In the first of our brand new Test Drive feature, John Ferris finds out what the nippy Fiat 500 is really like...

I've always thought Jeremy Clarkson was a bit of a fool. A likable one, yes. But a fool all the same.
But I've renewed respect for the man. I know he gets to hop into the latest Maserati GranTurismo and race his mates to Monaco all in the name of TV, but there's a downside too.
And I faced that same problem when I pulled into Mervyn Stewart last week and finally saw what the Fiat 500 actually looks like. For a 6’2” tall man, standing beside the Fiat was like waking up in a production of Gulliver's Travels.
Now I know how Clarkson feels when
he walks from a Maserati to a Mini Metro. I was instantly worried about people beeping their horns and shouting “Hey, it's Mr Bean”, as I saw myself driving down the road with my knees behind my ears.
But it was a huge shock when I got in and sat in the driver seat of the Fiat 500 1.4 Sport in stunning Pasodoble Red.
My fears were instantly allayed as I realised there was ample room up front, even for a tall man like myself.
The retro look which Fiat obviously went for is highly evident – sitting inside the first thing that stands out is the stunning red dash, which instantly draws the eye. Think 1970s retro kitchen and you're close.
It may look tiny from the outside, but inside it’s like the Tardis. The 500, surprisingly is slightly bigger than the Mini.
Fiat seem highly confident of the 500 with claims of “see one, drive one and you will want one” from the company.
And after 10 minutes of test driving the 500, I could see why. Sitting in traffic on the motorway, a couple in a jeep next to me beeped their horn and asked me to wind my window down.
Within seconds I found myself as a salesman. “How much are they?” asked the woman. Fumbling around with the price list I gave her a rundown.
She was mighty impressed. I forgot to say “tell the sales team I sent you”. My commission must be in the post.
But it's that kind of car. It may not be a Porsche, but it gets more looks from pedestrians and other motorists.
The original model, launched in 1957, is now a collectable. And its modern version is as cute, chic and funky as its older sister.
These days it pays to think small. With petrol and diesel prices looking unlikely to drop, bijou is a word that will be on the lips of many new buyers.
And with an option of a 1.2 or 1.4-litre petrol engine, or 1.3 diesel, the 500 is a fantastic offering.
But it's not just the size of the engine, the 500 is European Car of the Year and its range of engines meet the Euro 5 emissions standards. Add to that its Euro NCAP five-star safety rating (seven airbags are standard), and the 500 suddenly looks less like a fashion accessory and more like the next big thing.
Fiat also offer 100+ accessories for the 500 ranging from stickers and badges to 14 different types of upholstery.
It boasts an MP3-compatible CD player, height adjustable driver seat (lowest setting required for me) and Blue&Me, a hands free system for your mobile. My only niggle with the latter is I don’t know where you're meant to put your phone.
The list is endless – air con, leather trim, alloys. The sport model has a leather-clad steering wheel as well as most of the trimmings and is already the most popular, especially among younger buyers.
The highest spec engine has an official fuel consumption figure of 44.8mpg, which you can safely say in city life would probably be closer to 37 or 38mpg.
The 1.4 has electronic stability control as standard but will set you back an extra £200 for the other models.
Anyone who's thinking of buying it for city life would do well to stick to the 1.2 model though. With a top speed of about 99mph (around 14 less than the 1.4) it's not for those demanding speed as an essential, but it will get you in the early 40s for miles per gallon and with a B rating for emissions it'll only set you back £35 a year in road tax. The same road tax will apply for the diesel model, which is a better option for those looking to do more miles.
And with somewhere in the region of half a million different combinations, the Fiat 500 may be back in vogue, but you can still tailor it to your style to make your own stand out from the crowd.
In its original form, the 500 brought motoring to the masses during the ‘50s and ‘60s. This time around it promises to bring a fresh and stylish approach to motoring, some 50 years later.
In Belfast, the Mervyn Stewart team will be delighted to tempt you with this fantastic little car.
It’s obvious that their enthusiastic sales team genuinely love the 500 and are justifiably proud of it. They have a full range of models available in a wide range of colours and trims for you to ensure that your choice of Fiat 500 can be as uniquely you as you want it to be! But be assured, one drive in this car and you will want one.

To be part of the Fiat 500 generation contact Mervyn Stewart on 02890 682255 and one of the team will be delighted to be of assistance.