2019 FIAT 500X Review

The new turbocharged four-cylinder engine works pretty well despite its small size. In Edmunds testing, our all-wheel-drive 500X test car covered 0-60 mph in 8.9 seconds, which is reasonably quick for a subcompact SUV. In typical daily driving, the automatic transmission shifts quickly and makes the most of the engine's low-rpm power.

While Fiat touts the 500X as sporty, we found the 500X's handling to be only average for the class. It leans quite a bit when going around turns, and tire grip is mediocre. If you want a fun-to-drive SUV, you'll have to look elsewhere.

The 500X's greatest strength is its ride comfort. It's quite smooth for a small SUV. The front seats also have a nice combination of support and comfort. We found the rear seatbacks to be a little upright and the cushions a bit on the firm side.

The climate control system is easy to use but can struggle to keep you cool on hotter days. And although the 500X's cabin is decently isolated against outside noise, the car's various technology features make so many interior beeps, bongs, clicks and warning alarms that they destroy any auditory serenity that previously existed within the cabin.

We like how easy it is to get in and out of the 500X's cabin. The generous door openings allow you to slip in and out with minimal effort. The tall windows and smartly placed sideview mirrors make for great outward visibility too. The cabin is roomy up front, but like others in the class, rear seat accommodations will be tight for more than 6 feet tall.

The 500X's main controls are easy to figure out. The configurable infotainment system is a bit slow to respond but is fairly straightforward to use. Our only frustration was having to deep dive into the touchscreen menus every time we wanted to shut off some of the annoyingly oversensitive driver aids.

By the numbers, the 500X's trunk is tiny (12.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats). But in actual use, it's enough for grocery bags and the like. You can fit bigger items by folding down the rear seats. Storage for small personal items within the cabin is much better by comparison. The door pockets can accommodate slightly larger than average water bottles and a dual-tier glovebox makes good use of the front dash real estate.

On the child safety seat front, installing a rear-facing seat will be a tight squeeze behind the front seats. There's just not a whole lot of room. The car seat anchors are easy to locate at least.

The 500X's 7-inch infotainment touchscreen feels tiny and cheap, even by subcompact vehicle standards. All the functionality is there, but its size may be challenging for those without razor-sharp eyesight. Our test car's upgraded audio system lacked bass and general low-end punch, which makes some music sound pretty thin.

The good news is there are three USB ports to split among your charge-hungry passengers, which is more than many competitors provide. There's also standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. There's a wealth of advanced driving aids, some of which are overly sensitive, but the warning sounds for some incidents are often more startling than they are beneficial.

We recommend the Trekking trim level. It comes standard with all-wheel drive and the new 1.3-liter turbocharged engine, as all 500X models do, but there's value to be had by getting it over the base Pop trim level. Mainly, Fiat offers the most flexibility with optional packages here, giving you more choice while keeping the cost reasonable.