Fiat 500X Review 2023

If you’re after a small crossover SUV with a bit more personality than its peers, the Fiat 500X is a great choice. The Fiat 500X represents good value for money, has a practical cabin and a wide range of economical engines. There’s lots to like.

We’d recommend one the latest (2018-) models if budget allows. These feature plusher interiors and the excellent 1.0-litre ‘Firefly’ petrol engine. If you’re after a diesel or four-wheel-drive, you’ll need a pre-2018 model.

There’s no shortage of strong competition for the Fiat 500X, including its counterpart the Jeep Renegade. Others includes the Citroen C3 Aircross, Nissan Juke and Renault Captur. You could also look at the Ford EcoSport or the later Ford Puma, as well as Japanese alternatives like the Honda HR-V and Suzuki Vitara. 

The Volkswagen T-Cross, SEAT Arona and Skoda Kamiq might not be quite as quirky but all feel better made. There’s also the Peugeot 2008, Vauxhall Crossland X and Mazda CX-3.

The interior design might take it's influence from the 500, but luckily the Fiat 500X's interior quality is a step up, with a lot less cheap plastics littering the cabin. Instead, there's a decent array of soft-touch materials spread around, while the body-coloured plastic inserts work really nicely. However, pick the Fiat 500X in Sport trim and you're lumbered with some rather gloomy grey inserts instead.

The fit and finish overall in the Fiat 500X is also pretty good, although no Fiat 500X is exactly plush inside. That said, even German alternatives like the Volkswagen T-Cross have quite a few flimsy finishes and the new Ford Puma - one of our favourite cars in this class - isn’t perfect inside. If you're looking for something really plush, then you'll want to take a look at the Audi Q2. 

All models in the Fiat 500X range sport a nice 7-inch touchscreen infotainment display, while there's also a DAB radio, Bluetooth and two USB ports, as well as an aux in socket. 

While you'd be forgiven for assuming that all models feature a sat nav, it's only as standard on the Cross and Sport models (and an option on Connect models). It's not all bad news though as both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard throughout the range, meaning you can mirror your smartphone and enjoy the likes of Google Maps with the latest traffic information. 

To be honest, unless you're having to dive into the car's menu system, you'll probably want to rely on the connectivity of your smartphone to deliver your media and mapping as the infotainment menu system in the Fiat 500X is a bit of a faff to use if we're honest. Don't get us wrong, it's relatively intuitive, but the response time isn't as slick as rivals. 

The Fiat 500X's interior is very practical and most drivers will be able to find a comfortable seating position without any hassle. You get a high seating position, while there are plenty of useful storage areas for tucking away those odds and ends that we all end up acquiring during day-to-day life.

The Fiat 500X measures 4264mm long and 1796mm - quite a bit bigger than a standard Fiat 500, which measures 3571mm long and 1627mm wide. This makes it about the same size at the Nissan Juke and the larger proportions over the standard Fiat 500 mean that a pair of adults will fit into the back of the Fiat 500X (it gets a bit crowded with three).

The boot will be big enough for a lot of buyers, though the 350 litre boot capacity of the Fiat 500X is far from the biggest in its class. Using the Nissan Juke as an example again, this enjoys a much larger 422 litre boot. You can always drop the rear seats if you need to carry bulky items, which increases the space to 1000 litres, although the 500X’s high boot lip could be a bit of a nuisance if you plan to do this regularly.

The initial engine line-up saw 110PS 1.6- and 140PS 1.4-litre MultiAir petrol powering front-wheel-drive models, as well as diesel offerings in the flavour of a 1.3 (with 95PS) and a 1.6 (with 120PS).

Four-wheel drive models got the 140PS 2.0-litre MultiJet diesel and 170PS 1.4-litre MultiAir petrol, but commanded a significant price premium.

When the Fiat 500X range was revamped in 2018, the diesel and four-wheel-drive models were dropped entirely and the 1.4 MultAir was replaced with new Firefly engines. The new 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine is the one to go for, we reckon - it might only have 120PS, but it feels eager and nippy without compromising on fuel economy. There’s also a four-cylinder 1.3-litre with 150PS, which comes exclusively with a DCT automatic gearbox.

