Auto Review: 'X' marks the spot on Fiat 500

The Fiat 500 gets a new 'X' badge, bringing improved seating and luggage arrangements, drivability and a generous helping of rugged off-road capability.

The super minis are a funky bunch, and, for some, the MINI or MINI Cooper is the first and ultimate lifestyle choice. But if cliché British motoring bores you and you don't plan on breaking the bank, there are some interesting choices out there, like the Italian FIAT 500.

Like MINI, FIAT has, not one, but three different 500 models to choose from. There is the new-gen original 500, for those who find sense and security in tight spaces; then they have the 500L for the family man or woman, who might enjoy some extra space to stretch a limb or two; and then there is the brand spanking-new 500X, the rugged one of the FIAT range. We took it out for a bit of a thrash and here's what we thought.

DESIGN & AESTHETICS         

The 2016 FIAT 500X is based on the same platform as the Punto, 500L and the Jeep Renegade - another legitimate crossover SUV out of the Chrysler-FIAT marriage - and is designed by FIAT's Centro Stile, or 'design centre'.

The 500X may seem like a magnified version of the 500, but it's not much bigger than a sub-compact crossover, jostling with the likes of the Nissan twins - Juke and Qashqai - the Mitsubishi ASX, Opel's Meriva and Kia's Soul. From the tip of the clamshell bonnet to the boot, it measures 4,250mm in length, 1,800mm in width and 1,600mm in height, which is a bit taller than your standard sedan.
The 500X has a compact set of wheels that is very manageable around town constraints, while retaining identifiable substance on the highway. And a big reason for keeping that distinction, as you may have guessed, is its styling.

The 500 and 500X may share a family resemblance but they are two separate products. Where the 500 has simple rounded geometry for its headlamp cluster, for example, the 500X has a larger, stretched look. And where the 500 has a gaping lower air-intake, the focus is on the bash plate in the 500X. The 500's doors may look like sliced sheet metal, but the 500X has bulging wheel arches and pronounced haunch lines instead; and where the 500 has a linear slanted rear end, the 500X has a bulge in the boot, like the original.
The 500X also has an elevated presence that promotes a go-anywhere attitude, whereas the 500 looks at home in the shopping-aisle-wide streets of Europe. Surprisingly, the chrome surrounds around the vertical red lamps are reminiscent of not a sister car, but of its rival, the MINI Cooper. Also at the cute rear is the FIAT medallion over a chrome strip on the tailgate, and a right-biased rectangular chrome exhaust tip.
Our pick amongst the eight available body colours is dark blue, and there are eight different designs for the 17-18" machined aluminium alloys as well. Our test car had a sporty two-tone multi-spoke rim.
To call the 500X beautiful is not necessarily far-fetched, but we'd rather say that, in certain lights, it has a funky youthful figure that can turn it on in the fashion department, especially in certain paint jobs.
For all the truncated looks the 500X conveys on the outside, it is surprisingly accommodating on the inside, even for a 6ft frame. The interior has the persona of someone mature that refuses to grow up too easily. The steering wheel, for example, has one of the oddest shapes - like a wheel on Fred Flintstone's car; it's not quite round, nor is it straight-edged. The seats have a plush home cushion look in the flesh and the headrests look like boiled eggs that have been sliced in half. However, there is something to be desired in the leatherette upholstery - it is soft, but feels like plastic.
The car's vitals come through on three circular individually cowled displays, with a large central display featuring a re-configurable 3.5" TFT display that, oddly, has a miniature speedo to the right. It's not the smartest idea when you are trying to point your needle towards the edge of the speed limit, without being fined on the roads here.
The two-texture dash has unique plastic concave designs, and the A/C vents can be fitted in the car's body colour. In the centre is an isolated chunky iPad for an infotainment screen. The front seats are comfortable, giving you an elevated driving position, with good posture and visibility, while keeping everything at arm's length away. The rear cabin has space for two 6ft-tall adults with sufficient headroom and legroom, even for the big fellows. The fifth adult, though, might find it a very tight squeeze. A two-piece glass sunroof lets you soak in the sun for as long as you want, while two glove boxes and the media screen input for USB, SD card and AUX-in options add to the conveniences.

