2023 Fiat 500X

Due to its mediocre success in the USA, the Fiat 500X lineup has been gutted to just the two most basic models. These best embody the diminutive European nature of the car and they keep the price down, too, which is a strong concern for buyers in this particular market. Just look at the price of the Honda HR-V or Jeep Renegade for a comparison. The 2023 500X still appeals to some buyers with its Euro-centric charm and proportions, and it looks great inside. It certainly isn't meant to leave the city, though, with a 1.3-liter turbo-three engine providing just 177 horsepower to scuttle around town. Overall, it's a bit of a mixed bag, and Fiat has not had the best reputation Stateside, either, so we will have to see if the reduction in trim options is just the beginning of the end for this little runabout.

The starting price of the new 2023 Fiat 500X is a bit higher than before, which reflects the addition of some driver-assistance features as standard. The Pop will now cost you $29,505, while the Sport sells for $32,495 before any options. Since the rest of the lineup has been cut away, it won't get much more expensive than this, though. These are the MSRP prices of the Fiat 500X and do not include the hefty $1,595 destination charge for such a small car.

While 177 hp may not seem like much, the low curb weight of the Fiat 500X means that this is more than enough for some fun driving. At least, it should. Sadly, the chassis and suspension just aren't designed to handle more than sedate driving. They soak up bumps well enough but if you take a corner at speed, there is significant body roll and lean. The steering is also very uncommunicative, with no real feedback. We can't fault its accuracy, though, and it's very light for maneuvering around town. The standard AWD system is also nice if you need to deal with a little snow or mud, but the limited ground clearance means that truly rough terrain is totally out of the question. In review, the Fiat 500X is not a fun little car, no matter what marketers may have to say about it.

A novel European car may have been endearing once upon a time, but we have now seen what truly good, practicality, and balanced subcompact crossovers can be. It should have been a fun little car, but it couldn't deliver on that promise. The 2023 Fiat 500X has large enough dimensions to be useful for most daily needs, and it can fit four people in relative comfort. It also looks good, but all of this comes at a pretty hefty price compared to the competition. And for your money, you don't get a lot of power, nor much in the way of reliability. In just about every way, it falls short of what it could be and what rivals can deliver, so we just can't bring ourselves to call it a good car.

There are only two models in the 500X range now, and neither is particularly cheap. The Pop is the basic model, but it has received some much-needed enhancements to its driver-assistance suite. This means that it is actually a solid choice since the Sport doesn't add a whole lot more as standard. To unlock its potential, you have to spend even more, and we just don't feel that it is worth the extra investment.