It’s nearly two years since it first went on sale in the UK, but the popular Fiat 500 supermini is still winning awards. The latest of these not only highlights the car’s style, technology and versatility, but also makes note of its fantastic green credentials. The 2009 GreenFleet Awards has just presented Fiat with top prize in the City Car of the Year category setting apart the 500 Start&Stop for special praise.

Held at the spectacular Guildhall, the GreenFleet Awards once again recognised the pioneers of environmental fleet management. Motoring journalist and Fifth Gear presenter Tiff Needell revealed the 2009 winners in 23 categories. Big winners on the night were BMW, scooping the Industry Innovation Award and the Fleet Car Manufacturer of the Year. Electric Vehicle of the Year went to the Mitsubishi iMiEV, after an impressive launch earlier in the Year.  The GreenFleet Outstanding Achievement Award went to Calvey Taylor-Haw from Elektromotive, who is largely responsible for introducing the first electric car charging network to the UK. The GreenFleet Awards were judged by representatives from the Institute of Car Fleet Management, WhatGreenCar? and GreenFleet magazine. The awards are a key date in the transport industry calendar.

Fiat’s ground-breaking eco:Drive system, which allows drivers to monitor their driving style to save fuel and reduce emissions, and the 500’s optional Dualogic automatic gearbox, were also praised. The Fiat 500 with Start&Stop won from a final shortlist of five cars, the four cars it beat to the title were the Citroën C1, Peugeot 107, Toyota IQ and Hyundai i10.

“The latest version of the iconic 500 now comes with Start&Stop, which further reduces its CO2 emissions down to 110g/km (Band B),” say the GreenFleet Awards judges. “A true four-seater, the 500 gives fantastic value to the consumer as well as being one of the greenest cars in its class. It also leads the way with the latest USB-compatible eco:Drive system which shows the driver how to improve fuel economy and cut emissions.” Available with a choice of three frugal, ultra-low emissions, Euro 5-ready engines: 69 bhp 1.2-litre and 100bhp 1.4-litre petrol, or 75 bhp 1.3-litre MultiJet turbodiesel, the new Fiat 500 can be ordered in three different trim levels – Pop, Sport and Lounge.