2016 Fiat 500X

Priced out of contention?

With a rather small product lineup in North America, Fiat needed a winner. A bread-andbutter model that would bring some much-need traffic to its showrooms.

The 500X crossover was to be that model. After all, chic compact SUVs are extremely popular right now, so it was written in the stars that the 500X would quickly become the brand’s best-selling vehicle. Didn’t happen. Or at least, it hasn’t happened yet.

The 2016 Fiat 500X is a kissing cousin to the Jeep Renegade, as they same the same platform and powertrains, but they each have their own character and appearance. Where the Renegade boasts an appealing Tonka-truck look, the 500X relies on curvy sheetmetal and Italian charm to get noticed.

And get noticed it does. From a styling standpoint, FCA might not have hit a home run, but the 500X is a solid triple. And yet, iy looks like through the 2016 calendar year, Fiat will barely sell 800 units of their crossover. In comparison, Jeep will be moving out roughly 4000 units of the Renegade, which seems like a lot until we realise that Mazda and Chevrolet will each have cleared out almost 10,000 copies of the CX-3 and the Trax over the same period. Clearly, Fiat’s charm has faded on our market, as total sales are down by almost 60% in 2016, compared to 2015.

The 500X is built on a stiff platform, and while our Sport trim level tester had a frontwheel drivetrain, AWD is available as an option.

The 2016 Fiat 500X’s cockpit is all about style, even though functionality isn’t necessarily put aside regarding the infotainment system and climate controls. The Uconnect 5.0 unit, standard in the Sport trim and up, includes a touchscreen interface that’s a little small, but at least the button zones are big and there are physical buttons surrounding it, which is pretty convenient.

Value isn’t one of the Fiat SUV’s qualities. Base price for a front-drive Pop trim is $22,995 before freight and delivery charges, making it one the most expensive among subcompact SUVs, with the exception of the Subaru Crosstrek—although the latter includes AWD as standard.

The 2016 Fiat 500X is the most stylish crossover in its category, and it offers a swell ride as well as many comfort and convenience features.