Style in the city
Joining one of the largest growing segments in South Africa, the Fiat 500X takes on the likes of the Toyota Urban Cruiser, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet and Ford EcoSport. In a segment that is this busy, you have to stand out somehow and the 500X does this quite well. With its bulbous design language, large headlights and squared-off taillights, the Fiat has a rounded approach to its competitors squared designs.
Related: Top 3 things you need to know about the Fiat 500X
We took the 2021 version for a week of suburban testing and found it quite agreeable but this segment is about more than just looks. What else does the 500X have to offer?
Styling
The 500X maintains the same stylistic design cues that you will find with the smaller 500 city car. The X gets black cladding around the wheel arches and door bottoms as well as a set of stylish 16-inch wheels. The LED headlights do make the vehicle look slightly bug-eyed but the familiar design cue works. Chrome trim and 500X badging finish off the package that looks set to gobble up the nearest gravel road.
The Drive
A push of the oddly placed start/stop button brings the 500X to life with little fanfare. A highlight here is the round ball-shaped gear level which falls to the hand in a super comfortable grip. Slotting in too first gear, the Fiat 500X takes off easily and shifts up through the cogs smoothly. There is very little NVH to speak of but the engine does sound strained at high revs.
Performance
The entire 500X lineup is powered by a 1.4l turbocharged 4 cylinder petrol engine. The engine is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission that powers the front wheels. The powertrain is good for 103kW and 230Nm and is quite peppy around town. The 500X should do 0-100km/h in 9.3 seconds and can reach a 190km/h top speed.
Space and Comfort
Despite its small size, the interior of the 500X is surprisingly roomy. There is plenty of legroom and shoulder room for passengers and can easily fit 5 adults. The boot can also swallow a remarkable amount of kit, 245l of packing space is expandable to 910 when the rear seats are dropped.
Safety
The Fiat has a very high European specification for safety. Receiving a 4 star Euro NCAP rating, the 500X is fitted with ABS, BAS, TSC, hill start assist, Tyre pressure monitoring, lane-keeping assist, auto wipers, auto headlights, PDCs front and rear, rear camera and 6 airbags.
Fuel Consumption
Fiat claims the 500x will return 6.0-litres per 100km. On our combined cycle testing, laden and unladen, we returned closer to 9.3. The 48-litre fuel tank should yield roughly 500km of range, reserve included.
Price
The Fiat 500X range is as follows:
Fiat 500X Cult - R 394 900
Fiat 500X Connect - R 449 900
Fiat 500X Sport - R 519 900
Fiat 500X Cross - R 519 900
All Fiat 500x models are sold with a 5 year / 100 000km warranty and a 3-year / 60 000 km service plan
Verdict
The Fiat 500X sets itself apart from its competitors in this segment with an individualistic design approach and a standard specification that exceeds what many of its compatriots offer. If you are a fan of Euro-centric design and a high level of tech, then the 500 should definitely be on your radar.
