Fiat's new SUV is a bit smaller than the brand's 500L tall hatchback, and Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays says the 2016 Fiat 500X is the most capable but conventional-looking Fiat so far.
Transcript
(upbeat music) Fiat now gets an SUV in the all new 500X a vehicle related to the Jeep Renegade from sibling brand Jeep. It's available in front or all wheel drive. We're at the auto show. Let's take a look.
Now the 500X, though based on the Jeep Renegade is a few inches shorter than the Renegade. Actually not Fiat's largest vehicle though it is the most capable vehicle for the brand. A little bit smaller than the 500L. Kind of boxier, more wagony vehicle but the most conventional looking Fiat so far. Very large kind of perky headlights, fog lights down here. Openings for the grill and below that along the bumper. Just a very conventional look. You could take away the Fiat logo and throw a Mini logo here. I would think this was the next Countryman. The 500L also has a little bit more interior volume than the 500X but the 500X does have a nice low center tunnel here. It doesn't encroach too much on knee room, which is nice. Some controls that are familiar here. The center climate controls similar to those in the Renegade and the 500L. There's a five or six and a half inch screen up here for multimedia. It's nice to see there are actual knobs here for tuning and volumes so Fiat didn't go entirely to capacitive touch controls up there. Cabin materials are kind of mixed up. Very nice headliner, a nice arm rest here. Very liberal padding on the arm rest, which is generous. Nice to have in this segment. Nice stuff along the upper part of the dashboard. Overall pretty good job there I got to say. In the back seat here, leg room is okay with the front seats where they are. Headroom decent too and the seats, it's reasonably high off the ground. So adults should have somewhat good enough thigh support. Now the seats do fold down in a 60/40 split. A reasonably flat load floor, not a ton of room though. If you really want the most utility in this segment, Honda's recently introduced HRV probably wins that battle. The Fiat 500X comes in pop, easy, lounge, trekking and trekking plus trim levels. Unfortunately, the trekking trims don't come with Romulans or Klingons but if you pay them enough, you might get a Kardashian to drive one. Either way, all of those will be available once the 500X goes on sale in spring 2015. (car revving)
