For 2021, Fiat has canceled most of its lineup. The Italian brand will end sales of the Fiat 124 Spyder roadster and 500L subcompact SUV, leaving American Fiat dealers with just the new 500X compact SUV to sell, at least temporarily. The last few vehicles on dealership lots, though, might be worth your attention.
The 124 Spyder has always struggled to capture the attention of American drivers. It’s largely a Mazda MX-5 Miata – Mazda builds it for Fiat. The 124 boasts unique styling and some powertrain changes that make it drive differently than the Miata. Its 1.4-liter, turbocharged engine makes less horsepower than the Mazda, but offers most of its power immediately, making it an energetic around-town drive. Its suspension is softer, giving a more comfortable ride on long trips. It sports a longer hood than the Mazda and interior details inspired by Fiat roadsters of the 1960s. Pricing starts at $25,390.
The 500L, on the other hand, struggles to set itself apart. It currently sits at number 14 on a crowded list of the Best Subcompact SUVs. Roomier than most of its competition, it’s also a bit more expensive (starting at $22,500). Most rivals retain their value better over time.
However, when a model is canceled, demand may plummet, making it easier to talk dealerships into significant discounts for the last few models on their lots.
Fiat dealers, meanwhile, have just the 500X to sell. It gets a slight price bump for 2021, jumping by $250. With standard all-wheel drive and a lively turbocharged engine, it’s a promising design. Traditionally, the cancelation of a model doesn’t reduce the pricing of an automaker’s other vehicles. But this move leaves Fiat dealerships with just one model to sell, which could mean fewer people walking into the dealership in the first place. If you’re intrigued by the 500X, keep an eye on transaction prices in 2021 – these cars might be cheaper later in the year if Fiat dealerships are hurting from lack of customers.
There may be help on the way for them, but if so, it hasn’t been officially announced. For 2021, the classic Fiat 500 has gone all electric overseas. The automaker says there are no plans to bring it to the states…but a testing model has been spotted several times in California, so the company is at least considering bringing the electric 500 to the States.
