2020 Fiat 500X

The base model 500X Pop sets the pricing expectations for the lineup with a starting MSRP of $24,590; the Trekking isn't much more expensive and follows at a price of $25,995. The all-new Sport model comes in with a sticker price of $26,895 and the top-spec Trekking Plus with an MSRP of $29,495. This excludes Fiat's destination, processing, and handling charge of $1,495 as well as any tax, registration, or licensing fees.

Fiat describes its 500X as "fun-to-drive" in all of its press materials but we struggled to interpret this as anything more than marketing jargon. Subcompact crossovers can be fun, just check out the Hyundai Kona, Kia Seltos, Mazda CX-30, or Mini Countryman. We just didn't derive any enjoyment from a spirited drive in the 500X. The suspension lacks basic precision through corners, flopping to one side and then sloppily returning back to center in a disconcerting manner. The sloppy handling could be forgiven if the suspension provided supple ride comfort but somehow, it manages to feel stiff over most road surfaces despite allowing tremendous body roll through the corners.

We didn't have any particular complaints with the steering feel but it doesn't offer nearly as much enjoyment as some other vehicles in this segment. The AWD system does offer an adequate amount of grip, especially when paired with the option 215-section all-season tires, but the tall ride height and lackluster suspension tuning ruins any confidence that the grip may have inspired. We don't expect too many drivers in this segment to use their vehicles as weekend backroad toys but when Fiat claims being "fun-to-drive" is part of the car's core ethos, it's disappointing to see how far the 500X misses this mark. A Sport and Traction+ mode are available to mildly change the driving experience but we didn't find either to boost driving enjoyment.

The 500X should have been a success for Fiat: take the 500's retro design and apply it to a more practical crossover with higher ground clearance to appeal to American buyers. But with 2019 sales for the 500X falling below the discontinued 500 and the impractical 124 Spider, it appears that Fiat's efforts have missed the mark. Fiat says the 500X is fun to drive but there are plenty of vehicles in this class that feel more entertaining to drive while also offering comparable interiors, quirky design, and vastly superior storage capacity.

Unless you are completely won over by the 500X's Italian flare, upmarket interior, and standard AWD, we'd say there are better options available in the subcompact crossover segment. Competitors like the Honda HR-V and Kia Seltos offer a more reasonable starting price and if you prefer a more premium feel, the Mini Countryman offers it in spades with vastly superior power available from the S and JCW models. All in all, the 2020 Fiat 500X is neither the best nor the worst subcompact crossover SUV one could buy. But, if there's one thing no other vehicle in this class has, it's the Fiat's truly unique styling.

The top-spec Trekking Plus is the model to go for as the up-charge from the lower-end models isn't too considerable, and it comes much more comprehensively equipped as standard. The 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat with heating for driver and passenger, dual-zone automatic climate control, and ParkSense front and rear park assist systems are just some of the additional standard-fit features the Trekking Plus boasts. It's also the only model that comes standard with leather seating surfaces. The available Advanced Driver Assistance Group is recommended for the handful of advanced driver-assist features it contains, the Premium Group is also suggested for the dual-pane power sunroof and Beats audio system for improved passenger entertainment.

The Fiat 500L is a compact wagon as opposed to a crossover SUV, this means that it will offer a little more passenger room than what's offered from the smaller 500X and a whole lot more cargo room, with 22.4 cubes behind the rear-most seats. That is, however, just about all the advantages it offers over the 500X other than a $2,090 price drop; it's equipped with an underpowered 160 hp 1.4-liter turbo-four engine that also proves to be less fuel-efficient, returning EPA estimates of 22/30/25 mpg. It's ride and handling dynamics are also terrible - far worse than that of the 500X's and it's only available in front-wheel-drive. The 500X boasts a far more premium cabin and significantly better build quality overall, with the 500L feeling more like a stripped-down fleet vehicle. The conclusion here is an easy one: don't ever buy a Fiat 500L, the 500X is the better value for money buy and just a better put-together vehicle overall.

As the 500X's most direct rival, the Jeep Renegade is also its toughest competition - appropriate since both share much of their underpinnings. On the road, the 500X seems to deliver slightly better ride quality but both deliver identical straight-line performance, the 500X proves a little more fuel-efficient when in AWD guise, but the Renegade does better in 2WD guise. The 2.4-liter that the Renegade has as standard is otherwise underpowered and far less refined. In the way of features, both pretty much offer the same level of value, the Fiat has the better infotainment setup by a fraction, and a few more safety and driver-assist features. The range-topping models of the Renegade outclass the 500X utterly, however, the Trailhawk offering far greater off-road capability and the AWD models offering a maximum towing capability of 2,000 lbs - double that of the 500X's. Moreover, with 18.5 cubes of cargo room in the trunk of the Renegade, it's the more practical SUV, too. Ultimately, both offer their own advantages and disadvantages; making a decision would most likely come down to purpose and aesthetic: urban practicality versus off-roading ability, and the 500X's classic retro-Italian or the Renegade's all-American ruggedness.