Fiat 500x price in Australia
Fiat’s 500X is a long-wheelbase, five-door version of its cute-as, retro-look 500 small car.Prices start at $24,990 for the 103kW 1.4-litre turbo-petrol/six-speed manual front-wheel-drive Pop. A six-speed dual-clutch automated manual adds $2000; in Pop Star specification, priced at $29,990, and Launch Edition, at $32,990, it’s standard. Fiat dropped the 125kW 1.4-liter variant, which was matched with a nine-speed automatic and all-wheel drive, for 2018, presumably due to weak sales. Prices for the front-wheel drivers were also reduced by $1000-$2000 in an attempt to get the 500 moving in showrooms. At the same time, Fiat added extra features to Pop Star spec, including cornering fog lights, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane-keeping, and adaptive cruise control.
The 1.4-liter engine has reasonable torque but also a fair bit of turbo lag, so it takes a while to wind up and get busy, even in the Sport mode. Dynamics are nothing special either. The 500X is relatively softly suspended and top-heavy, so it leans a bit in corners and is obviously engineered for comfort rather than speed, much like the average $20,000 small hatchback. That said, it’s fine in most situations and there is little point spending the extra money for all-wheel drive, which confers no real benefit. The base Pop models also ride a little more comfortably on their 16-inch wheels and taller tires. Pop Star with 17-inch wheels and sportier tires is more bouncy, harsh and unsettled on a rough road. The brakes on the Fiat are weak, have the little pedal feel and also feature a quite grabby, inconsistent operation.
The driver sits high on a fairly shapeless seat with a flat cushion in the base models. The Pop Star’s seat is more generously padded and supportive, though still with insufficient bolstering on the backrest. Vision around the car is fine, though with adults in the back seat you won’t see much out of the rear window. The cabin is beautifully styled as only the Italians know-how and, really, this is what you pay for in the Fiat. In the base models, the exterior color is continued inside on the dash and trim. It looks great and the dash itself is all soft curves, stylish trim, and pretty shapes. Instruments have bright, legible dials and a big digital speedo. The 7-inch touchscreen is close to hand and responsive, with clear graphics and large icons. Fiat’s Uconnect system features Bluetooth with audio streaming, USB and SD ports, and voice control, plus, as part of the 2018 update, navigation (on Pop Star), Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity. There’s also a Pop Star “Launch Edition” which adds bespoke 17-inch alloys, black leather-faced seat upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, Beats audio and power-folding side mirrors. It’s priced at $32,000.Back seat space is OK for a small SUV and the flat seat cushion has two Isofix x child restraint anchors. Boot space isn’t bad either and the low floor is easy to load. The back seat is split 60/40 and both sides flip forward to extend capacity. A temporary spare is under the floor. Fiat’s 500X isn’t a great drive but it’s a feelgood car thanks to its expressive, engaging design. It ain’t perfect, but it’s Italian. Enough said.
THINGS WE LIKE
It’s beautiful
You feel good driving it
Works nicely in town and has good fuel economy
Reasonable interior space
Comfortable driving position
A comfortable ride in base models
THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE
- Weak resale values
- Turbo lag in the 1.4
- Weak brakes
- Base model Pop misses out on a lot of safety features
- Fiat’s patchy reliability reputation
SPEX (Pop DDCT)
- Made in Italy
- 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol/six-speed dual clutch automated manual/front-wheel drive
- 103kW of power at 5000rpm/230Nm of torque at 1750rpm - 0–100km/h N/A
- 4.9L/100km highway; 7.2L/100km city; premium unleaded; CO2emissions are 133g/km; fuel tank 48 litres
- Warranty: Three years/150,000km
- Standard: Seven airbags, stability control, rear camera, 7.0-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, USB port, voice activation, steering wheel paddles, 16-inch alloy wheels
- Redbook future values: 3yr: 42%; 5yr: 28%
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