2016 Fiat 500X Expands 500 Lineup at the LA Auto Show

But ’til the little bugger arrives at dealerships, the Italian manufacturer decided to present it with great pomp and circumstance to the ones that attended the Los Angeles Auto Show. Is there anything to like about the 2016 Fiat 500X mini crossover SUV?

We’ll grant you that the brand didn’t do well with the 500L and 500L Trekking, but the 500X is the type of Fiat that makes us remember of how Fiat reinvented itself with the Nuova Cinquecento in 2007, when the manufacturer found itself at a bit of a financial crossroads. The Type 312-generation Fiat 500 was then a bet and the 500X is one now as well.

Fiat has no guarantee the 500X will move huge numbers like its city-sized sibling without the X or if the mini crossover SUV will be riddled with reliability issues such as the 500L, but you can’t deny this car is quite the looker. Furthermore, it’s fitting for both female and male drivers without being ostracized, while the choice of personalization options, engines and gearboxes will suit just about everyone’s needs.

As opposed to the turbo diesels and the E-TorQ mill offered in Europe, the United States gets a limited number of gasoline-fed powerplants. A 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine paired with a six-speed manual transmission, with an output of 160 hp and 184 lb-ft (249 Nm), is the most efficient way you can go. If you need more, then the 2.4-liter Tigershark MultiAir2 paired to a nine-speed auto and with 180 hp and 175 lb-ft (237 Nm) of torque on tap is the powertrain for you. All-wheel drive is optional for both models.

For more info on the US-spec 2015 Fiat 500X mini crossover SUV, check the release below.