Is the 2020 FIAT 500 reliable?

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. 92% of FIAT 500s from 2020 passed their MOT first time in 2026, based on 7,732 tests. That's 10 points above the national average of 82%.

How much does a 2020 FIAT 500 cost to run?

Estimated annual running cost is £1,405 (£117/month), including £955 fuel, £195 road tax, £55 MOT, and £200 predicted repairs.

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2020 FIAT 500?

The 2020 FIAT 500 has a 92% MOT pass rate based on 7,732 tests in 2026. This ranks 1238 out of 2596 cars from 2020.

Which year FIAT 500 is most reliable?

The 2021 FIAT 500 has the highest MOT pass rate at 93%. The least reliable year is 2007 at 72%.

FIAT 500 (2020)

Q: What is the average mileage for a 2020 FIAT 500?

The average mileage for a 2020 FIAT 500 is 23,865 miles, which is below the expected 44,400 miles for a 6-year-old car. This suggests lighter use than average, which generally means less wear on major components.

Running costs, reliability data, and common problems from 7,732 real MOT tests.

Annual Cost

£1,405

£117/month

MOT Pass Rate

92%

Excellent

Road Tax

£195

Flat rate/year

Insurance

Grp 1-8

875cc Petrol

Great Choice

92% pass rate, £1405/year to run. 10 points above average.

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Petrol875cc6 years old7,732 tests24k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 875cc)

~50 mpg

£955

Road Tax

Flat rate (post-2017)

£195

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

Low estimate due to excellent reliability

£200

Total per year£1,405

Per month£117/mo

Per week£27/wk

Based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), current fuel prices, and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included.

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Reliability Verdict

92% MOT pass rate(Excellent)

0%National avg: 82%100%

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. That's 10 points above the national average of 82%. It also outperforms the FIAT brand average of 83%.

At 6 years old, 92% of FIAT 500s from 2020 passed their MOT first time in 2026. That's based on 7,732 tests across the UK. The average mileage at this age is 23,865 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2020 cars1238th of 2,596(top 48%)

Rank among FIAT models197th of 818(top 24%)

vs national average+10%(82% avg)

vs 2020 cars average+0%(92% avg)

vs FIAT average+9%(83% avg)

Mileage Analysis

23,865

Average miles

44,400

Expected for age

The average 2020 FIAT 500 has 23,865 miles on the clock, which is below the expected 44,400 miles for a 6-year-old car. This suggests lighter use than average, which generally means less wear on major components.

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Best Year to Buy?

The most reliable year is the 2021 model with a 93% MOT pass rate, while the 2007 model has the lowest at 72%. The 2020 sits between the two at 92%.

FIAT 500 by Year

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2021	93%	195	18,379 mi
2020	92%	7,732	23,865 mi
2019	90%	31,868	27,173 mi
2018	86%	40,756	33,498 mi
2017	83%	39,899	40,199 mi
2016	80%	56,821	45,258 mi
2015	78%	69,392	51,933 mi
2014	78%	73,839	58,446 mi
2013	78%	63,361	63,074 mi
2012	76%	51,956	68,150 mi
2011	75%	36,701	72,823 mi
2010	73%	39,852	77,223 mi
2009	72%	38,991	82,820 mi
2008	72%	23,228	86,722 mi
2007	72%	241	89,332 mi
2001	81%	31	34,363 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

FORD FIESTA

2018 · 998cc Petrol

£1,400/year

90%

-2%

NISSAN QASHQAI

2018 · 1200cc Petrol

£1,550/year

87%

-5%

AUDI A3

2018 · 999cc Petrol

£1,400/year

92%

same

VAUXHALL MOKKA

2018 · 1364cc Petrol

£1,732/year

84%

-8%

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About the 2020 FIAT 500

The 2020 FIAT 500 is a city car with a 875cc petrol engine. 7,732 of these vehicles were MOT tested in 2026, making it a reasonably common sight on UK roads. Among all cars from 2020, the average MOT pass rate is 92%, and this model falls short of that benchmark.

With an average of 23,865 miles at 6 years old, FIAT 500 owners tend to use this car less than the typical driver.

2020 FIAT 500 Fuel Costs

The modest 875cc petrol engine keeps fuel costs low, which is a real advantage for a city car. Expect around 50 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £955 per year at current petrol prices of 142p per litre (based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2020 FIAT 500?

Total estimated annual running cost is £1,405 (£117/month), broken down as £955 fuel, £195 road tax, £55 MOT, and £200 predicted repairs. The low repair estimate reflects the excellent 92% pass rate. These cars rarely fail their MOT, so unexpected bills are less likely.

FIAT 500 Reliability Trend

Newer FIAT 500s show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 11 percentage points.

Buying a Used 2020 FIAT 500

At 6 years old, the FIAT 500 offers good value with plenty of life remaining. Most manufacturer warranties will have expired, so a pre-purchase inspection is worth the cost. If you're flexible on year, the 2021 model has the highest pass rate at 93%. With 7,732 MOT tests in our data, there's strong statistical confidence in these figures.

Common Issues to Watch For

Based on the 2020 FIAT 500's fuel type, age, and engine size, these are the most likely problem areas to check.

Coil Pack Failure

Medium risk

Smaller petrol engines are prone to ignition coil failures, causing misfires and rough running. Replacement is £50-£150 per coil.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 2020 FIAT 500 stacks up against similar cars for annual running costs, insurance, and tax.

Car	Pass Rate	Fuel/yr	Tax/yr	Insurance	Total/yr
FIAT 500(2020)	92%	£955	£195	Grp 1-8	£1405
FORD FIESTA(2018)	90%	£955	£190	Grp 1-8	£1400-£5
NISSAN QASHQAI(2018)	87%	£955	£190	Grp 5-15	£1550+£145
AUDI A3(2018)	92%	£955	£190	Grp 1-8	£1400-£5
VAUXHALL MOKKA(2018)	84%	£1137	£190	Grp 8-20	£1732+£327

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, current fuel prices, and MOT data. Insurance groups are indicative. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.