The Fiat 500 continues to scoop top industry honours in the UK, after taking the City Car title for the second consecutive year in the 2010 BusinessCar Awards. The multi-award-winning 500, which has just celebrated its second year on sale in the UK, already has an impressive list of trophies, including the international Car of the Year 2008, along with several from the UK’s leading consumer and trade titles.

The car’s good looks and efficiency, along with excellent residual values in the UK and low running costs were all praised by the award’s judges. "Fiat looks like it’s now secured this category for the long term, with the 500 comfortably taking the win for the second year in a row," says Paul Barker, editor, BusinessCar. "Thanks in part to a large fleet deal with driver training firm BSM, fleet registrations of the Fiat 500 were up 100 percent in 2009 over the previous year to about 4500 units. Registrations as a whole were up 50 percent to 22,000 cars. Fiat owes its city car win to three things," continues Barker, "first, the car looks great, so it’s got kerb and user-chooser appeal. Second, it’s efficient, courtesy of a super-frugal 1.3-litre diesel that gives a 110g/km CO2 output. As a result the car falls into the minimum benefit-in-kind tax band for diesels and it also qualifies for the best capital allowance tax band. To help economy further the diminutive Fiat comes with EcoDrive, which allows users to monitor and improve their eco-driving skills. The final aspect that fleets like about the 500 is the strong residual value, which means running costs are also low. It’s a winning formula."

“Another award from a top title is always welcome,” says Andrew Humberstone, managing director, Fiat Group Automobiles UK. “The Fiat 500 has continued to sell well to retail customers and has caught the imagination of large and small fleets too, so we are delighted to see further support from BusinessCar in this excellent category win.”

Available in the UK with a choice of three frugal, ultra-low emissions, Euro 5 engines: 69 bhp 1.2-litre and 100bhp 1.4-litre petrol, or 95 bhp 1.3-litre MultiJet turbodiesel, the Fiat 500 can be ordered in three different trim levels – Pop, Sport and Lounge. With a starting price of just £9,300, the 500 represents outstanding value for money.