2021 FIAT 500X
2021 Fiat 500X Review
- Distinctive and well-made cabin
- Standard all-wheel drive
- More character and style than many competing small crossovers
- Limited cargo and passenger space
- Small touchscreen can be tough to use
- Starting price is high
- Several available driving aids, but few work well
- Sport Value package adds a panoramic sunroof, LED headlights and other premium features
- Pop and Trekking models receive upgraded interior trim
- Part of the first Fiat 500X generation introduced for 2016
The Fiat 500X holds the dubious distinction of being the lone remaining car in Fiat's lineup for the 2021 model year. Not a bad business decision, really, as subcompact SUVs occupy a popular niche with buyers, and the 500X has more styling flair than most. Standard all-wheel drive and a quiet, smooth ride also bolster its appeal.
Still, the 500X feels slightly underwhelming when compared to its closest competitors. It lacks cargo room and engine power, and some common standard features, such as dual-zone climate control, are optional. Other subcompact SUVs, such as the Honda HR-V and Hyundai Venue, offer more standard features on equivalent trim levels. Is the 500X's quirky style enough to make it a worthy consideration when shopping for a subcompact SUV? Read our Expert Rating below before making your decision.
Our verdict | |
The Fiat 500X is a decent all-around performer thanks to a spunky turbocharged engine and standard all-wheel drive. While the idea of going Italian sounds fun and a little romantic, it'll also cost more than a few lira, which is where the 500X loses some of its appeal. | |
How does the 500X drive? | |
The new turbocharged four-cylinder engine works pretty well despite its small size. In Edmunds' testing, our all-wheel-drive 500X test car covered 0-60 mph in 8.9 seconds, which is reasonably quick for a subcompact SUV. In typical daily driving, the automatic transmission shifts quickly and makes the most of the engine's low-rpm power. While Fiat touts the 500X as sporty, we found the 500X's handling to be only average for the class. It leans quite a bit when going around turns, and tire grip is mediocre. If you want a fun-to-drive SUV, you'll have to look elsewhere. | |
How comfortable is the 500X? | |
The 500X's greatest strength is its ride comfort. It's quite smooth for a small SUV. The front seats also have a nice combination of support and comfort. We found the rear seatbacks to be a little upright and the cushions a bit on the firm side. The climate control system is easy to use, but it can struggle to keep you cool on hotter days. And although the 500X's cabin is decently isolated against outside noise, the car's various technology features make so many interior beeps, bongs, clicks and warning alarms that they destroy any serenity in the cabin. | |
How’s the interior? | |
We like how easy it is to get in and out of the 500X's cabin. The generous door openings allow you to slip in and out with minimal effort. The tall windows and smartly placed sideview mirrors make for great outward visibility too. The cabin is roomy up front, but the rear seat, like others in the class, will be tight for people over 6 feet tall. The 500X's main controls are easy to figure out. The configurable infotainment system is a bit slow to respond but fairly straightforward to use. Our only frustration was having to deep-dive into the touchscreen menus every time we wanted to shut off some of the annoyingly oversensitive driver aids. | |
How’s the tech? | |
The 500X's 7-inch infotainment touchscreen feels tiny and cheap even by subcompact vehicle standards. All the functionality is there, but its size may be challenging for those without razor-sharp eyesight. Our test car's upgraded audio system lacked bass and general low-end punch, which makes some music sound pretty thin. The good news: The 500X provides three USB ports (more than competitors) to split among your charge-hungry passengers. There's also standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. There's a wealth of advanced driving aids, some of which are overly sensitive. And the warning sounds for some incidents are often more startling than beneficial. | |
How’s the storage? | |
By the numbers, the 500X's trunk is average (14.1 cubic feet behind the rear seats) but it's enough for grocery bags and the like. You can fit bigger items by folding down the rear seats. Storage for personal items within the cabin is much better by comparison. The door pockets can accommodate slightly larger than average water bottles, and a dual-tier glovebox makes good use of the front-dash real estate. On the child safety seat front, installing a rear-facing seat will be a tight squeeze behind the front seats. There's just not a whole lot of room. The car seat anchors are easy to locate at least. | |
How economical is the 500X? | |
The 500X's EPA-estimated fuel economy is 26 mpg combined, which slightly falls behind much of its competition. That said, our test 500X returned a promising 29.2 mpg on our 115-mile evaluation route, which could indicate that the EPA's estimate is realistic for real-world driving. | |
Is the 500X a good value? | |
The interior of the 500X earns style points. Soft-touch materials abound throughout the cabin, and the matching body-colored panels look cool even if they're just thin plastic. But the biggest letdowns are this mini-ute's high price and charmless accessory sounds. Changing those would go a long way to elevate the feel of this car. Fiat's comprehensive and powertrain warranties run four years/50,000 miles, which are better on the bumper-to-bumper side than some but not as good as others on the powertrain side. | |
Wildcard | |
The 500X has personality if nothing else. There are some nice Italian touches inside and out, and they help the little Fiat stand out in a sea of other tiny SUVs. And while it may not actually be as fun to drive as Mini purports, it at least makes you look like you're someone who likes to have fun. That's kind of the point here. | |
Which 500X does Edmunds recommend?
