2016 Fiat 500X: Priced Out of Contention

With a rather small product lineup in North America, Fiat needed a winner. A bread-and-butter model that would bring in some much-need traffic on its showroom floors. The 500X crossover was to be that model. After all, chic compact SUVs are extremely popular right now, so it was written in the stars that the 500X would quickly become the brand’s best-selling vehicle.

Didn’t happen. Or at least, it hasn’t happened yet.

• Also: The 2017 Fiat 500 Gets a Simplified Lineup
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The 2016 Fiat 500X is a kissing cousin to the Jeep Renegade, as they same the same platform and powertrains, but they each have their own character and appearance. Where the Renegade boasts an appealing Tonka-truck look, the 500X relies on curvy sheetmetal and Italian charm to get noticed.

And get noticed it does. From a styling standpoint, FCA might not have hit a home run, but the 500X is a solid triple. And yet, through the 2016 calendar year, Fiat will barely sell 800 units of their crossover. In comparison, Jeep will be moving out roughly 4000 units of the Renegade, which seems like a lot until we realise that Mazda and Chevrolet will each have cleared out almost 10,000 copies of the CX-3 and the Trax over the same period. Clearly, Fiat’s charm has faded on our market, as total sales are down by almost 60% in 2016, compared to 2015.

The 500X is built on a stiff platform, and while our Sport trim level tester had a front-wheel drivetrain, AWD is available as an option. The latter sends power to the front wheels under normal driving conditions, but can quickly send a portion of that power to the rear wheels when slippage is detected. Ride quality is decent, the vehicle handles well, and manoeuvrability in urban areas is good, despite a slightly higher-than-average turning radius.

There are two available engines in the 2016 Fiat 500X, each with its own transmission. A turbocharged, 1.4-litre four, connected to a six-speed manual, develops 160 horsepower as well as 184 pound-feet of torque between 2500 and 4000 rpm. Our test vehicle was equipped with a 2.4-litre, four-cylinder engine and a nine-speed automatic, producing 180 hp and 175 lb.-ft. By the way, the smaller powerplant and manual gearbox can’t be matched with AWD—although the Jeep Renegade does offer this combination.

So, the 500X offers good power for a subcompact SUV, although the 1.4-litre engine is more enthusiastic than the 2.4. The latter also lacks a little refinement, at least compared to the powertrains of a few competitors. We’re not too fond of the nine-speed automatic, as it bangs off the occasional jerky gear change. In the past, some owners and journalists have reported never seeing the gearbox shift into ninth, even on the highway, but we did in the 500X, if only briefly. We managed a ho-hum average of 9.8 L/100 km during our test.

This transmission is provided by German supplier ZF, which makes excellent eight-speed units, but this nine-speeder is a work in progress. According to FCA, it “learns” our driving habits and adjusts its shift mapping accordingly, and it did seem smoother after a couple of days. But what if two drivers share a same vehicle? The transmission would theoretically be confused all the time.

As with the exterior, the 2016 Fiat 500X’s cockpit is all about style, even though functionality isn’t necessarily put aside regarding the infotainment system and climate controls. The Uconnect 5.0 unit, standard in the Sport trim and up, includes a touchscreen interface that’s a little small, but at least the button zones are big and there are physical buttons surrounding it, which is pretty convenient.

The two-tone seat upholstery with contrast piping looks neat, blending nicely with the colour dash panelling. The door-mounted and centre armrests are covered in low-rent vinyl, but at least they’re padded. Space is sufficient up front, but in back, there isn’t much legroom, given its subcompact size, and seating three kids across will amount to quickly escalading kerfuffles for elbow and shoulder room. Cargo space is among the smallest in its class, although the maximum volume of 909 litres published by Fiat seems very pessimistic.

And then there’s the 500X’s drive mode system, operated through the console-mounted Dynamic Control Selector. Auto mode is pretty self-explanatory, while Sport mode increases the engine and transmission’s responsiveness in spirited driving.

Traction+ mode is actually a little confusing, as it adjusts the traction control system for a little more wheelspin to “enhance” traction on slippery surfaces. If our wheels are spinning more, we actually have less traction, and some people might confuse this with a winter mode. An AWD 500X would be a smart choice anyhow for confronting the winter season and for resale value.

Ah, but value isn’t one of the Fiat SUV’s qualities. Base price for a front-drive Pop trim is $22,995 before freight and delivery charges, making it one the most expensive among subcompact SUVs, with the exception of the Subaru Crosstrek—although the latter includes AWD as standard.

The 500X Sport—second of several trim levels, raises the MSRP to $27,495 and includes 17-inch alloy wheels, an intelligent key system and Bluetooth connectivity. With the 2.4L engine and automatic transmission in addition to a slew of options—except AWD—our test car carried a sticker of $32,150. And the least-expensive 500X with an all-wheel drivetrain costs more than $30K, thousands more than the Honda HR-V, the Mazda CX-3 and the Mitsubishi RVR. Even a little more than a MINI Countryman.

The 2016 Fiat 500X is the most stylish crossover in its category, and it offers a swell ride as well as many comfort and convenience features. However, as is the case with the 500 hatchback, its higher price point can hardly be overlooked. It may not be as attractive, but the 500L wagon is more spacious, more practical and a better overall value.