Fiat 500X.Jeremy Cato/The Globe and Mail
Underdog-lovers must surely be rooting for the 500X, struggling Fiat's small crossover – the car we reasonably expect to put to bed those "Fix It Again Tony" jibes thanks to a delicious combination of style, value, technology and loveable road manners.
Style, value and tech? Sure. The Cinquecento design cues are in place, the available dual-panel sunroof is cool, and the 12 available exterior colours are bold and rich. You will notice this little crossover bobbing along in a sea of rivals.
Road manners? Ugh. The steering is numb and non-linear; it's almost impossible to smoothly dial in even small turns through a wonderfully meaty steering wheel with that bold Fiat logo its centrepiece.
The ride quality is jumpy and jittery. Imagine a Cessna single-prop plane bouncing its way through a thundercloud. That's what the 500X feels like on even slightly rough pavement. Through corners, little kids and many adults will need Gravol. Yes, the 500X is a star right up until it starts moving.
Which is a sad mystery. This Fiat shares its platform with the new Jeep Renegade; it should ride and handle as comfortably, but it doesn't. What makes this more disappointing: the 2.4-litre Tigershark four-cylinder (180 horsepower/175 lb-ft torque) is a nice, strong, responsive engine.
Its strong responses are a negative. In any case, the 2.4 would undeniably be my pick over the smaller 1.4-litre MultiAir turbo (160 hp/184 lb-ft torque).
Especially so given the rest of the 500X story. The base price is more than competitive, starting at $21,495. But company officials expect plenty of buyers to go for pricier versions such as the Sport ($29,190) with that great engine and considerably more features than ballpark-priced rivals such as the Mini Cooper Countryman, Nissan Juke and Buick Encore.
The cabin is spacious and the roomy cargo area has a height-adjustable floor. The rears split and fold 60/40, too. Up front, the instrument and control layout is user-friendly – especially the Uconnect multimedia interface, one of the best in the car business. Too bad the front buckets lack comfort and support, and armrests are too far away, leaving your elbows hanging.
Fiat finished dead last in the latest J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study. So the quality piece is an issue. Which is why I was exasperated by the poor road manners and mediocre front seats.
Call this one a work in progress.
You'll like this car if ... You want a high-value, cool-looking small crossover with disappointing road manners.
TECH SPECS
- Base price: $21,495
- Engines: 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo; 2.4-litre four-cylinder.
- Transmission: Nine-speed automatic or six-speed manual.
- Fuel economy (litres/100 km): TBD
- Alternatives: Jeep Renegade, Nissan Juke, Buick Encore, Mini Cooper Countryman, Chevrolet Trax, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mitsubishi RVR, Subaru XV Crosstrek
RATINGS
- Looks: The nicely proportioned body sits atop big wheels. The Cinquecento styling cues are obvious and welcome. Love the bold exterior colours, too. Stands out among little rigs of its ilk.
- Interior: The front buckets are uncomfortable and unsupportive, but the rest of the cabin is good. The Uconnect media interface is outstanding, passengers enjoy lots of head and leg room.
- Performance: This isn’t about the 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, which is excellent. No, this is about jumpy, jittery road manners and non-linear steering responses that make driving the 500X a chore.
- Technology: The headline here deals with the many safety features, the user-friendly multimedia system and even the keyless “Enter ‘n Go” system. That and the available AWD give this Fiat some technological bragging rights.
- Cargo: Big and functional, with a height-adjustable cargo floor.
The Verdict
6.5
Fiat has done lots of good things here, but they are overshadowed by the disappointing drive.
The writer was a guest of the auto maker. Content was not subject to approval.
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