-purchase option on cars that have MyFord Touch and its dashboard screen but not the navigation option. Dealer-activated navigation "is theoretically possible, but we’ve not seen the customer demand for it yet," Ford spokesman Alan Hall said. "Most people purchase navigation up front when they order or choose the car."

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EPA: 2013 Fiat 500e Goes 87 Miles on a Charge

Fiat's electrified 500e hatchback is officially rated with an EPA-estimated range of 87 miles per charge. Fiat says the subcompact 500e's range is better than other electric vehicles in its class as well as all U.S.-market EVs produced by high-volume manufacturers. The Tesla Model S is not included in this claim with its maximum 265-mile estimated range nor is the 2012 Coda Sedan (sold in California only) with 88-mile range. The Smart ForTwo Electric Drive rates at 68 miles, Mitsubishi i-MiEV is 62 miles and the Nissan Leaf has a 73-mile range.

The 500e's miles per gallon equivalent is a combined 116 city/highway with a 122 MPGe city rating and 108 MPGe highway rating. The EPA also estimates a full year of driving (15,000 miles) to cost $500 for charging. By comparison, the i-MiEV's estimated annual cost is $550 and both the ForTwo's and Leaf’s is $600.

The all-electric 500e is powered by a 111-horsepower electric motor that propels the subcompact to a maximum speed of 85 mph. Supplying juice to the motor is a 24-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery with an estimated charge time of less than four hours on 240-volt Level 2 charging. Expect charging times of around 24 hours on 120-volt power.

California will be the first state to see the 500e when it goes on sale in the second quarter of 2013.

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A Fiat for the Family?

Fiat claims it made the new 500L to accommodate families, and after the big reveal at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show this week, I want to put my family in one.

My small family of three values style and fuel efficiency and enjoys a smaller car. With a toddler in a forward-facing safety seat and no double stroller to fit in the cargo area, we get by just fine in unorthodox family vehicles and own a VW Jetta.

More 2012 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

The Fiat 500L brings the playfulness and fun of the 500 in larger — if not gigantic — form. The beauty is in how the automaker optimized what space the car does have.

2013 Fiat 500c Abarth: Photo Gallery

The sport-tuned Abarth version of Fiat's tiny 500 gives the car a huge dose of fun; a new Abarth convertible model joins the lineup for 2013. Like the coupe, the cabrio version also gets a lowered ride height, track-tuned suspension, dual exhaust, larger brakes and wider tires.

More 2012 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

The performance-oriented four-passenger cabrio also features the Abarth model's aggressive styling with model-specific side skirts, unique exterior trim details, a spoiler and dual exhaust. Check out more pictures below.

2014 Fiat 500L Video

What does the L in the new-for-2014 Fiat 500L's name stand for? Cars.com reviewer Joe Wiesenfelder says the five-seat compact crossover debuting at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show makes full use of its "large" designation, trumping the Mini Countryman in length and height. What the upsizing takes away from the regular 500's distinctive profile, it makes up for in backseat legroom. How those "weird" A-shaped pillars work for drivers remains to be seen.

More 2012 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

The front-wheel-drive 500L's turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder is good for 160 horsepower and is paired with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. Overall, Wiesenfelder said the 500L is an improvement over its L-less sibling. Check out the video below.

2014 Fiat 500L: Photo Gallery

The 500L is Fiat's first attempt at a compact crossover for the U.S. market, and if the traditional 500's styling strikes you as cute, the L offers more of the same.

More 2012 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

Though styling is similar, the L is much longer and wider than the regular 500 and offers a couple model-specific design touches: Its blacked-out roof pillars combined with a contrasting-color roof really stand out, as does its unique-looking split A-pillar setup. Check out more pictures below.

2014 Fiat 500L: Up Close

Like Mini before it, Fiat has produced a larger version of its initial tiny car, the 500. But rather than stretch the little 500 as Mini did with its Cooper, resulting in the Clubman, Fiat has jumped right into the subcompact-SUV class alongside the recently released Mini Countryman. The 500L is actually more than 5 inches longer and about 4 inches taller than the Countryman.

More 2012 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

If you like the looks of the 500, you'll probably like the 500L, too. If you don't like the 500, well, you certainly won't like the L, because there's more of it.