The Fiat 500X comes fitted with 16, 17 or 18-inch wheels, but we'd avoid the large alloys if possible as these can make the ride that bit firmer. You'll also miss the thicker sidewalls of the smaller tyres when you thump over potholes and speed bumps. 

You can expect a little bit of wind noise once you're up to speed on the motorway, but it's not too excessive, while the latest engines can be a little noisy when pushed hard. If you're wanting something a little more refined, the Volkswagen T-Roc has the edge here.

One aspect of the Fiat 500X which might trigger alarm bells is its four-star Euro NCAP safety rating. Despite many cars now coming with five-star ratings, the Fiat 500X was let down by its lack of standard safety assist systems. 

It’s available with things like autonomous emergency braking and lane-keeping assist systems, but they’re not standard across the range. That doesn’t mean it’s an unsafe car, of course, but rivals are a bit more generous with such features. 

One obvious area where the Fiat 500X could perform better is reliability. We've seen a number of complaints around electrical gremlins for instance, but if you're buying new, you do get a 3-year/60,000 mile warranty that gives you some extra peace of mind. 

As a manufacturer, Fiat finished 32nd out of 34 brands in the latest HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index survey - only coming in ahead of Vauxhall and Jeep. 

If you're looking for cheap car insurance, then put a big tick alongside the Fiat 500X. The entry-level Fiat 500X Pop with a 1.3-litre engine has Group 5 insurance to keep premiums nice and low. 

Even if you opt for one of the better-spec'd models with a more punchy engine, you won't be going any further than insurance group 16 with the Fiat 500X. 

If you're looking to buy a new Fiat 500X, then the first year ‘showroom’ rate for a new car starts at £160 and rises to £220 depending on the model you choose. Annual road tax for a Fiat 500X is then £155 per year.  

The Fiat 500X line-up has changed a few times since its launch in 2015. Originally, the most affordable model was the 500X Pop, which featured 16-inch steel wheels, cruise control, electric windows and an electronic parking brake as standard. Nothing groundbreaking here…

The Fiat 500X Pop Star (yes, it was called that) added 17-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights with cornering illumination, climate control and rear parking sensors. It also brought selectable drive modes and a small 5.0-inch Uconnect infotainment system with Bluetooth.

The high-spec Fiat 500X Lounge is one the more desirable models, with highlights including 18-inch alloys, a bigger 6.5-inch infotainment system with navigation and chrome exterior styling. It even got a leather-trimmed gear shifter, an adjustable front armrest and fancy ambient interior lighting.

The Fiat 500X Cross was the off-road model, with bespoke 17-inch alloy wheels, an advanced traction control system and tinted rear windows. Other off-roady exterior features included the bespoke front and rear bumpers, chrome exhaust trims and roof bars, while the inside got a leather-trimmed gear shifter and a special dashboard finish as well as an adjustable front armrest with storage.

The Fiat 500X Cross Plus built on this with 18-inch alloy wheels, the 6.5-inch media system with navigation, HID headlights, an adjustable cargo floor, front floor mats and ambient interior lighting.

When the Fiat 500X range was face-lifted in 2018, the line-up was simplified somewhat. The new entry-level model is badged the Fiat 500X Urban, with spec highlights including a 7-inch media system (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility), 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control and Lane Assist with Intelligent Speed Assist.

The Fiat 500X City Cross adds more rugged front and rear bumpers, chrome exterior highlights, fog lights and rear parking sensors. It also features 17-inch alloy wheels, body-coloured electrically adjustable door mirrors, automatic dual-zone climate control and a 3.5-inch colour TFT display.

The top-spec Fiat 500X Cross Plus comes with all of these features as well as LED headlights, roof rails, part-leather interior upholstery, dark tinted windows, a dusk sensor, front armrest with storage compartment and a rear-view camera. It also gets a seven-inch navigation system and 18-inch alloy wheels.