FIAT 500X models
The 2021 Fiat 500X is an extra-small crossover SUV available in four trim levels: Pop, Trekking, Sport and Trekking Plus. A turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine (177 horsepower, 210 lb-ft of torque) and nine-speed automatic transmission come standard throughout the lineup. All-wheel drive is also standard.
2021 FIAT 500X pricing
in Ashburn, VA
Safety
Our experts’ favorite 500X safety features:
- ParkSense Rear Park Assist System
- Sounds an alert as the 500X approaches an object behind the car.
- Lane Departure Warning Plus
- Alerts the driver if the 500X begins drifting out of its lane and no turn signal has been activated.
- Blind-Spot and Cross-Path Detection
- Illuminates a light on the mirror if a vehicle is in the rear blind spot. If the turn signal is activated, an alert will sound.
Fiat 500X vs. the competition
2021 Fiat 500X
2021 Jeep Renegade
Fiat 500X vs. Jeep Renegade
Both the 500X and the Renegade pack plenty of personality into their small footprints. The Fiat struts with a bit more Italian street flair, while the Jeep's charms are more rugged and off-road capable (surprisingly so in the Trailhawk trim level). Both models are actually mechanically related, but the Jeep offers a bit more value and better performance off the paved road.
Fiat 500X vs. Mini Countryman
The 500X and the Countryman share similar profiles, with nostalgic, throwback design accented by big, oval wraparound headlights. But the Mini is simply a higher-grade car, with nicer interior materials and a more powerful engine. It's more spacious inside and more fun to whip quickly through corners. The Countryman is priced accordingly, though, with a sticker significantly higher than the Fiat.
Fiat 500X vs. Subaru Crosstrek
What the Crosstrek lacks in visual panache compared to the 500X, it makes up for with more rugged capability off the highway. While the 500X Trekking trim stands high enough off the ground to offer basic off-road performance, the Crosstrek stands nearly an inch higher for better obstacle clearance. The Subaru also offers more interior and cargo space and gets better fuel economy.
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FAQ
Is the FIAT 500X a good car?
What's new in the 2021 FIAT 500X?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2021 FIAT 500X:
- Sport Value package adds a panoramic sunroof, LED headlights and other premium features
- Pop and Trekking models receive upgraded interior trim
- Part of the first Fiat 500X generation introduced for 2016
Is the FIAT 500X reliable?
Is the 2021 FIAT 500X a good car?
How much should I pay for a 2021 FIAT 500X?
The least-expensive 2021 FIAT 500X is the 2021 FIAT 500X Pop 4dr SUV AWD (1.3L 4cyl Turbo 9A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $25,815.
Other versions include:
- Trekking 4dr SUV AWD (1.3L 4cyl Turbo 9A) which starts at $26,945
- Pop 4dr SUV AWD (1.3L 4cyl Turbo 9A) which starts at $25,815
- Sport 4dr SUV AWD (1.3L 4cyl Turbo 9A) which starts at $27,795
- Trekking Plus 4dr SUV AWD (1.3L 4cyl Turbo 9A) which starts at $31,185