The Fiat 500X mixes the Fiat 500’s retro style with the practicality and higher driving position of a compact SUV. It’s as roomy as a mid-size hatchback, comfortable and well equipped. You get a great view out of the 500X and getting in and out of it is easy. The four-wheel-drive version is surprisingly capable off-road and can tow up to 1500kg. It’s a great choice if you want a car that’s small and cost-effective yet also practical and stylish.
The 500X has been sold new since 2015 and the range was updated in 2018 with new engines, more modern tech and different styling details. ‘Multiair’ and ‘eTorq’ petrol, and ‘Multijet’ diesel engines, manual and automatic gearboxes and four-wheel drive are available (diesel and 4WD options were dropped from the range in 2018).
You can choose from several trim and equipment packages with names like Pop Star, Lounge and City Cross. Packages introduced in 2018 feature more tech and different trims.
All 500X models have air con, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity and DAB radio. Lots of models upgrade to climate control and have a touchscreen infotainment system with sat nav and smartphone connectivity. Fiat also has its own entertainment, mapping and vehicle information apps that you can access through the touchscreen.
It’s worth noting that the built-in TomTom sat nav can be a bit slow, so you may find it better to connect your phone using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to use their mapping apps.
The 500X is pretty efficient for this type of car. According to official figures, petrol models give average fuel economy of 39-46mpg, depending on which engine you choose. Diesel models can give 57-68mpg, again depending on the engine. Road tax and insurance costs are reasonable, too.
Among the 500X’s many small SUV rivals are the Ford Puma, Jeep Renegade and Renault Captur. It’s not the most spacious of such cars, but it’s still usefully practical. It’s also one of the most cost-effective and most enjoyable to drive.
The 500X has more than enough space to be used as a family car. There’s generous space in the front seats and adults will be comfortable in the back, so children should be well accommodated. There’s lots of useful storage cubbies dotted around the interior, as well. The boot is similar in size to a mid-size hatchback’s, so big shopping trips and family holidays shouldn’t present any issues. But there are other small SUVs with bigger boots.
The 500X is the larger of Fiat’s two SUV models, the smaller one being the Panda 4x4. The 500X is similar in size to the 500L MPV, with which it shares many parts and the Tipo hatchback. The Fiat 500 hatchback is much smaller and shares only its name and retro styling with the 500X.
Safety organisation Euro NCAP gave the 500X a four-star safety rating (out of a possible five) when tested in 2015. Extra safety features were added in 2018, including traffic sign recognition that spots speed limits and won’t allow the car to go faster than that speed (although you can switch the system off if you want). High-spec models also have automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control.
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