The 500X in a nutshell: Fiat’s version of the Jeep Renegade. All-wheel drive comes standard, with power coming from a 1.3-liter turbo-four that produces 177 horsepower and, according to FCA, best-in-class torque of 210 lb.-ft. It’s all backed by a nine-speed automatic.
We sampled the Trekking Plus, the top-of-the-line model. It gets LED projector headlamps, fully optioned seats, a 7-inch touchscreen and 17-inch alloy wheels (though ours was equipped with optional 18-inch wheels).
Like what you're reading? We rely on your financial support. For as little as $3, you can support Grassroots Motorsports by becoming a Patron today.
Become a Patron!
Other staff views
David S. Wallens
Editorial Director
For me, at least, I see two paths with this one: Either you love the looks or are put off by the wind noise–and we’ll get to price in a bit.
The front seats are comfortable and offer plenty of support–I’d put them ahead of par–while the rears offer decent space considering this is a smaller ute. Not sure about three bigger people in the back seat, but a crew of four should be comfy.
The driving experience: Okay power, okay transmission logic, okay ride. Engaging the Sport mode didn’t really help, though, as it just seemed to make things jerkier.
The ’70s called, though, and want their turn signal chime back. It’s seriously ’70s–and this is coming from a guy who owns a ’75 Pontiac.
Wind noise? Yeah, it has some. It seemed to come in just south of 50 mph. It’s not the worst, but it’s not awesome, either. Could be the giant sunroof, could be something else, but it’s there.
One more thing that could be a deal-breaker here: the price. The 500X model line starts at $24,700–higher than the company’s 500L but not out of line for the class. But our tester stickered at $34,375. You can spend less than that on a brand-new Honda Pilot, so not sure what the value proposition is here. So, back to my first sentence, maybe it’s the fashion statement?
Comments
View all comments on the GRM forums
You'll need to log in to post.
