2021 Fiat 500X

The competition is very tough in the small SUV segment and the rivals offer superior cabin space, powerful engine, and a more attractive overall package compared to the 2021 Fiat 500X. Still, the Fiat 500X is a sensible choice in the segment and it offers quite a few goodies for its price. Having said this, how good is the 2021 Fiat 500X? Let’s find out.

With prices starting from $25,815, the 2021 Fiat 500X is available in a total of four trim options. The trims are named Pop, Trekking, Sport, and Trekking Plus. In the base model, it gets features like cloth upholstery, a 6-speaker audio system, a 7-inch touchscreen, and much more. 

In the Trekking trim it gets various upgrades like Satellite radio, Fog lights, Restyled front & rear bumpers. Along with the features included in the Sport model, the Trekking Plus trim gets a navigation system, 8-speaker Beats premium audio system, front and rear parking sensors, and much more. More details are mentioned below:

Which Trim should you buy?

Among the four, the Sport trim is the one that caught our eye due to its value for money package. This trim is priced at $27,795 and gets various features like 18-inch alloy wheels, bucket seats as an add-on to the features in Trekking trim. We also suggest equipping your SUV with an optional Advanced Driver Assistance package.

Powering the 2021 Fiat 500X is a 1.3-L turbocharged inline-4 engine. The maximum power and torque output by this engine stand at 177 hp and 210 lb-ft respectively. As standard, the SUV is available only with an all-wheel-drive option which gets power via a nine-speed automatic gearbox. The all-wheel-drive system available comes with driver-selectable settings that can optimize traction control in various road conditions available. Despite its smaller size, this inline engine works pretty well and can cover 0-60 mph in 8.9 seconds. 

The engine isn’t that responsive and a turbo lag can be experienced and the turbo starts to kick in once you reach the 3000 rpm mark. The engine doesn’t feel refined but the acceleration is impressive. Opting for a manual gearbox seems like a better choice as the Automated gearbox feels a bit sluggish while downshifting. However, it is far better than its predecessor.

The 1.3L Turbo Inline-4 powering the 2021 Fiat 500X helps the car gracefully pick up the pace. The largest engine on offer is the Jeep Renegade with a 2.4L engine that offers the best performance specs among its key rivals with 180 hp of total power output. In the 0-60 dash the Honda HR-V is the fastest all thanks to its lower curb weight. 

How well does the 2021 Fiat 500X handle?

The 2021 Fiat 500X is a crossover SUV that offers a decent ride and handling in various road conditions. However, the SUV sometimes might feel a bit stiff and the suspensions don’t work well on bumpy roads. The steering feels light but while taking corners it somewhat leans a little bit on its sides. 

The 2021 500X seems like an ideal choice for tight roads as it will be easy to surf through the traffic thanks to its compact design. The all-wheel-drive dynamic selector offers to choose between three modes named Auto, Sport, and Traction+. In the sport mode, the tuned electronic and steering calibrations offer a sporty feel.

2021 Fiat 500X Braking performance

You get an extremely capable braking setup with 12-inch rotors at the front and 11-inch rotors at the back which helps the driver stop the vehicle from high speeds in no time. The 2021 Fiat 500X is available with a Brake assist that comes in handy during an emergency. 

Also, the Brake-lock differential system (BLDS) helps the vehicle to maintain a forward motion in case one or two wheels of the vehicle lose traction by selectively and aggressively applying brakes to the spinning wheels. In addition to this, buyers have to pay a little extra to equip their 500X with automatic emergency braking (AEB). Unlike its rivals, it is not available as a standard feature in the SUV.

The 2021 Fiat 500X gets competent brake rotors that are fairly bigger than most of its rivals, but the stopping distance is somewhat similar to other competitors in the segment. Even with a lighter curb weight, the Honda HR-V drags a foot extra than other rivals before coming to a stop.

The 2021 Fiat 500X claims fuel economy figures of 24 mpg and 30 mpg for city and highway usage respectively. The combined fuel economy figures on the other hand stand at 26 mpg. The car gets a 12.7-gallon fuel tank which is smaller than some of its rivals and thus takes a toll on the overall range of the vehicle. The highway range is very decent at 381 miles.

The fuel economy offered by the 500X is not that impressive and stands just average in its segment. The best EPA figures in the segment are offered by the Subaru Crosstrek at 30 mpg combined. Coupled with a large 16.6-gallon fuel tank it results in the best in class overall range in the segment.

The 2021 Fiat 500X offers comfortable seating to a total of 5 passengers. The SUV features an upscale and roomy cabin. The cabin features a stylish retro look with an impressive fit and finish. The material consists of hard and soft plastic and seems to be of decent quality. The cloth upholstery standard though the buyers can opt for leather upholstery. The front seats don’t feel much comfortable and can prove to be an issue while going on long drives. The headroom and legroom in the rear row are quite generous but could be a little tight for taller people. 

Except for the Trekking Plus model, all the trims get manually adjustable seats while it comes with an 8-way power driver's seat with 4-way power lumbar support. The generous door openings allow easy getting in and out of the vehicle. The outside visibility is also decent due to its tall windows and smartly placed side view mirrors.

