Fiat’s baby 500 morphs into a crossover
IT’S RAINING crossovers in South Africa at the moment. This week Fiat’s 500X was launched to compete for sales with other SUVs-that-aren’t-real-offroaders like the Opel Mokka, Renault Captur, Jeep Renegade and Honda HR-V – all of which have been introduced here this year.
Though it’s part of the Fiat 500 hatchback family, the X version is a larger and roomier vehicle, making it a more practical family car, and it also has a high level of standard luxuries. The new Fiat crossover extends the 500 family which already comprises the 500, 500C, 500L, and 500L Trekking models.
Available only in front-wheel drive, the 500X has no pretensions of being an offroader but its target customers apparently don’t expect any dirt-duelling capability. What they do expect is an ‘adventure’ image and the 500X has a raised 162mm ride height and a more rugged look to make it, in Fiat’s words, “the ideal solution for lovers of leisure and outdoor activities who don’t want to give up the unique style of the Fiat 500”.
The new car is based on the Jeep Renagade platform and at 4.25m long it’s substantially longer and more spacious than the standard Fiat 500 which is just 3.54m long. The 245-litre boot is also decidedly roomier than the 500’s 185-litre effort.
The new Fiat 500X will be available in two engine choices: a normally-aspirated 1.6 with outputs of 81kW and 152Nm and a 1.4-litre turbo packing 103kW and 230Nm. Altogether there will be five variants with the entry-level Pop Star 1.6 paired with a five-speed manual transmission, the Cross getting a choice of a six-speed manual or six-speed dual-clutch auto (called DDCT), and the range-topping Cross Plus which will come only with the DDCT gearbox.
The Cross and Cross Plus are butched-up with offroad-style bumpers. All derivatives are front-wheel drives, but the Cross and Cross Plus come with a Traction+ system that uses a limited-slip diff to enhance grip at the front wheels in slippery conditions.
In all models a “Drive Mood Selector” acts on engine, brakes, steering and transmission to offer three different car behaviors to match road surface conditions: Auto, Sport and All Weather.
The 500X offers high safety levels and standard throughout the range are six airbags, fog lights with self-adaptive cornering function, ABS brakes and Electronic Stability Control. Optionally available are features like Lane Assist, Blind Spot Assist, and a reversing camera to aid with parking. The passenger compartment is offered in no fewer than seven interior configurations, while there are several seat adjustments.
In terms of comfort and infotainment equipment, the Fiat 500X has sophisticated Uconnect systems with 5” or 6.5” touchscreens. Both versions come with Bluetooth interface, Aux-in connector, USB port and voice commands.
Using the colour touchscreen, the system lets you access all the main functions: from the radio through to all the main multimedia sources (media player, iPod, iPhone, smartphone) which can be connected via USB port or Aux-in socket or Bluetooth audio streaming. This can all be managed directly using the steering-wheel controls in order that the driver doesn’t have to look away from the road or take their hands off the wheel. PRICES 1.6 Pop Star - R310 900 1.4t Cross - R344 900 1.4t Cross auto - R 359 900 1.4t Cross Plus - R379 900 1.4t Cross Plus DDCT
The 1.4t Cross and 1.4t Cross auto are on sale straight away, while the other three variants arrive later this year.