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Fiat 500X brings an Italian twist to mini crossovers
If you like cute, they don’t get much more adorable than a Fiat 500. And now it has a big brother in the equally distinctive 500X crossover.
The 500X has about the same visual impact as that iconic city car, although this new “urban road warrior” is a bit bigger. It comes in five whimsically named trim lines, starting with the entry-level Pop, and ascending through Easy, Trekking, Lounge, and Trekking Plus. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel-drive optional across the board.
While the 500X is assembled alongside the new Jeep Renegade in Melfi, Italy, the two are different cars. They share a platform and powertrains but little else. Besides, unlike the Jeep, the 500X has no off-roader pretenses: It’s made to cope with potholes, not sink holes. Further, the Fiat is aimed at young, urban professionals. Think kayakers rather than bass-boat fans. (See our Jeep Renegade first drive.)
The version we’re trying out is a fully optioned, top-of-the-line Trekking Plus that’s priced at around $32,000 all in—quite a princely sum for a diminutive crossover. But that buys kit seldom seen in the subcompact-SUV club outside of the luxury marques. Its phone-book-length features list includes a heated steering wheel and heated perforated-leather seats, keyless start, navigation, automatic climate system, dual sunroofs, 18-inch wheels, and a full quota of modern safety and crash-avoidance systems. Atop the dash is a round-cornered pod holding a downsized touch screen for Chrysler’s excellent UConnect infotainment system.
While the lowest trim offers a small 160-hp, 1.4-liter turbo four-cylinder engine and an optional six-speed manual, all other versions come with Chrysler’s 180-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission.
On the road the 500X handles competently, and that 2.4-liter Tigershark engine has sufficient power to motivate this small, light car once the busy transmission finds the right gear. The engine sounds louder than we like while accelerating, but on the whole the cabin stays fairly quiet.
Handling is tighter than that of the Renegade. The steering has reasonable heft but no great tactile road feel. The car tracks down the road nicely and feels agile enough zipping around town.
The ride, meanwhile, is about par for the class. On all but a freshly paved road, little jiggles come through without being too punishing.
The front cabin offers a driver copious headroom although, typical of this class, the seats are a bit narrow and the left footrest is a tad too close.
Double-stitched leather upholstery and numerous padded surfaces provide a smidgeon of plushness. Controls are easy to reach and use—welcome news since previous Fiats have been adorned with panoplies of eccentric, European-style buttons and switches.
One low-tech but handy touch is a good-sized open bin forward of the gear selector on the center console. It’s large enough to hold a double-handful of travel junk such as a smartphone, eyeglasses, gum, keys, snacks, and other essentials.
Sadly, the view straight back is appallingly constrained. If no one is in the back seats, you can improve the rear view a little by flipping down the rear seatbacks and their view-blocking head restraints.
The nice accommodations begin and end in the front seating area. The rear is cramped, especially at knee level. The seats themselves are flat and rather unwelcoming. High doorsills make it a little tough to climb in or out, at least for adults. Likewise, the cargo area is a little stingy. The floor space is good but the sloping rear window and seatbacks pinch the cargo volume considerably.
It’s too early to make conclusive judgments—these informal impressions are based on a rented high-end version—but we can imagine that when it hits showrooms this summer, the 500X will provide an appealing alternative for shoppers who’d otherwise have a Mini Countryman or Nissan Juke on their wish list.
Check back with us when we buy our own sample for a full road test.
—Gordon Hard
Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.
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