It's not very often that a new car goes on sale in the UK that's smaller than the Mini. No, not the bloated BMW remake in showrooms today – the Alec Issigonis original of 1959.At just 2.5 metres long, Fiat's Topolino – translating to 'little mouse' – is half a metre shorter than the iconic British classic. And it's only around 10cm wider.But the diminutive electric vehicle technically isn't a 'car'. It's classified as an L6 quadricycle – like the Citroen Ami that's been on sale in the UK since 2022, which the Fiat is mechanically identical to.This means there are significant limitations compared to a conventional car, including a restricted top speed of 28mph and a battery range of just 46 miles.But there are benefits to its classification too, like low production costs and a £9,000 price tag.With two seats, no radio or even cabin air vents, it's about as luxurious as a one-star Teletext holiday in the nineties.The cutest car to come to Britain in years: This is the Fiat Topolino - a £9,000 urban electric vehicle designed for European cities. So, can it cut it in the UK? At just 2.5 metres long, the Topolino is shorter than the original Sir Alec Issigonis-designed Mini. In a world where cars are getting increasingly bigger, that's some featJoin the discussionShould the UK embrace tiny, slow EVs like the Topolino or are they a step too far for city life?What's your view?Inside, it has a steering wheel, simple digital speedo, handbrake, buttons for the single-speed gearbox, a throttle and brake pedal. There's a removable handheld fan for cabin cooling. And that's your lot.Everything is manually operated, from repositioning the seats to adjusting the oval door mirrors through the flip-up 2CV-style side windows.Power is delivered to the front wheels by an 8bhp electric motor and 5.5kWh battery that takes around four hours to charge from a domestic socket.And because it doesn't have to meet mandated crash-test regulations like cars do, it weighs less than half a tonne. Still, it takes 10 seconds before it maxes out at 28mph.Despite all its shortcomings, it's a hit in Europe. More than 40,000 have been sold since 2023 – primarily in Italy and France, where relaxed licensing rules mean kids as young as 14 can legally drive one.And after three years in the waiting, it's finally coming to the UK this autumn. Daily Mail and This is Money motoring editor Rob Hull has been testing the Topolino in Rome ahead of first deliveries arriving in the UK in autumn A fleet of driving into the Vatican City. Fiat has gifted 30 'micromobility' vehicles - including 20 Topolinos - to the world's smallest independent country to help it reduce its carbon footprintRules are different in Britain. The DVLA says you need either an AM moped licence or a full driving licence to get behind the wheel of a Topolino. That means the minimum driving age here is 16.It's certainly aimed at a younger demographic, but not all European drivers are teenagers.Speaking at Fiat's Micromobility event at the Vatican City, Fiat CEO Olivier Francois said the average buyer is in their mid-40s. That's well below the UK average new-car buyer age of 54. Like the Ami, it's also likely to be popular among Europeans who have, for one reason or another, been stripped of their driving licence and need a form of personal transport.But it's selling too because it is quite simply adorable.The oval headlights and vintage wheel trims hark back to the 500 Topolino sold between 1936 and 1955; a car that became a symbol for cheap motoring in post-war Italy, not unlike the Mini did in Britain.Its two doors are exactly the same as part of stringent efforts to keep production costs as low as possible. On one side, the panel is hinged at the front like a conventional car while on the other it is fixed at the rear, so opens like a Rolls-Royce. Fling them open together and it doubles in width, which only adds to its unbearable cuteness.But roomy it isn't. Anyone of UK average proportion will comfortably fit, but it's cramped with a passenger, especially if just one of you is broad across the shoulders. It's not a vehicle designed for rugby props, put it that way. Once inside, there's a candy-striped 'Dolcevita box' that runs across the top of the dashboard to store a wallet and glasses case, a cradle for your smartphone to act as the sat-nav screen, and an area in the footwell for luggage – though only of the epically small proportions that qualify for Ryanair's complimentary carry-on. In Italy and France, licencing rules mean drivers as young as 14 can get behind the wheel. But tighter restrictions here require at a minimum an AM moped licence, so 16 at the very youngest The original Topolino was one of the smallest cars in the world during its production run between 1936 and 1955 Inside, the diminutive Fiat has a steering wheel, manual handbrake, simple digital speedo, buttons for the single-speed gearbox, a throttle pedal and brake pedal. And that's your lot... There's a cradle for you smartphone to act as the satellite navigation. And it also comes with a removable handheld fan for cabin cooling. There are no air ventsHow does it drive?Think of it as a dodgem without the confines of a fairground.The steering, which isn't power assisted, is heavy but incredibly direct, allowing you to dart around potholes with incredible precision.The pedal controls are quite the opposite. Bury the throttle and acceleration is equivalent to breaking into a brisk walk. Pound the brake and it slows with a comparable lack of urgency.What about the ride comfort? This is on par with falling down a flight of stairs; the suspension is all but non-existent, and it can make the Topolino alarmingly skittish on uneven roads.But in the right environment, it can be really good fun. It's one of few cars that gives you face ache from grinning at pedestrian speeds.Legally, you can drive it on any road in Britain that isn't a motorway. But don't.You immediately feel incredibly vulnerable in speed limits of more than 30mph. Drive on a road with a national speed limit and you'll become a rolling chicane for other motorists – it's genuinely