Introduction

The 2021 Fiat 500X is a practical and cute crossover SUV that seats up to five passengers and boasts standard all-wheel drive. 

The 2021 500X only benefits from a few small changes around its option packages. Otherwise, this is the same crossover that debuted in 2016. 

All 500Xs are powered by the same tiny 1.3-liter turbo-4, which is about as small a turbo-4 as you'll find anywhere on the market. The little engine makes a respectable 177 hp that it sends through a 9-speed automatic. Expect 24 mpg city, 30 highway, 26 combined. 

Don't expect to get any active-safety tech as standard, as Fiat charges extra for all of it-including automatic emergency braking. That and adaptive cruise control are only standard on the Trekking and Sport trims. On lower trims, the $1,395 Advanced Driver Assistance Group bundles those features along with blind-spot monitors. 

The IIHS has conducted some crash testing with the 500X, but it hasn't completed the task. Of the tests that were administered the 500X did well. The NHTSA hasn't tested it at all. 

Lineup

Opening the 500X range is the $26,840 Pop. As the base model, it skips on the goodies to keep the price low, so the few noteworthy features include a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cloth upholstery, and manual single-zone climate control. 

Other than satellite radio and premium cloth upholstery, the $27,440 Trekking adds little in the way of features. However, the Trekking unlocks options unavailable with the Pop, such as the aforementioned Driver Assistance package. Other options include Beats audio, leather upholstery, and navigation. 

The $28,640 Sport is the first trim to make automatic emergency braking standard equipment. It also comes with some sportier pieces like a flat-bottomed steering wheel and upgraded seats. 

The Trekking Plus costs $31,240 and crowns the lineup. Compared to the Sport, the Plus adds navigation, heated front seats, leather upholstery, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Most of its standard equipment is available on the lower trims. 

Walkaround

Retro is often hit or miss. Some cars pull it off splendidly; others botch the effort and come off contrived. The 500X works. It leans on many of the retro Fiat styling tricks to show off its character, such as the round headlights and two-slat grille. 

The best looking model in the lineup is Sport trim, which deletes the contrasting cladding for sharp body-color trim. It's not retro-it comes off as more authentically funky. 

Interior

Among the smattering of retro-tinged cars available today, the 500X has one of the more overtly vintage interiors. But its infotainment is up to date: The 7.0-inch touchscreen is a straightforward affair that isn't hard to learn. We're happy to see that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the lineup, though the native software works well enough for us. 

One of the more convincing selling points of the 500X is its passenger space, which feels even larger than it is thanks to the fishbowl effect of the massive windows. The driver's high seating position feels like a crow's nest for its expansive outward view. 

The back seat, while only offering 35 inches of leg room, feels spacious nonetheless thanks to wide door openings and good head room. Still, plenty of other small crossovers offer more leg room. 

Cargo space is on the lean side, at 14 cubic feet behind the rear seats, though that does expand to 40 cubes once the back seat is folded. 

Driving Impression

Even with its small 1.3-liter turbo-4, the 500X has no trouble hustling around town. Highway passing might take a few extra seconds, yes, and long uphills can be a bit of a challenge, but overall the engine feels well-matched to the 500X. 

That takeaway might sound surprising, but the turbo-4's 177 hp is augmented by a strong 210 lb-ft of torque that comes on quickly. That torque is a big reason we find the 500X so amenable in city driving. 

The 9-speed automatic is another reason, but it's not without its foibles. It's usually ready to swap gears smoothly, but can get confused at lower speeds and light throttle inputs. 

The 500X is novel in that it comes standard with all-wheel drive. We found the extra traction nice to have, and we don't think it much affects ride and handling. The chassis does a nice job delivering a comfortable ride, though bigger wheels do crash over the bumps with more drama than the smaller rims. 

Summary

The 2021 Fiat 500X offers small-crossover utility with some Italian heritage and unconventional styling thrown into the mix. If it offered more standard active-safety tech, it would make even more sense. For that reason we would buy the Sport, which comes with automatic emergency braking-and the sharpest looks. 

 

-by Anthony Sophinos with driving impressions by The Car Connection.