Used 2022 FIAT 500X

The last vehicle standing in the Fiat lineup in the U.S. is the 2022 Fiat 500X. This subcompact crossover has authentic European charm at a reasonable price point.

For the 2022 model year, the 500X continues with a standard turbocharged engine and standard all-wheel drive. The most significant change for this year is the discontinuation of the Trekking Plus trim. The model range has been simplified to the base Pop trim, the rugged Trekking trim, and the stylish Sport trim. Don’t get too excited — Trekking doesn’t add any off-road upgrades, and there are no performance improvements in the Sport model.

If you’re looking for a practical crossover with an Italian design without breaking the bank, the Fiat 500X is a stylish option in the subcompact SUV class.

While the Fiat 500X has the style of a European SUV, it doesn’t quite have the refinement of one. The ride is a bit rough on bumpy road surfaces. That’s not unusual for a subcompact crossover with a short wheelbase.

However, the trade-off in this class is typically sacrificing a cushioned ride in exchange for agile handling. Unfortunately, the 500X is just okay in that department. The ride and handling of this Fiat are adequate but not particularly impressive.

What we do like about the 500X is the engine. A standard 1.3-liter turbocharged inline-4 is a class leader in torque for a base engine in this class at 210 lb-ft. It delivers energetic acceleration and still returns decent fuel economy considering the standard all-wheel drive.

Speaking of which, standard all-wheel drive makes the 500X a good choice for snowy climates. It’s not much of an off-roader, even in the rugged-looking Trekking trim, but every 500X can hold its own on snowy or slippery roads thanks to standard AWD.

While the engine is good, we don’t care for the 9-speed automatic transmission. Unless you’re cruising on the highway, this transmission can seem like it’s hunting for a gear, and it sometimes feels sluggish.

Three drive modes come standard on the 500X. There’s a Sport Mode for spirited driving on twisty roads, a Traction+ mode for slippery roads, and an Auto Mode for everyday driving.

The interior of the Fiat 500X isn’t quite like anything else in this class. It has a distinctly Italian style that’s sure to get compliments from your passengers.

This interior is a reflection of the positioning of the 500X between mainstream and luxury. It’s more upscale than most mainstream brands’ rivals but not as premium as a more expensive small crossover like the Audi Q3.

The front seats of the 500X are generously bolstered and use various materials. You can choose from vinyl and cloth in the base trim, sport leather available in the Sport model, leatherette with 3D quilted Melange, and even camo seats in the Trekking model. These and other interior options add a lot of personality to this SUV.

There’s plenty of legroom and headroom in the front seats, even for taller adults. Rear seating space is about average for this class, which means they’re best reserved for children. Cargo space is below average, even considering the size of the 500X. Most competitors have more cargo space, including the Honda HR-V, Nissan Rogue Sport, and Mini Countryman.

The exterior of the Fiat 500X has just as much personality as its interior. Its look draws inspiration from the original Fiat 500 designed in the 1950s. That classic inspiration blends nicely with a modern SUV aesthetic to create one stylish SUV.

The look of the 500X changes a bit with each trim. The Trekking trim has a rugged look with restyled front and rear bumpers with the appearance of skid plates, and the Sport model has a painted body kit, black exterior accents, and a chrome exhaust tip.

The size of the subcompact Fiat 500X is similar to the Jeep Renegade, Nissan Kicks, and Mini Countryman. Some crossovers considered subcompact are a little bigger, like the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Mazda CX-30, and Kia Seltos.

UCONNECT INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM
The standard Uconnect infotainment system is intuitive and user-friendly. It’s loaded with voice control, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay.

STANDARD ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
All-wheel drive comes standard on every trim, making the 500X a good little SUV for snowy climates.

The base Pop trim of the Fiat 500X has some nice standard features, but it’s light on standard driver assistance tech features that are getting more common in this segment. Standard features include all-wheel drive, dual USB ports, LED taillights, a leather-wrapped shift knob, power mirrors, remote start, and three drive modes: Auto, Sport, and Traction+.

The standard Uconnect infotainment system is a 7-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Standard safety tech is limited to a backup camera and not much else.

The base 500X Pop has a few option packages available. A Sport Appearance Package makes it look more like the top Sport trim with 18-inch wheels, dark exterior accents, a chrome exhaust tip, and a sporty front fascia with fog lamps. A Pop Value Package adds automatic headlights, Beats premium audio, deep-tinted sunscreen glass, and SiriusXM.

Upgrading to the Trekking trim adds the features of the Pop Value Package (except Beats audio) while adding a unique appearance package. The 500X Trekking looks rugged and can handle mild off-roading with its standard all-wheel drive, but there are no upgrades to the suspension, tires, or AWD system to make it a better off-roader than the base trim.

Some option packages unique to Trekking include Camo Cloth Seats, a Leather Seat Group, and a Trekking Value Plus Package with adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, Beats premium audio, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, rain-sensing wipers, and navigation.

Finally, the top Sport model adds a cool appearance package, sport pedals, a dark gray headliner, a sport steering wheel with paddle shifters, and sport cloth bucket seats. The seats are upgradable to sport leather seats and “Yacht Club Ivory” leather seats. Unfortunately, this is no Abarth model, and the Sport trim doesn’t add any performance upgrades.

Option packages available for the Trekking and Sport trims include a Cold Weather Group, which adds heated front seats and a windshield wiper de-icer. A Comfort Group adds dual-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and ambient interior lighting.

The sole engine option in the 2022 Fiat 500X is a 1.3-liter turbocharged inline-4. This is an energetic engine with class-leading torque for a base engine in this segment. It has plenty of pep accelerating from a stop, and it even has decent highway passing power.

A 9-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive come standard on every 2022 500X. Many subcompact crossovers are more fuel-efficient, but the fuel economy of this Fiat is okay considering standard AWD.

1.3-liter turbocharged inline-4
177 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
210 lb-ft of torque @ 2,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/30 mpg