a terrifying ordeal. Rob says the Topolino drives like a dodgem without the confines of a fairground. The steering is heavy and direct, the ride incredibly firm, and the acceleration pedestrian-like Just how adorable is it? Swing the doors open and the Topolino doubles in widthWhen can I buy one?Order books for UK deliveries opened on 1 July with the first units due to land early autumn.Customers have the option of two trims: the pastel blue Verde Vita or the matt orange Corallo.Also due to arrive next year is an extended four-seat version called the Multiplina – a modern interpretation of the 600 Multipla from the fifties and sixties. It will adhere to the higher L7 quadricycle regulations, meaning it can go up to 55mph. Great for Rome; not for Romford: The Topolino makes little sense in the UK. Yet it’s so charming that, before long, you’ll find yourself trying to justify owning one anyway Fiat Topolino: Specs at a glance On sale: now (first deliveries autumn 2026)Price: £8,995DIMENSIONSLength: 2,535mmWidth: 1,536mmHeight: 1,530mmWeight: 487kgBoot space: 0 litres PERFORMANCEBattery: 5.5kWhDrive: Single electric motor powering front wheelsTransmission: Single speed autoMax power: 8bhpMax torque: 40Nm Top speed: 28mphBattery range: 46 milesCharging time: 4 hours (domestic socket) Turning circle: 7.2 metres Cars & motoring verdictAs you might have guessed by now, this isn't going to replace your daily car. Fiat says it's the second or third vehicle in your private fleet to 'complement urban life'.It's designed for 'short journeys in towns, cities and private environments', the Italian marque states.And Fiat might be onto something. Last year, more than 120 million micromobility vehicles like this were sold globally. This includes e-scooters, electric bikes and tiny cargo vans. To put those numbers into perspective, 90 million cars were delivered worldwide.For metropolitan Europeans, I can see why it makes sense. Narrow, chaotic, urban streets are its bread and butter.But as easy as it is to romanticise about buzzing through the bustling back alleys of Rome, it's a hard task to recommend one to someone in Romford.Unlike our counterparts on the other side of the Channel, younger teens can't drive one here, which instantly limits its market appeal.It will only be sold with the steering wheel on the left. It's frightening to drive in speed limits above 30mph. And while very compact, it's too wide to filter through traffic, so it's gazumped by e-bikes and mopeds if you live in a city. The limited range also impacts its usability.What's more, the £8,995 starting price is a £1,300 premium over the Ami; that's a 16 per cent mark-up for what essentially is a few limoncello-fuelled styling tweaks.For an extra £2,000 you can have a Dacia Spring – a genuine electric car which goes for 150 miles between charges and has basic comforts like air conditioning, a radio and somewhere for your shopping.Rationally thinking, the Topolino makes little to no sense for UK drivers.Yet it’s so charming that, before long, you’ll find yourself trying to justify owning one anyway. Fiat Topolino FAQs Q: Is it legal?A: Yes. The Topolino can legally be driven in Britain.Q: Is it a car?A: No. Fiat officials tell us that the Topolino is classified in the UK as an 'L6 light quadricycle'.Q: Can you get one with the steering wheel on the right?A: No. Fiat is only producing them in left-hand-drive, which is mostly to keep manufacturing costs as low as possible. Q: Do you need a full licence to drive one? A: The DVLA says you you need either an AM moped licence or full 'Category B' driving licence to get behind the wheel of an Ami in the UK. The former means anyone as young as 16 can drive one in Britain. In France, it qualifies as a 'sans permis' vehicle, meaning you don't need a licence at all, just a basic road safety certificate that can be acquired by people as young as 14.Q: Why do the doors open in opposite directions?A: The driver's door is rear-hinged ('suicide' style) and the passenger door is - more conventionally - front-hinged. This is so that identical parts can be used on either side of the car to keep production costs low. This also explains why the front and rear of the car are the same shape.Q: Does it have a radio?A: Sort of. You can download the Topolino app to your smartphone and use it in the dashboard clip.Your phone then becomes your infotainment unit for which you can access navigation, music, radio and make hands-free calls. Q: What's the warranty like?A: Topolino is covered by the manufacturer's warranty for a period of 2 years. The battery benefits from a warranty of 3 years or 25,000 miles.Q: What are the service intervals?A: If the same as the Citroen Ami, it's every two years or every 12,500 miles (whichever comes first).Q: If it's not a car, how do you insure it?A: There is no specific category for insuring a Fiat Topolino like there is for conventional motor vehicles. Most insurance providers will be able to provide a quote for it as a quadricycle and customers can get cover from Citroen directly. Owners should shop around for specialist insurance cover, though this shouldn't be expensive.Q: Can you drive one on the motorway?A: No. You're legally not allowed to drive an Ami on a motorway.Q: Can you tow it?A: Topolino is not equipped with a suitable towing eye for two-wheeled towing and must always be transported using a flatbed vehicle. Improper towing may cause damage to the traction battery. Neither can Topolino be fitted with a towbar, or even a roofbox.Q: How fast does it charge? A: The Topolino's charging cable and plug is built into the bodywork. If like the Citroen Ami, it should have two adaptors in the UK. The first is a three-pin plug that allows you to charge from any domestic socket at a speed of 2kW - a full charge takes around four hours. The second is a Type 2 connector that will be compatible with public charging points. However, the Type 2 connector does not increase charging speeds - you will still only get 2kW when using a public device, so it takes the same amount of time as charging at home. CARS & MOTORING: ON TEST