How much performance does a city car need? Our standard is enough low-down eagerness to nip assertively through traffic and sufficient reserves to keep up with the flow on the occasional trip further afield.
With 99bhp, you'd be forgiven for thinking our test 1.4 500 should have no trouble meeting such criteria, and our efforts at the track – where we test cars two-up and fully fuelled – proved as much, the 500 hitting 60mph from rest in a reasonable 10.3sec.
But this performance doesn't come without a little effort on your part and a little fluster from the 500. Peak power comes at 6000rpm and at a more realistic 3500rpm you've got just 59bhp to play with, so you'll be making good use of the accurate and short-throw gearchange.
The 30-50mph increment takes 5.8sec in third. Drop to second gear and this falls to 3.9sec, but this places you right at the top of the rev range. That wouldn't be an issue were the motor sweet-sounding, but it delivers little aural reward.
No complaints with the braking performance, though; 257mm ventilated discs up front and 240mm solid discs at the back are easily sufficient for the 1075kg 500.
Grip is similarly good. Whether dry or damp, the 500 hangs on admirably. Similarly impressive was the wet performance.
Considering this secure footing, it's disappointing to discover that the 500 isn't more of a giggle to drive. In short, after the fine exterior and interior detailing, the drive is lacking both finesse and involvement.
Over the same road the Mini offers a more engaging drive; whether this will matter to prospective 500 buyers is another matter, however.
What will be of concern, though, is the ride. Our problem is not with comfort in town; although our big-wheeled test car does thump slightly over urban scars. The problem comes when the 500 is asked to cope with a choppy B-road at speed. It is all too easily thrown off line and its occupants bounced around in their seats.