2016 Fiat 500X: Up Close
Fiat’s most-recent four-door foray in the U.S. was the supremely ugly, yet versatile Fiat 500L. Much of our staff loved the space-efficient 500L, but I found it hard to look past its pimply, high school-faced awkwardness.
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I’m more onboard with the 2016 500X, Fiat’s smaller newcomer with available all-wheel drive, meant to compete with the growing breed of smaller-than-compact SUVs like the Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3 and Chevrolet Trax.
The 500X is considerably more proportionate than the 500L and looks to perfectly fit into the rest of the class. Fiat flair like the rustic Cuoio Anticato tobacco-colored leather seating surfaces and huge selection of interesting and vibrant exterior colors give the 500X a unique presence. One show car’s Giallo Amalfi Tristrato tri-coat yellow exterior color was particularly magnetic.
The 500X is more compact on the inside than the 500L. The backseat is small but not uncomfortable, and it’s easy enough to get in and out without much fuss. Most of this class is shaping up to have similar interior dimensions and comfort levels with only slight variations between each other.
Sitting in the driver’s seat, the 500X feels like a cross between the 500 and 500L. Interior quality is similar to Fiat’s other offerings with interesting color combinations like the black leather upholstery with red piping reminiscent of Adam West’s Batmobile. But all in all it still feels like a little Italian runabout.
Cars.com photos by Evan Sears
