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Fiat 500L (2013 – 2023) Review

2021 Fiat 500L 1.4 Sport 5dr Fiat 500L
1.4 Sport 5dr
£12,689
View Fiat 500L cars for sale

Fiat 500L (2013 – 2023) At A Glance

3/5
Honest John Overall Rating
The Fiat 500L people carrier expands the Fiat 500 range in every sense by providing spacious family transport, but don’t expect the fun driving experience that the city car delivers.

+Unique looks and some fun cabin flourishes. Tall and spacious. Cheap to run with the right engine.

-Some engines are uneconomical and slow. Suspect cabin quality. Dull drive.

Insurance Groups are between 7–18
On average it achieves 76% of the official MPG figure

Following the huge success of the Fiat 500 city car, the range was expanded with the Fiat 500L MPV. It nodded towards the cute styling of the smaller model, but it looks like it’s been over-inflated to make space for five people and luggage. Neither was the new model imbued with the driving fun of the 2007 Fiat 500, which can make rivals such as the Citroen C3 Picasso or desirable MINI Countryman seem like better options. Read on for our full Fiat 500L review.

The Fiat 500L is a people carrier bearing the name of the genuinely iconic small Italian car that was born in the 1950s. There were, in fact, bigger versions of the original Fiat 500.

Big is relative, of course, and by today’s standards the Fiat 500L is a small MPV family car in the vein of the Citroen C3 Picasso and Ford B-MAX.

That means it seats five thanks to a design which is clearly focused on maximising interior space.

There’s also a Fiat 500L MPW that’s even longer and seats seven.

In reality, the Fiat 500L is a Fiat 500 by way of design details only.

These details include a gawky front end and vaguely minimalistic interior. Design flourishes aside, the rest of the package is fairly standard small MPV fare.

The cabin comprises mainly hard and cheap-feeling plastics, and where the likes of a Volkswagen Golf Plus or Ford B-MAX have a big car ambience, the Fiat 500L feels like a bulked-up, cut-price runabout.

Among the problems is an uncomfortable driving position, especially for taller people, because the seat is set too high and the pedals are too close together. Refinement is also only average at best.

The trim range begins at Pop and goes through Pop Star and Lounge, while Trekking versions feature extra kit such as plastic body cladding, additional ground clearance and winter tyres. There was also a Beats Edition, which was based on the Trekking, but got an upgraded stereo.

You’ll need Pop Star spec at least for alloys and air-conditioning, but all cars come with a (fiddly) five-inch touchscreen media system, an attractive body-coloured gloss panel for the dashboard and the useful ‘Cargo Magic Space’ system that allows all the seats, bar the driver’s, to be folded completely flat.

Every car got six airbags, which contributed to the Fiat 500L’s five-star Euro NCAP safety rating when it was tested as a new car, while 85PS 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel versions offered decent fuel economy.

While the Fiat 500L broadens the field of choice for used car buyers, it doesn’t add any depth in terms of ability, clever design or style.

Fancy a second opinion? Read heycar’s Fiat 500L review.

What do owners think of the Fiat 500L (2013 – 2023)? Check out our Owners' Reviews from people who live with the car day in, day out.

Reviews for Fiat 500L (2013 – 2023)'s top 3 rivals

MINI Countryman
4/5
Golf sized MINI has five seats and a 350-litre boot. Available with BMW's chain cam 1.6 diesel engine....
Citroen C3 Picasso
3/5
Decently practical and spacious. Good load capacity. Panoramic front screen with no blindspots.
Citroen C4
4/5
Unique interior design has a boutique feel. Comfortable and refined on the move. Spacious inside with...

Ask Honest John

Tailgate lock not working - will my car fail the MoT?

"My garage has informed me that my car will fail its MoT because the rear tailgate will not open. It's a Fiat 500. Are they correct? And if they are, what can I do? "
The car will not fail the MoT due to the boot being jammed shut. But the MoT tester will probably refuse to test the car as the locked boot will prevent him/her from carrying out the full inspection. The problem may be something simple like moisture in the lock servo (easily fixed with a squirt of WD40). Or you may need a new lock. either way, you'll need to get it fixed.
Answered by Dan Powell

Do I need to get my Fiat TwinAir serviced at a Fiat garage?

"I am wondering whether I need to get my Fiat 500L TwinAir serviced at a Fiat garage or if a regular garage would do the job just as well? There isn't a warranty issue so that isn't such a factor."
Definitely, absolutely not. The TwinAir engine requires a specific Fiat Selenia oil and if it doesn't get it, it can fail. Fiat dealers are among the cheapest franchised dealers for servicing anyway.
Answered by Honest John

Can I get all weather tyres fitted on my new car instead of what the manufacturer puts on?

"When I order a new car for Spring 2018 I would like it on all season tyres rather than what the manufacturer is fitting at the time. What would be the best approach to achieve this?"
You'll have to do a deal, but the car will come from the factory with whatever tyres the factory fits. You can't specify all season tyres except on a Renault Captur, a Peugeot 2008 with Grip Control, a Peugeot 3008 with Grip Control or a FIAT Panda or 500L Trekking. Anything else, the dealer (or you) will have to try to re-sell the tyres the car came on. Probably cheaper to simply get the all weather tyres fitted yourself and try to sell the standard tyres on eBay.
Answered by Honest John

Fiat 500L depreciation

"I bought a Fiat 500L trekking in April 2014 for £21,300, a year later I was offered a part-exchange value of around £11,000 from the same Fiat dealer. I am appalled that such a run of the mill car can drop half its value in a year. What can I do? "
You must have paid full list price for it in the first place which wasn't very astute. But it's a good car, so, given its drop in value, the most sensible thing to do now is to keep it for another couple of years and allow the depreciation to amortise.
Answered by Honest John
More Questions

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