Fiat 500 in Tenerife: First-Hand Driving Review

When you arrive in Tenerife, the first thing you notice is the dramatic shift in landscape. One moment you are cruising past sunlit beaches, and the next you are staring up at a towering volcano. To truly explore this island, you need a vehicle that can handle a vast variety of conditions without feeling out of its depth. We recently took the keys to a Fiat 500 to see exactly how this iconic Italian city car manages on some of the most demanding roads the Canary Islands have to offer.

Many visitors wonder if a compact car is enough for the steep inclines and long motorway stretches found here. We wanted to find out for ourselves. We spent several days putting the Fiat 500 through its paces, driving it from sea level right up to the clouds. Here is our honest assessment of what it is actually like to drive this popular small car across Tenerife.

How it drives on Tenerife roads

Starting our journey on the south coast, we merged onto the TF-1 motorway. This road features long fast sweepers and connects the major southern resorts to the capital and the airport. In a small car, motorways can sometimes feel intimidating. However, the Fiat 500 holds its own comfortably at cruising speeds. The steering is light but predictable, making lane changes straightforward. You will notice some wind noise around the mirrors when you push past 100-110 km/h, but the cabin remains pleasant enough for a conversation without shouting. The ride is stable, though you will feel the expansion joints on the bridges as you cross the deep ravines that cut through the southern landscape. For a car designed primarily for city streets, it covers motorway miles with surprising competence.

Leaving the coast behind, we turned our attention to the TF-21, the famous road climbing to Mount Teide. Driving up to 2,100 metres above sea level is a serious test for any naturally aspirated engine. As the air grows thinner and the temperature drops significantly, you have to work the gearbox to keep the momentum going. We were driving the Manual 1.2 L version, and it requires you to drop down to second or third gear on the steeper sections to maintain a steady pace. It is not a fast climb by any means. You will spend a lot of time in the higher rev ranges, but the little engine is willing and never feels like it is going to give up. The reward is reaching the lunar landscape of the national park, knowing the car worked hard to get you there.

The real challenge came when we tackled the TF-436 into Masca. This road is legendary for its extremely narrow cliff hairpins and blind corners. Here, the compact dimensions of the Fiat 500 become a massive advantage. While drivers in large SUVs were sweating and reversing to let oncoming buses pass, we were able to squeeze by with room to spare. The short wheelbase makes pivoting around tight switchbacks effortless. The brakes are perfectly adequate for the steep descents, provided you use engine braking to assist.

Where this car shines (and where it does not)

If there is one place the Fiat 500 feels entirely at home, it is navigating the resort streets in Los Cristianos, Costa Adeje, and Playa de las Americas. These areas are notoriously busy. Finding a spot in a tight parking garage or squeezing into a small gap between blue-line meters is a daily struggle for many tourists. In this car, parking is incredibly simple. The light steering and excellent forward visibility mean you can slot into spaces that other drivers have to abandon.

We also took the car north to explore the Anaga forest roads. These routes are completely different from the dry south. They are damp, twisty, and often misty, with moss covering the retaining walls. The Fiat 500 felt nimble and engaging here. The soft suspension absorbs the bumps and rough patches of tarmac reasonably well. However, the lack of outright grip from the standard tyres means you have to take the wet corners at a sensible speed.

Where the car does not shine is in high-speed overtaking or carrying a full load of passengers up a mountain. The engine simply lacks the torque required for swift passes on uphill stretches. If you get stuck behind a slow-moving coach on the way to Teide, you will likely have to stay there until a designated passing lane appears. Additionally, while the front seats are spacious enough for tall adults, the rear seats are cramped and best reserved for children or very short trips.

Practical notes

When planning your trip, luggage space is a crucial factor. The boot of the Fiat 500 is small. It will comfortably hold two cabin-sized suitcases and a couple of soft bags, but if you are travelling with large, hard-shell check-in luggage, you will have to fold down the rear seats. This makes it a brilliant choice for couples or solo travellers, but less ideal for a family of four with heavy gear. We also noted that the doors are quite long, which requires a bit of care when opening them in those tight blue-line parking spaces we mentioned earlier.

Fuel economy is a strong point. Despite pushing the engine hard on the mountain climbs, we found the fuel consumption to be very reasonable. Petrol stations are plentiful along the TF-1 and in the major towns, but they are scarce in the Anaga mountains and the Teide national park. You should always ensure you have at least half a tank before embarking on those remote routes.

The interior controls are simple and intuitive. Our test car had essential features like air conditioning, which is absolutely vital when driving in the southern resorts during the midday heat. The physical buttons are easy to use while keeping your eyes on the road, a welcome departure from the complex touchscreens found in many modern vehicles.

Verdict

Driving the Fiat 500 in Tenerife is an exercise in managing expectations and enjoying the journey. It is not a performance car, and it will not rush you up the side of a volcano. What it will do is provide reliable, stress-free transport that excels in the exact areas where larger cars struggle. The sheer convenience of its size on the Masca hairpins and in crowded resort car parks cannot be overstated.

If your itinerary involves a mix of beach hopping in Costa Adeje, a slow and scenic drive up to Teide, and exploring narrow northern villages, this car is a fantastic companion. You will save time looking for parking, you will save money at the petrol pump, and you will save yourself a lot of anxiety on the island’s most intimidating roads. We returned the keys feeling that, for two people looking to explore Tenerife at their own pace, the Fiat 500 is a highly practical and charming choice.

Where to book the Fiat 500 in Tenerife

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