FIAT 500X: 2016 Crossover Hatchback
A new sibling joins the FIAT family with the addition of the 2016 500X, a roomy hatchback that offers extra functionality along with the option of all-wheel drive.
Available in five trims and 12 colors, the new compact crossover 500X is designed for drivers who like the style and panache of the FIAT brand, but simply need more room for their stuff.
The newest FIAT 500 is more than 168 inches long and more than 75 inches wide, dwarfing the regular 500 and slightly bigger than the 500L. Jason Stoicevich, vice president of the FIAT brand, told journalists gathered for the west coast launch that the new five-seat 500X with available AWD will significantly expand the FIAT brand in North America.
The vast majority of FIATs bought in America represent conquests from other brands, and the 500X gives FIAT a player in the critically important small crossover segment. “This is an extremely important launch for us,” Stoicevich said.
As the big Italian family of FIAT grows bigger — in number and in size — the company keeps its quirky trim names for the different variants of the 500X. “Pop,” “Easy,” “Lounge,” “Trekking” and “Trekking Plus” trims reflect the brand’s fun-loving nature.
The Pop trim starts at an even $20,000, the Easy starts at $22,300, the Trekking starts at $23,100, the Lounge starts at $24,850 and the Trekking Plus starts at $27,100. The two Trekking trims feature a more athletic design with unique front and rear fascia designs and satin silver accents for a more aggressive look.
Two four-cylinder engine choices are available in the 500X: a 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo fourcylinder that develops 160 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque, and a 2.4-liter Tigershark MultiAir2 four-cylinder with 180 horsepower and 175 lb.-ft. of torque. The smaller turbocharged engine is standard in the base Pop trim, while the 2.4-liter engine comes with the other four trims and is available in Pop.
The Tigershark engine is mated exclusively to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Pop has a standard six-speed manual transmission, but can be fitted with the automatic. All but the Pop trim have available AWD for an additional $1,900.
If your budget can handle it, we’d recommend AWD. In the FIAT 500X version of AWD, the rear axle is disconnected when not needed, reducing parasitic power loss and improving fuel efficiency. The AWD reconnects automatically when needed.
A Dynamic Selector system allows the driver to choose from Auto, Sport, and Traction+ modes to match different driving conditions. The 500X has electric power steering.
The 500X, which shares its architecture with the new Jeep Renegade, is similar in size and shape to the 500L. The 2,967-pound 500X has 39.1 inches of front seat headroom and 37.8 inches in back. Legroom in back is 34.8 inches. Cargo space behind the second-row seats is 18.5 cubic feet. Fold the second-row seats flat and cargo space expands to 50.8 cubic feet.
The interior of the 500X is more refined than the 500, which tends to be aimed at youngsters and the young at heart. Available features include Uconnect 6.5 radio with a 6.5-inch high-resolution touchscreen and navigation, Bluetooth streaming audio, a 3.5-inch cluster display, keyless entry with push-button start, and heated front seats. Upholstery is cloth, premium cloth, or leather.
The Pop trim comes standard with 16-inch wheels. The Easy, Lounge, and Trekking trims get 17inch wheels, and the Trekking Plus gets 18-inchers. All-season tires are standard on every trim.
FIAT said the 500X has up to 70 advanced safety and security features, including forward collision warning, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross path detection. Electronic stability control and hill-start assist are standard across all trim levels. The 500X has seven standard airbags as well as four-wheel anti-lock brakes.
The vehicle has yet to be safety tested.
Time will tell if the 2016 FIAT 500X becomes the X-Factor for the Italian brand, but in the words of one executive at the launch, “It’s certainly a new kind of FIAT.”