Video: 2016 Fiat 500X

The 2016 Fiat 500X offers all the versatility of an SUV with a tall ride height and available all wheel drive in a tiny maneuverable package. Although it shares architecture with a Jeep Renegade, the 500X trades in that model's boxy profile for curvy lines. The question is, while it has this interior that impresses and a no-nonsense multimedia system, will its nine speed automatic transmission prove as problematic as it has in other FCA vehicles? There are choice of two engines for the 500X. Now our test model here has the 2.4 liter four cylinder engine that makes 180 horsepower. Now power seems a little weak from a standstill but you can slip it into sport mode and that helps a lot. Unfortunately that same four cylinder is made it to FCAs nine speed automatic transmission. And we found that model to be unpredictable and rough. The timing of the shifts is just really all over the place and it's not very refined. Although it handles well with confidence in corners, ride quality could be better. You feel a lot of bumps and there's a lot of road and wind noise in the cabin. The cabin is well laid out. It's got an interesting mix of materials. It's all padded where you want it to be. And it's got a good design. There is one area where the 500X kind of falls flat and it's these seats. They are very flat and they're very hard and that gets old after awhile. On the bright side is this multimedia system. It's mounted very high up. It's got a very responsive touch screen, as well as all these buttons that make it very easy to navigate through all the various settings. When it comes to the backseat of the 500X, it's sort of a mixed bag. Head room I'm actually fine. But as you can see the leg room's really tight. And when you compare the 500X to others in the class, like the Chevrolet Trax, it offers a little bit more room. And the Honda HRV offers almost five inches more leg room. And I gotta admit, I kind of wish I had that extra space right now. As is common for the subcompact SUV class, the rear cargo room isn't overly generous. Okay yeah, the seats fold down pretty easily for more room but like this, it's not huge. For comparison sake, it has roughly the same amount of space back here as a Chevrolet Trax but much less than the Honda HRV. The 500X starts at around $21,000. But if you want all wheel drive, you're going to have to jump up to a mid-level trim and that costs around $25,000. And some competitors, like the Honda HRV, do offer all wheel drive for less money. So the nine speed automatic is erratic and it really detracts from the driving. But otherwise the 500X is a delight, with it's fetching interior, it's smart exterior styling, and that no nonsense multimedia system. (trunk slamming)