2014 Fiat 500L: Here Comes the Second Wave of Italians

It conquered North America in 2011, and now a new wave of Italian cars is headed to our continent. Four trims of the 500L are joining the 500 family, which now includes five distinct models. Many people will assume that the “L” in its name stands for “large,” but at Fiat this letter means many other things, such as “lever,” “light,” “litre” and “loft.”

The 500L’s designers had a lot of fun creating a car around these elements – particularly the “loft” aspect, transforming the vehicle’s interior into a pleasant open space. The result is bang on, as the cabin is not claustrophobic in the least. Quite the contrary, actually, as the expansive windows and dual-panel sun roof make you feel like you’re driving with the top down.  They also came up with the ingenious idea of integrating a window in the A pillar, giving the front passengers a panoramic view.

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Different platform

Those of you who are paying close attention will surely notice that the exterior of the 500L looks almost nothing like the little 500. There’s a bit of resemblance in the front section, but once you get to the windshield, it’s all new curves. With its advanced cabin architecture, the 500L is both well proportioned and original – it definitely won’t go unnoticed. Obviously, the addition of extra doors has stretched the vehicle by more than 66 centimetres, requiring a new platform: one from Fiat that is longer than the 500’s. This new platform also adds 15 cm to the car’s width and height.

In all, the 500L is 42% more spacious than the 500, with most of the extra room being allocated to the rear seats and trunk. There’s a surprising amount of leg room in back – even if the front passengers slide their seats all the way back. Thanks to the nearly vertical side windows and the high roof, the 500L offers significantly more headroom that its competitors. Three adults can comfortably sit on the rear bench. With the seats positioned a little higher, you don’t ever feel like you’re crammed in – but unfortunately there isn’t much in the way of lateral support. The vehicle’s increased size also means that there is room for plenty of cargo in back; again, much more than what the competition has to offer.

An Abarth heart

To compensate for the extra weight that came with the addition of the letter “L,” the powerful Abarth engine has been included. The 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo propels the 500L with ease and produces 160 horsepower – which is 39 more than its rival, the Mini Cooper Countryman. Fiat offers two six-speed transmissions: a factory-standard manual or an optional dual-clutch automatic, which emulates the functioning of a manual transmission. Shifting is prompt and the gearbox adapts very well to sporty driving.

The launch of this newcomer proves just how serious this manufacturer is. Despite a few minor faults, the vehicle’s overall design is nearly flawless, evidence of a great amount of care. The high driving position translates into terrific visibility and the seat is easily adjustable. The layout of the dashboard is different than on the 500, but the controls are nonetheless easy to find and reach. The starting package includes the Beats by Dr. Dre sound system on the Sport version at no extra cost, and the dual-panel sun roof on the Lounge trim. 

Nice job

At Chrysler Canada’s invitation, we went to Baltimore to put the 500L through some exhaustive testing. On a track made up of highway sections, country roads and urban slaloms, we discovered the car’s impressive qualities. The most surprising is without a doubt its remarkable soundproofing resulting from the structural rigidity of the chassis and the Quiétude  package, which is exclusive to the North American market. This package includes acoustic lamination for the windshield, soundproofing foam in the body cavities, triple door seals, and insulated fenders. It does a superb job in mitigating sounds from the engine, wind and tires.

The other big surprise was the drivetrain and dual-clutch transmission. Despite the fact that this vehicle is family oriented, the 500L delivers some great performances. Accelerations are easy and completed in respectable times. Even though the manual transmission lets you shift just the way you like, we actually preferred the automatic. It mimics a manual transmission while doing all the shifting. Within a few months, Fiat is expected to offer a more traditional automatic transmission that will focus less on performance.

On these different road types, we noted the 500L’s impressively smooth ride. The solidity and rigidity of the chassis limit torsion noise and give you a sense of comfort and control, even at highway speeds. The North American 500L’s suspension has been adapted for the rigors of our roads. It inherits a Frequency Selective Dampening system , which adjusts the firmness of the suspension for maximum comfort. The rear suspension features more robust components calibrated for our roads. Despite these improvements, however, the 500L still rolls on tight corners and brake dives.

The Fiat name still has an exotic ring, but don’t forget that Chrysler heads their marketing efforts in North America. The product is just right for Quebeckers and there’s a good chance that the 500L will see a spike in its popularity in the upcoming months. Starting at less than $20,000, originality has never been so affordable.