2020 Fiat 500X Sport AWD Review – Long, Tall, and Falling Short – The Truth About Cars

The Fiat 500X counts as a crossover, one way or the other. Sure, it shares a platform with the Jeep Renegade, however then once more, it additionally shares that platform with the Fiat 500L.

A minimum of it seems higher than that rolling blob of anonymity.

New for 2020 is a Sport mannequin, though how a lot sport is gained is debatable.

In spite of everything, the mill underhood is a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 177 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque. It pairs with a nine-speed computerized transmission.

It’s not precisely swift, however there’s extra thrust on faucet than I anticipated. A minimum of sufficient for a easy freeway merge.

The 500X surprises in a curve, too, dealing with higher than a tall subcompact crossover ought to, with minimal physique roll. Steering suggestions is appropriate. You’ll by no means mistake this factor for a sports activities automotive, however it could possibly be worse. It’s no penalty field — it’s a suitable commuter. Sport mode does liven issues up a bit.

A unusual-looking commuter, at that. It stands out in comparison with most nameless crossovers. That’s to not say it’s fairly, however the look is cohesive sufficient. The oddest factor might be the large headlamps – mixed with the entrance grille/fascia that’s extra fascia than grille and the automotive seems like that emoji in your cellphone of the impartial face.

By no means thought I’d make an emoji comparability in a evaluate, however right here we’re.

The Sport mannequin provides entrance and rear fasicas which might be completely different from the remainder of the lineup, a black roof choice, body-color facet molding, a flat-bottom Alcantara steering wheel, and a barely completely different inside look, together with a darkish headliner.

Out again, a rear roof spoiler reveals that the Sport is supposed to be, nicely, sporty. And from a rear three-quarter view, the 500X virtually has, dare I say it, stance.

It’s a greater look than what’s supplied by the amorphous blob that’s the 500L.

Inside, it’s a letdown. You’re greeted with an enormous steering wheel (the Alcantara DOES really feel good), an infotainment display that’s poorly built-in and has a small display, and circles and different rounded shapes in all places. The supplies really feel downmarket, though the presence of audio-control knobs is good. The HVAC controls aren’t the best to make use of on the earth, however they’re simple to be taught rapidly. The gauges relaxation in a pod consisting of three circles, and regardless of the usage of a flowery font, FCA can’t stop them from having an economy-car look.

Unsurprisingly, the trip is on the stiff facet – it’s a short-ish automotive with raised floor clearance. Clean, she ain’t. Dwell in a spot with pockmarked roads, and also you would possibly assume twice earlier than signing on any dotted strains.

Noise and harshness aren’t nicely quelled, both, however the NVH ranges don’t drift into the realm of unacceptable.

Maybe the actual drawback right here is the value. I used to be ready to jot down that the 500X Sport would possibly current a worth case, however then I pulled the Monroney and glanced on the last tally. If I hadn’t already completed my morning cuppa joe, my monitor would’ve been drenched in spit-out Starbucks Okay-Cup.

The 500X begins at a more-or-less affordable $26Okay and alter, however holy cannoli, the $35,895 last invoice. That’s loads. There’s plenty of autos in that worth vary I’d reasonably have, and I’m not even speaking about automobiles that base at $35Okay and soar into the stratosphere with choices. I’m speaking different subcompact/compact crossovers that may be well-equipped, though not essentially totally loaded, for related dough. A minimum of one in every of which is bought by one other FCA model.

Heck, I can get a decently geared up Accord with the two.0-liter turbo for much less.

That worth incorporates a bunch of choices, which means if you would like your Sport well-equipped, you’ll be checking a heck of plenty of bins.

Commonplace options embrace Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite tv for pc radio, UConnect infotainment, keyless entry, cease/begin, distant begin, hill-start help, Bluetooth, USB, 18-inch wheels, LED daytime operating lamps, and fog lamps. Not unhealthy, proper?

Nonetheless, there’s some standard options lacking from that checklist. Like I mentioned, put together to start out ticking bins.

To be honest, not everybody will construct a 500X Sport like my loaner. Many will present restraint when selecting choices. However do you have to select to load it up – all mine was lacking was both of the all-weather packages that embrace rubber ground mats and splash guards – be able to spend.

It’s not simply the sticker that popped my eyes. It’s that FCA nickels and dimes you a bit. Shouldn’t the compact spare by commonplace? There’s two driver-assistance packages, and to get the extra superior one that you must purchase each. Common, that, however you pay full worth for each when you choose the Superior bundle. Looks as if it would make extra sense for FCA to supply the “lesser” bundle individually, and a reduction on the 2 collectively, do you have to go for each. I’m positive the bean counters might discover a solution to preserve that worthwhile.

One other difficulty – a couple of choices, comparable to dual-zone local weather management, are sometimes commonplace on automobiles priced within the $20Ks.

It’s at this level that the charms of the 500X Sport fade. At $26Okay? Yeah, I’d put up with its flaws, particularly because it’s obtained some charms, too. However as soon as the choices are ladled on, the deal goes bitter.

These optionally available options included: black accenting for the roof ($445), leather-based bucket seats together with vinyl trim panel and driver’s seat again pocket ($995), the Premium Group (Beats audio, 19-inch wheels, sunroof, all-season tires, $1,695), Chilly Climate Group (heated entrance seats, wiper de-icer, $295), Consolation Group (auto-dimming rear-view mirror, energy driver seat, dual-zone computerized local weather management, ambient overhead lighting, $795), Driver Help Group (LED license plate mild, LED headlamps, entrance and rear park help, $895), Superior Driver Help Group (adaptive cruise management, lane-departure warning, blind-spot and cross-path detection, computerized excessive beams, rain-sensitive wipers, $1,395), compact spare tire ($295), and UConnect with navigation and a 7-inch display ($695).

Vacation spot was one other $1,495.

The 500X might’ve made a robust case for itself if the sticker worth was extra affordable. However it will possibly’t compete on worth, and whereas it’s no field of unhealthy, it’s not fairly ok to command this cash.

Some people in Southeast Michigan have to reevaluate their pricing plans.

[Images © 2020 Tim Healey/TTAC]

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