Used Fiat 500X 2015-present review

If you’re a hip young thing, the Fiat 500 is probably a car you’ve long had your eye on. However, you've moved on in life and now you have responsibilities (read: children to transport around) and need something bigger. You like the style of the 500 but need the space of an SUV. So what do you? You take a look at the 500X.

The entry-level petrol 108bhp 1.6-litre petrol and 94bhp 1.3-litre diesel versions are fine if you want something cheap, but we’d suggest going for the more powerful 118bhp 1.6-litre diesel; it has punchier mid-range performance yet its fuel economy is the same as for the smaller 1.3 diesel. There is also a turbocharged 1.4 petrol with 138bhp that’s great for people who don’t do many miles. If you need four-wheel drive, you'll need the 138bhp 2.0 diesel, which has it fitted as standard.

After the 2018 facelift, all diesel 500X engines were dropped and two new petrol engines were introduced to join the carry-over 1.6-litre petrol. The three-cylinder, 118bhp 1.0-litre is fine around town, while the 148bhp 1.3-litre sounds good on paper, but its standard automatic gearbox is reluctant to change down and therefore it doesn't feel as fast as expected.

The ride at town speeds on smaller wheels is rather good, managing to smooth out the bigger bumps and remaining settled over patched-up surfaces. The high-speed ride isn’t quite so supple, though, and can cause the 500X to lurch over mid-corner bumps and undulations. Ultimately, it’s not a car for barrelling into corners because it leans over in to bends on its softly sprung suspension; the 500X suits a more laid-back style.

The amount of grip the 500X provides is decent; you can chuck it into corners with confidence, despite its slightly vague steering. If you need a bit of extra traction for wintry conditions, or perhaps light off-road capabilities, then look for a Cross Plus model. These are fitted with an active four-wheel drive system that will be capable of dealing with the odd muddy track and snow shower.

Unlike the smaller 500, the 500X gets plenty of soft-touch materials inside, and fit and finish is generally good. The variety of colours and its interesting design sets it apart from rivals. It’s certainly more attractive than the sensible but rather plain interior of a Vauxhall Mokka.

Space up front is fine and can only be bettered by the likes of the Citroën C4 Cactus and Skoda Yeti. You get a decent range of adjustability, with plenty of seat height adjustment, although getting the angle right is a trifle fiddly; you have to release a leaver and lean forward and backwards until you find a comfortable posture. Rear leg and head room are ample for two medium-sized adults and the rear doors open up to nearly 90deg, allowing easy access to child seats. The boot isn’t the biggest in the class, but its square aperture and depth of it means loading a pushchair is no problem.

Trim levels begin with Pop that comes with air conditioning, cruise control and electric windows, while Pop Star adds 17in alloys, dual-zone climate control, and a 5in infotainment system. The posh Lounge trim gets bi-xenon headlights and sat nav. For those looking for a hint of SUV styling, the Cross model has chunkier 18in alloy wheels and plenty of extra exterior body cladding, and the Cross plus has keyless entry.

After the facelift, the range was altered to include a new entry-level Urban, which comes with 16in alloys, a 7in infotainment system, air conditioning and cruise control, along with lane-keeping assistance and traffic sign recognition, with speed recognition assistance. Lounge models have bigger 17in alloys, front and rear parking sensors, light and rain sensors and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. Sport models have larger still 18in alloy wheels, LED headlights, Alcantara seats and sporty exterior details. City Cross has exterior body cladding, while Cross Plus adds 19in alloys, a Tom Tom sat nav system and a rear-view camera.

Prices start at around £6500 for an early 2015 car. Low-mileage 2016 cars will set you back about £7500, with a year old example coming in at £12,000.

If you want a 500X with four-wheel drive, a Cross Plus model is £8500 or more.

Check the value of a used Fiat 500X with What Car? Valuations

Two-wheel-drive models are more economical than their four-wheel-drive counterparts, but, since the latter come with bigger engines, that’s hardly surprising. The most economical models are the 1.3-litre diesel and 1.6-litre diesel, which both have a claimed combined average of 68.9mpg and road tax of 107g/km and 109g/km respectively.

In terms of petrol engines, the entry-level 1.6-litre unit has an average of 42.2mpg and 147g/km, while the turbocharged 1.4 with 138bhp is the more economical choice at 47.1mpg and emissions of 139g/km. Going for a Cross or Cross Plus model does impact on your running costs; the larger 2.0-litre diesel comes with four-wheel drive, which explains why it costs a fair bit more to run at 51.4mpg and 144g/km.

A refresh in 2018 brought in a couple of new engines. The most economical of which is a 1.0-litre petrol that gets 48.7mpg, followed by a more powerful 1.3-litre petrol with a combined figure of 46.3mpg.

Any Fiat 500X registered after 1 April 2017 will fall under the current road tax system of a single, flat rate fee. Find out more about the current road tax costs here.

Servicing costs are in line with rivals, both in terms of fixed-price packages and standard servicing.

Pre-facelift models come in five different flavours, but we'd go for the Pop Star version for a bit more equipment without having to suffer with a stiff ride on large alloy wheels. For post-facelift examples, go for a City Cross so you can have the 1.0-litre petrol engine.

Look out for any example with the City pack because that adds front parking sensors and even a rear-view camera on later versions. The Comfort pack is also worth searching for; it gives you a central armrest and a third headrest in the rear, along with an adjustable height boot floor.

If you're considering a 500X built before the 2018 facelift, go for the 1.6-litre diesel because it's the best all-round choice. Of the three petrols available after the facelift, it's the mid-range 1.0-litre that's the most sensible choice since the 1.6 isn't that efficient, and the 1.3 has a laborious automatic gearbox.

Our favourite Fiat 500X 1.6-litre Multijet Pop Star

The Vauxhall Mokka might seem like a slightly dull option next to the 500X, but it has been a popular choice amongst small SUV buyers thanks to its high safety scores, chunky styling and optional four-wheel drive system.

If you want your small SUV to stand out, then the Jeep Renegade has classic, boxy 4x4 looks and some models have genuine off-roading credentials. Its unsettled ride makes it feel rather agricultural compared with rivals, though.

The Skoda Yeti has a distinctive look of its own and comes with a large range of petrol and diesel engines to suit all lifestyles and budgets. The handling is quite tidy, but the ride is a little bit firm in some specifications.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? Newsletter here