POWERTRAIN & PERFORMANCE

On the road, our initial impressions were slightly dismal. There was a noticeable jerk in the 9-speed transmission - by the way, the 500X is the first and only car in its class to have so many speeds - when we set off. The elevated seating position usually means a cushy ride can be taken for granted, but in this, it came across as nervous and bouncy.
As we clocked the kilometres, however, we realised that this is not meant to be driven like a grandparent. This is a young person's car and requires some zeal, and that means there is no guilt in the pleasure of speed. As you apply the gas, the ride settles down into a bump-absorbing smoothness and the transmission becomes almost seamless in its transition between the ratios. And that's not the best part: the aural treat that reveals itself with the gain in revs won our hearts.
The car is powered by a 2.4L 4-cylinder Tigershark MultiAir II engine that has been named TigerShark for a reason. As you mash the throttle to go from 0-100km/h in 9.0 seconds, you can feel the horse count notching up to 182bhp, with torque peaking out at 237Nm. Even with only 182 horses under the hood, the slippery 0.34 drag coefficient takes this 500X to 193km/h!
The FIAT 500X really comes alive when you thrash it; call it a kind of masochistic love. And the flirting continues as you turn the wheel. The steering is rightly stubborn; ie, its decently weighted, and switching between driving models, from Auto to Sport, turns down the power assistance further and turns up the aggression in the transmission.
The FIAT 500X's all-wheel drive system adopts a fuel-saving rear axle disconnection feature that seamlessly switches between two- and four-wheel drive for full-time torque management. We are sure this is capable of frugality, but all we could achieve during our over-enthusiastic test drive was 12L/100km.
There's also a front-wheel drive 140hp, 1.4L Turbo MultiAir II engine with 6-speed dual dry twin-clutch transmission to choose from, if you want to be more frugal.
Ground clearance for the AWD versions increases to 179mm compared to 162mm for the FWD ones. The car is also equipped with independent MacPherson suspension front and rear, but besides splashing above the sand in the all-wheel drive model, it's not meant for serious off-tarmac antics. And because of that, the cheaper, and more economical turbo-4 with FWD, may be the best option here.

FEATURES & FUNCTIONALITY

The 500X gets Chrysler's famed and familiar 5" Uconnect system operated via a touch screen, steering wheel remote controls and voice commands. The 6.5" version features satellite navigation with 3D maps and progressive route guidance is available on higher trims like the Cross Plus. The maps have a vivid graphical interpretation, but could be quicker in response times.
All units feature Bluetooth phone and music streaming connectivity. Music plays out through either a 120W 4-speaker system or 180W 6-speaker configuration, depending on the model. The sound quality is good enough to get you in the mood for a drive, but not stellar.
Being the top-spec, we had the advantage of a well-lit rear view camera to go with the useful Lane Assist and Blind Spot Assist. Also available is Rear Cross Path and a new 'Brake Control' assisted braking system, which can intervene between speeds of 6.4km/h and 193km/h to apply emergency braking automatically, preventing, or mitigating a collision impact.
Additionally, the safety list boasts other abbreviations, such as ESC (Electronic Stability Control), ABS with EBD (Electronic Brake-Force Distribution); ERM (Electronic Rollover Mitigation); Hill Start Assist; ASR (traction control); electronic parking brake, TPMS (tyre pressure monitoring system) and some half a dozen airbags.
The 350L luggage compartment can be increased to about 1,400L to accommodate all manner of loads using the 60:40 split and foldable rear seats, and the fold-flat front passenger seat helps optimise the human-to-cargo ratio. FIAT hasn't forgotten young mommies and daddies either, and have provided ISOFIX mounts for child seats too.

VERDICT

For what the 2016 FIAT 500X gains in mass, it does not lose in mojo. Quirks are few, but if you pace it like a young adolescent, you will like it for the way it drives. There is no age requisite to recognise its practicality and value-for-money position. This is FIAT's way of sticking it to the other four-letter word: MINI.
 

• On The Road