500L gets its hiking boots on

IS there still a place for the Fiat 500L in small MPV People Carriers market? The Italian brand thinks there is.

To prove the point, the company thoroughly updated this car in mid2017, changing 40% of all its components and in the process, created a much improved model.

The previously rather awkward looks now have more in common with the 500 citycar, media connectivity’s taken a step forward and the cabin is of much higher quality.

Just as importantly, this model now has three distinct identities: the standard ‘Urban’ version; the lengthened 7-seat ‘Wagon’ model; and the more rugged-looking ‘Cross’ variant with its higher ride height and enhanced traction system.

You get an urban confidence with the 500L, something encouraged by the light lock-to-lock steering.

A car you might enjoy on the school run. If not quite so much pushing on beyond the city limits.

Under the bonnet, the range is based around either 95bhp or 120bhp petrol or diesel engine options. The green pump-fuelled powerplants are both 1.4-litres, with the 120bhp turbocharged T-Jet unit infinitely superior to its feebler normally-aspirated alternative.

Most buyers though, will want one of the Multijet diesels. Either the 95bhp 1.3-litre unit (which comes with a Dualogic auto transmission option), or the 120bhp 1.6litre powerplant.

‘Cross’ buyers get a raised ride height and a ‘Mode Selector’ giving extra ‘Traction+’ and ‘Gravity Control’ driving settings for light off-road use. ‘Traction+’ prompts the ABS system to brake the slipping wheel, at the same time transferring torque to the one with more traction and hopefully easing you out of whatever mildly challenging situation you’re slithering about in.

Overall, you wouldn’t want to put all this to too much of a test, but the truth is there’s probably more offtarmac capability here than you get with most fashionable small SUVs.

The ‘Cross’ comes in one single fully-loaded level of spec at prices starting from just over £18,000.

Which is quite good, considering a smaller dressed-up Fiat 500X is probably going to cost you the best part of £20,000.

500L motoring is never going to cost you much. The 1.3-litre diesel manages 68.9mpg on the combined cycle — 70.6mpg by opting to pair it with the Dualogic automatic gearbox. The 1.6l manages 67.3mpg.

The 95bhp 1.4l petrol will return just 46.3mpg, with the 120hp one faring less at around 42mpg.