The Fiat 500X gets the retro look of the 500 city car and grafts it onto a small crossover body
The Fiat 500X is one of the most style-focused offerings in the small SUV/crossover segment. It does a good job of extending the 500 city car’s iconic design cues into the segment. Not everyone will fall in love with the cute looks, but those who do will find it a practical lifestyle accessory – even if Fiat no longer offers the more powerful 4×4 version.
Sharing a chassis with the Jeep Renegade, the 500X’s dynamics and on-road handling are surprisingly sharp, while the latest petrol engines boost efficiency and performance. We go so far as to say that the High Speed Precision is exemplary for a car in this class, making it an ideal small family car for the fashion-conscious buyer.
With so many crossovers for sale in the UK, the Fiat 500X needs something special to help it stand out. As its name suggests, this thing is a retro look inspired by the evergreen Fiat 500 city car. But while the looks are similar, the 500X is much larger, and will suit someone who likes the look of the 500, but needs more practicality.
Under the skin, the Fiat 500X shares running gear with the Jeep Renegade, while other rivals offering similar space and upscale appeal include the Mazda CX-3, MINI Countryman and Audi Q2. These cars are slightly larger than other competitors, such as the Peugeot 2008 and Seat Arona.
A comprehensive refresh of the range in 2018 saw Fiat drop the 500X diesel engine entirely. There is no longer a 4×4 version due to falling sales as well, so all cars are front-wheel drive. The trim lineup now consists of Urban, Lounge, City Cross, Cross Plus and Sport.
Motor performance in the Fiat 500x
It’s gone with a 1.6-litre non-turbo petrol engine, as well as a 1.3-litre and 2.0-litre diesel. The nine-speed automatic box and any four-wheel drive option were also removed. All cars are now powered by peppy turbo petrol engines.
Lower weight in the nose enhances the 500X’s handling, and the Fiat feels agile for a high-riding crossover. On the track, handling is surprisingly sharp and there’s plenty of grip, even if all-wheel drive is no longer available. On the highway, the cabin is also quiet, making the car well-suited for long trips.
However, we have concerns about the ride on larger wheels, and if you choose a model with 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels, you may well notice the car fidgeting and shaking more on poor surfaces.
There are two petrol engines in the 500X range. The old 1.6 E-TorQ 110 was abandoned in 2019, but this is not a problem as it felt stressed and was not very economical. It offered a fairly quick 109bhp and was good for 0-62mph in 11.5 seconds, with a top speed of 112mph.
The new entry-level engine is the 1.0-litre turbocharged FireFly, which is available on all model grades. Generating 118bhp with 190Nm of torque, it gives the 500X a 0-62mph time of 10.9 seconds and a top speed of 117mph. It’s livelier and firmer than the old E-TorQ unit, and fits the car to a tee.
The FireFly’s 1.3 four-cylinder engine has 148 hp and comes with a semi-automatic DCT dual-clutch transmission as standard. Still driving the front wheels, its 0-62mph acceleration time is 9.1 seconds – while top speed is 124mph. The six-speed DCT is much better than the old nine-speed.
Luxuries in the Fiat 500X
The 500 is not the best car in its class in any department, yet it has sold nearly 1.5 million units worldwide since its launch. why? Because it looks great.
Fiat claims that for 60% of buyers in the compact crossover segment, design is their primary motivation, and in this regard, the 500X is a smart piece of design. The 500’s retro cues, such as the dual circular headlights, ‘moustache’ grille and curved panels, have been refined into something more aggressive.
Urban versions have smoother, sportier-looking front and rear bumpers, while upgrading to Lounge-spec brings larger 17-inch alloy wheels and body-colour mirrors. Cross models have a more rugged appearance thanks to larger bumpers, underbody protection and roof rails. Finally, the latest Sport model offers some more subtle touches and red details to emphasize the sporty look, even if the performance is no different from the rest of the range.
The 500X is a much larger car, and don’t forget – longer, wider and taller – than many of its small crossover rivals including the MINI Countryman, Renault Captur and Nissan Juke, which gives it a certain amount of extra road presence.
Inside, the retro 500-inspired look continues with body-colored plastic inserts running right across the dashboard, and chrome splashes on the door handles and vent surrounds. However, there is a more three-dimensional feel, with the prominent instrument panel and infotainment screen protruding from the dashboard.
While Urban cars get glossy body-colored inserts on the fascia, giving the cabin a more luxurious feel, if you go for the Sport model, you get more utilitarian gray inserts that don’t do much for the interior ambiance.
Depending on spec, you can get steering wheel controls, Bluetooth hands-free operation and music streaming, as well as Fiat’s Uconnect system as part of the infotainment package.
A 7-inch touchscreen is standard, while DAB radio is included, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across the range. Cross Plus and Sport models include additional USB ports at the front and rear of the cabin.
The 500X is only available in one body type, and is essentially a five-door hatchback in the style of an amped-up crossover. It falls between 500 and 500 liters in terms of interior space, and should be large enough for most young families.
The driving position is generally higher than the 500, but you sit in a less sporty position inside the car. At the front there are two glove boxes, large door pockets and a deep storage box under the armrest.
However, there have been compromises on practicality in the pursuit of elegance – the rear window is small, making visibility painful, and the seats are not the most supportive.
Safety features in the Fiat 500x
Reliability and build quality have long been a sticking point for Italian cars, and customer feedback suggests that Fiat still has a way to go when it comes to quality and service. The manufacturer ranked 23rd out of 30 manufacturers in the latest Driver Power customer satisfaction survey.
The regular Fiat 500 ranked 45th out of the top 75 cars when it comes to reliability. Although you can’t read too much into this because the 500X uses a completely different platform (based on the Jeep Renegade, which wasn’t featured in our survey) to the 500, and it feels better engineered than you might expect.
In terms of the latest safety equipment, the 500X breaks new ground for Fiat. Buyers can choose from different option packages (which save them up to 30% compared to purchasing options separately), one of which, called the City & Safety Plus Pack, includes cutting-edge technology including adaptive cruise control, city brake control, Blind Spot Assistant and a rear parking camera for squeezing in and out of tight spaces.
Sadly, that wasn’t enough to convince Euro NCAP crash testers, who gave the 500X just four out of five stars in 2015. Adult occupant protection was rated at 86% and child protection at 85%.
Fiat 500x price
Fiat 500X 2022, automatic, price starts from 43,500 US dollars