The popularity of small SUVs has skyrocketed in the past couple of years and that left many carmakers scrambling to come up with an offering in the segment. Now finally Fiat has arrived – fashionably late – with its quirky-but-cool 500X.
In 2008 Fiat launched its new 500 - a modern take on the iconic little Italian car - and it was a hit thanks mainly to its cute retro looks. Now the 500X is here and Fiat hopes this baby SUV will win us over again. While the 500X looks just like a 500 on stilts with two extra doors the truth is it shares the Jeep Renegade’s platform – both are owned by the same parent company. This is a good thing, because the Renegade’s impressive ride and handling is present in the 500, too. Perhaps not-so-good is their price tags which are on the high side for a small SUV. The 500X starts at $28,000 for the base model two-wheel drive Pop with a six-speed manual - that’s almost $10K more than the entry fee into the Mazda CX-3.
While the 500X looks just like a 500 on stilts with two extra doors the truth is it shares the Jeep Renegade’s platformPowering the 500X range is a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine. In the Pop and Popstar it makes 103kW and 230Nm but it’s tuned to produce 125kW and 250Nm in the Lounge and Cross Plus.
On the road
Despite the extra ride height and four-wheel drive capability in the top two specs, the natural habitat for the 500X is more café-culture than bush bashing.
It’s not until you see the 500X in the metal that it’s clear how much of a beefed up and overgrown version of the 500 it isGiven this, Fiat couldn’t have picked a more appropriate drive route for the launch of the 500X. We would start off in Eveleigh and blast our way north through the national park finishing up in the swanky beachside suburb of Palm Beach. It’s not until you see the 500X in the metal that it’s clear how much of a beefed up and overgrown version of the 500 it is. Inside it’s not quite as roomy as the boxy Renegade it’s based on, but head and legroom is ample in the back, while the cargo area is a not-too-shabby 346 litres. That said it’s still not a big thing – it’s shorter than a Toyota Corolla hatch - and the Pop Star we’re in feels nimble as we weave our way through the city’s morning traffic, its elevated ride height letting us peer ahead like meerkats for the next gap to scamper into. As we break free of the city and reach the bush, I switch the ‘mood selector’ to Sport and flick through the gears using the paddle shifters. Even the lower power version of the 1.4-litre in the Pop Star is a great engine, and it hauls the 500x along nicely. The ride in the Pop Star did appear a little unsettled, although the steering was spot on. Worth mentioning, too, is how easy this car is to drive and it responds to the driver so predictably well that I felt comfortable to push it harder through the corners. Out of the Pop Star and into the all-wheel drive Lounge now and the ride feels much more refined, while the steering appears overly sharp. The nine-speed auto does well to keep fuel consumption down. The extra power is not so noticeable, but the Lounge is 110kg heavier than the Pop Star.
Fiat 500X 2015: Pop
Engine Type | Turbo 4, 1.4L |
---|---|
Fuel Type | Unleaded Petrol |
Fuel Efficiency | 6.0L/100km (combined) |
Seating | 5 |
Price From | $8,030 - $11,330 |
Safety Rating |
|
Verdict
With the popularity of baby SUVs right now and the styling of the 500 shown to be a proven winner it’s almost certain Fiat’s 500x will be a hit. This won’t be a mass selling car, but for those who own one it’s a quirky, cute and cool statement to the masses.
Click here to see more 2015 Fiat 500X pricing and spec info.
Pricing Guides
