2020 FIAT 500L Review

Name: 2020 FIAT 500L Review
Brand: FIAT
Price: 15066 USD
Rating: 4.3 (38 reviews)

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2020 Fiat 500L Review

byTravis Langness^{Reviews Editor
Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.}

Pros

Plenty of passenger and cargo room for a small hatchback
Touchscreen interface is attractive and easy to use

Cons

Ride quality is choppy over rough pavement
Interior materials look and feel cheap
The latest advanced driver safety aids aren't available
Rear seats don't fold flat for more cargo flexibility

What's new

There are no major changes for the 2020 Fiat 500L
Part of the first 500L generation introduced for 2014

Overview

Several Fiats share the 500 name, so let's clear up any confusion. The standard Fiat 500 is a small two-door hatchback, the 500X is a crossover SUV with a bit of a rugged image, and the 2020 Fiat 500L is a wagon. Compared to its siblings, the 500L is more spacious and practical. Unfortunately, that's where the relatively short list of virtues worth extolling runs out.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 FIAT 500L Pop 4dr Wagon (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.89 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$190/mo

$157/mo

Avg. Compact Car

Calculate my fuel costs

Few automakers make small wagons anymore, so perhaps Fiat deserves some credit for the 500L. But compared to the latest batch of small crossovers, the 500L is decidedly dated. The interior materials are particularly disappointing, with lots of hard plastic dominating the cabin. Once you're rolling, the 500L is loud and uncomfortable on the highway. What's more, the 500L's price isn't low enough to make it a true bargain.

We like what Fiat's trying to accomplish with its 500L. But if you take some time to test drive more recently redesigned crossovers such as the Kia Soul, Honda HR-V and Hyundai Kona, you'll get an immediate sense of where the Fiat 500L falls flat.

Which 500L does Edmunds recommend?

The best version of this subcompact wagon is the midlevel Lounge. It provides some nice extras, such as a BeatsAudio sound system and satellite radio, without costing much more than the base Pop trim.

2020 FIAT 500L models

The 2020 Fiat 500L is a four-door compact wagon available in three trim levels: Pop, Trekking and Lounge. Every Fiat 500L is powered by a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine (160 horsepower, 184 lb-ft of torque) that powers the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.

The base-level Pop comes with features such as heated mirrors, 60/40-split folding rear seats that slide fore and aft, a 7-inch touchscreen, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Stepping up to the Trekking level gets you quite a bit more, including unique body panels and trim with a rugged theme. It also adds LED ambient interior lighting, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a seven-speaker BeatsAudio system, navigation and satellite radio.

Topping things off is the Lounge, which comes with just about all of the 500L's features as standard. It has everything from the Trekking plus painted wheels, chrome trim, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, rear parking sensors and dual-zone climate control.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

3/5Above Average

#29 out of 29 among Compact SUVs

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the FIAT 500L from 2008-2022.}

$489/yr

vs. $465/yr
for Average Compact SUV

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

1.89x/yr

vs. 1x/yr
for Average Compact SUV

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

16.8%

vs. 11.5%
for Average Compact SUV

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2020 FIAT 500L.

5 (71%)

4 (8%)

3 (5%)

2 (13%)

1 (3%)

4.3

38 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 38 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Fiat 500L = Fun Italian Ride

demingboys, 06/06/2015

2015 FIAT 500L Trekking 4dr Wagon (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)

This little Italian charmer has been quite a refreshing joy to drive over the last few weeks. The performance of the multi-air turbo is phenomenal and unexpected. For its size, the 500L is nimble and handles more like a sports car than the Fiat self-described "Urban Utility Vehicle." I highly recommend the Trekking version of this vehicle. It is a better designed model than the others …

Fun and Functional

Richard, 05/02/2016

2015 FIAT 500L Easy 4dr Wagon (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)

Having owned a fiat 128 Sedan, Fiat 128 3P, Fiat Bravo, and Fiat Spyder 2000 and loved them all I thought I would give Fiat another try since my wife has had a trouble free 500 Sport since 2012 with no problems. I traded in my luxury ride Buick Century for a 500L and I am in love with it. It has plenty enough power to get you on the interstate and cruise at the traditional 5 mph above …