The cargo space offered seems disappointing at 14.1 cu-ft with rear seats upright and 40 cu-ft when laid down.

The in-cabin experience offered by the 2021 Fiat 500X is quite commendable but the interior space on offer might not be the best among its rivals. The Jeep Renegade is the one that offers the roomiest cabin along with an impressive cargo capacity. Among the rivals, the Subaru Crosstrek is the one with the most spacious cargo at 20.8 cu-ft. In terms of interior dimensions and cargo, the Jeep outshines its competitors with quite a margin. Standout interior features in the 2021 Fiat 500X include:

• Cloth upholstery
• Leather upholstery
• 8-way power driver's seat with 4-way lumbar support
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Panoramic sunroof
• Tilt & telescopic multi-function steering wheel

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2021 Fiat 500X comes equipped with the latest Uconnect interface that offers a wide range of entertainment and communication features. The 7-inch touchscreen might look a bit dated and small but get the latest features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support as standard. 

The base trim gets a 6-speaker stereo and can be equipped with a special 8-speaker Beats premium audio system as an option. The High-end trim, the Trekking Plus trim features a premium 9-speaker subwoofer-equipped Beats audio system. Standout infotainment features in the 2021 Fiat 500X include:

• Uconnect interface
• 7-inch touchscreen
• Navigation system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Digital radio
• 8-speaker Beats premium audio system(optional)
• 9-speaker subwoofer equipped Beats audio system(optional)
• Bluetooth Connectivity and Telephony controls

The 2021 Fiat 500X continues to amaze us and goes for a retro styling capable enough to turn some eyeballs on the road. At the front, the exterior styling feels unique with rounded bulbous headlamps along with LED DRL’s. It is also available with LED headlamps and fog lamps as an optional add-on. 

In the Trekking trim, it gets a rugged front and rear bumper design with a more aggressive look. The vehicle gets standard 17-inch alloy wheels though can be upgraded to 18 or 19-inch wheels. The rear design language of the 500X seems quite interesting as it gets a colored piece in the middle of its taillights. 

In terms of external dimensions, the 500X isn’t the longest, rather it stands second from the bottom before Jeep Renegade. In terms of height, Jeep outshines others and also is the widest among the rivals. In this lot, Subaru Crosstrek gets the broadest wheelbase at 104.9 inches. Standout exterior features in the 2021 Fiat 500X include:

• Chrome accents
• Rear roofline spoiler
• 18/19-inch wheels (optional)
• Automatic Headlamps
• Bi-function LED Projector Headlamps
• LED DRLs & taillights
• Chrome exhaust tips
• Fog lamps (optional)

The 2021 Fiat 500X gets Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking that readies the brake whenever it senses a potential impact along with audible and visual warnings. Along with this, it gets features like Blind spot warning, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The major downside of the safety department of the 500X is that it charges a handsome extra amount for active safety tech.

The 2021 Fiat 500X passed the safety crash tests conducted by IIHS with flying colors and received the highest rating of ‘Good’ in its roof strength test. In the collision avoidance test, the IIHS gave it a mediocre rating of Advanced for its optional front crash prevention system. Standout safety features in the 2021 Fiat 500X include:

• Lane Keep Assist
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Automatic Emergency Braking
• Rearview Camera
• Lane Departure Warning
• Blind Spot Monitoring
• Forward Collision Warning

2021 Fiat 500X vs 2021 Subaru Crosstrek

The Subaru Crosstrek is a rugged crossover that offers a neat and thoughtful package. The Crosstrek offers a car-like driving experience along with truck-like styling. It is more affordable as compared to the 500X and offers a larger engine. In terms of safety, Subaru outshines the Fiat as it gets the Top safety pick award from IIHS. On the flip side, the performance and driving dynamics of the Crosstrek however are not as good as the 2021 500X.

2021 Fiat 500X vs 2021 Honda HR-V

The Honda HR-V is among the little SUVs that offer impressive cabin experience along with a surprising amount of practicality on road. The interior is well built and more comfortable as compared to the 500X. The HR-V offers inferior performance figures even though it features a larger engine as compared to the Fiat. The fuel efficiency of HR-V is among the best in class and better than what the 500X has to offer.

2021 Fiat 500X vs 2021 Jeep Renegade

The Jeep Renegade is among the top performers of the segment offering a fun-to-drive experience to its drivers. Priced lower than the 500X it features a 2.4L Inline-4 engine offering the best performance figures among its key competitors. The major downside of the Renegade is that its EPA figures are not much impressive and get a smaller fuel tank than its competitors thus taking a toll on its overall range. The Renegade offers a roomy cabin that is more spacious as compared to 500X.

After taking into consideration everything that has been discussed so far, it will not be wrong to conclude that the 2021 Fiat 500X is an impressive crossover with interesting styling and a decent interior. The engine offered is quite powerful as compared to most of its rivals and boasts impressive safety features. But it is outshined by rivals like the Jeep Renegade. If someone is looking for a crossover for day-to-day routine use then the Subaru Crosstrek would be the most practical choice as it offers the best in class fuel efficiency along with large cargo space available.