Photo: Florin Profir
There's no other way to put it: having a Fiat 500 crossover is weird, just like a Fiat 500 limousine or full-size SUV would be. The name of the once tiny Italian car is now used to denote something that is tiny only when compared to one of those huge Caterpillar dump trucks.
There's no other way to put it: having a Fiat 500 crossover is weird, just like a Fiat 500 limousine or full-size SUV would be. The name of the once tiny Italian car is now used to denote something that is tiny only when compared to one of those huge Caterpillar dump trucks.
But all the rage you might feel at what seems a blatant exploitation of the legendary moniker wears off once you make physical contact with the actual Fiat 500X.
It's simply too cute to be mad at it for trying to take advantage of the little brother's success. And having the two models side by side, the family traits are obvious, so there's no need for a paternity test: the Fiat 500X is officially part of the family.
If you look at what MINI did with their Countryman crossover, trying to keep the car close in size to the regular Cooper and failing, but not failing enough as to actually make a practical car, the Fiat recipe seems a lot better. Fiat 500X makes almost no compromises and manages to be both funky and functional, a rare mix to find these days.
Since on the same platform as the Jeep Renegade, that means the Fiat 500X is quite a capable little off-road vehicle, even though few people will buy it for this trait.
After all, the model does come in two styles - Cross and Pop for Europe, Trekking and Lounge for the USA - each with a penchant for either adventure or style, and my guess is the latter will receive the most attention. As for us, we got our hands on the former version and a good thing that was too, if you bother to take a look at some of the gallery images.
If Fiat is relying on cars like the 500X for its long overdue relaunch, it might actually stand a chance. It will be hard to fight deeply embedded preconceptions about Italian cars, but hopefully the next few years will show they're just as good as any others in their respective segments.
As for the 500X, its success will probably come down to one single question. Intrigued? Very, I hope, as there's a rather long Fiat 500X test you're gonna have to read to get to it. And its answer, of course.
But all the rage you might feel at what seems a blatant exploitation of the legendary moniker wears off once you make physical contact with the actual Fiat 500X.
It's simply too cute to be mad at it for trying to take advantage of the little brother's success. And having the two models side by side, the family traits are obvious, so there's no need for a paternity test: the Fiat 500X is officially part of the family.
If you look at what MINI did with their Countryman crossover, trying to keep the car close in size to the regular Cooper and failing, but not failing enough as to actually make a practical car, the Fiat recipe seems a lot better. Fiat 500X makes almost no compromises and manages to be both funky and functional, a rare mix to find these days.
Since on the same platform as the Jeep Renegade, that means the Fiat 500X is quite a capable little off-road vehicle, even though few people will buy it for this trait.
After all, the model does come in two styles - Cross and Pop for Europe, Trekking and Lounge for the USA - each with a penchant for either adventure or style, and my guess is the latter will receive the most attention. As for us, we got our hands on the former version and a good thing that was too, if you bother to take a look at some of the gallery images.
If Fiat is relying on cars like the 500X for its long overdue relaunch, it might actually stand a chance. It will be hard to fight deeply embedded preconceptions about Italian cars, but hopefully the next few years will show they're just as good as any others in their respective segments.
As for the 500X, its success will probably come down to one single question. Intrigued? Very, I hope, as there's a rather long Fiat 500X test you're gonna have to read to get to it. And its answer, of course.
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