Fiat 500L - Much better than you've heard

Don Barkel, 08/05/2016

2016 FIAT 500L Trekking 4dr Wagon (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)

I continue to be amazed by the relatively poor reviews given to this car by the "experts". We have had ours for 1 1/2 years now and continue to find it a quality car with excellent driving characteristics and versatility. Give it a chance and you will love it. I know people have concerns about Fiat reliability. All I can say is that since we bought it we have been back to the … dealer just once for routine oil change. Update: Our Fiat continues to perform flawlessly. I love how it drives, very nimble and oh so practical. Still no reliability problems. Back for routine service (oil changes) only. Remain puzzled by the continued poor reviews of this car. I would encourage you to at least look at it and test drive if you are in the market for a small cross-over. Update: We are now at 30,000 miles and our Fiat 500L continues to perform flawlessly. We continue to enjoy the practicality of the car but also its fun factor. I still don't get the negative reviews from so many "experts". Reliability has been perfect - we literally have had nothing needing to be fixed other than a software update done at a routing oil change. Update: now at 5 years of ownership and 50,000 miles. We continue to enjoy our FIAT. The 500L seems to be one of those cars that is beloved by its owners but unloved by the critics. Sadly the critics have carried the day and 500L is not going to be produced anymore. I intend to keep mine for as long as it remains an enjoyable and practical car for us. Hopefully Edmiunds will continue to ask me for an update every now and then and I will update my experience for anyone out there reading this Update: we have now had our Fiat for 7 years and we continue to enjoy its combination of fun and practicality. Replace tires and brakes at 50,000 miles. Other than that only routine maintenance. The 500L is no longer available in the USA and so we will keep ours for as long as we can. Update (August 2022): continue to enjoy our Fiat 500L (2014 Trekking). No longer being made but I intend to keep it for some time as it is a unique combination of fun, economy and practicality. Update (February 2023): now 8 years into owning our 2014 Fiat 500L Trekking. Now at 62,000 miles. Remains a fun and practical car. No repairs at all other than routine maintenance items which have included new tires and rear brakes at about 50k miles. Intend to keep this car as long it is working for us. Generally used as our 2nd car now for city trips. No longer being made but I would buy a used one if I were in the market for a small SUV/crossover.

Disagree with the experts. This car is underrated!

Gilberto Marcha, 04/08/2016

2015 FIAT 500L Lounge 4dr Wagon (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)

This is the 11th new car I have purchased and this is one of the most enjoyable. My 2015 500L is a pleasure to drive. This vehicle has received more than a few negative professional reviews but I strongly disagree. Yes the center armrest is narrow but it is functional. I do not mind the emergency brake handle location. The car provides a great view of the road and the seating position …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2020 FIAT 500L, so we've included reviews for other years of the 500L since its last redesign.

See all 38 reviews of the FIAT 500L

Write a vehicle review

2020 500L Highlights

Trim:

Pop

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$22,500
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$190/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	22.4 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the 500L models:

ParkSense Rear Park Assist System: Alerts the driver as the 500L approaches an object behind the vehicle.
ParkView Rear Backup Camera: Displays an image of the area behind the vehicle in the touchscreen display.
Hill Start Assist: Prevents the 500L from rolling backward when pulling away from a stop while traveling uphill.

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Poor
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

2020 FIAT 500L Review

2020 Fiat 500L Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 FIAT 500L Pop 4dr Wagon (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.89 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.}

Which 500L does Edmunds recommend?

2020 FIAT 500L models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2020 FIAT 500L.

Trending topics in reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Fiat 500L = Fun Italian Ride

Fun and Functional

Fiat 500L - Much better than you've heard

Disagree with the experts. This car is underrated!

2020 500L Highlights

Safety

Related Used 2020 FIAT 500L info

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2020 FIAT 500L Review

2020 Fiat 500L Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 FIAT 500L Pop 4dr Wagon (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.89 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.

Which 500L does Edmunds recommend?

2020 FIAT 500L models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

Fiat 500L = Fun Italian Ride

Fun and Functional

Fiat 500L - Much better than you've heard

Disagree with the experts. This car is underrated!

2020 500L Highlights

Safety

Related Used 2020 FIAT 500L info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop similar models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Fiat

Other models

Join Edmunds

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 FIAT 500L Pop 4dr Wagon (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.89 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.}