2019 Fiat 500X

Pros: Eye-catching Eurocentric styling; good selection of available comfort and safety features

Cons: Ride is rather stiff; balky 9-speed transmission can be slow to downshift; some middling interior trim

CG Says: The 2019 Fiat 500X gets refreshed styling and a new turbocharged 1.3-liter engine that develops 177 horsepower. Previously, the 500X was available with an 160-hp 1.4-liter turbo four or an 180-hp 2.4-liter 4-cylinder. The new engine is paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive is newly standard. Adaptive cruise control and front parking sensors are now available. The Fiat 500X is a subcompact-sized crossover SUV that seats five. The 500X is similar in size, shape, and styling to the 500L compact wagon, but it has all-wheel drive and a raised ride height. The 500X shares its basic platform with the Jeep Renegade, but it has a distinctly more urban, European feel. The 500X model lineup ascends through whimsically named trim levels: Pop, Pop Blue Sky, Trekking, Trekking Urbana, and Trekking Plus. The 500X offers a broad array of comfort and safety features, such as heated front seats and steering wheel, dual-pane panoramic sunroof, blind-spot detection with rear cross traffic alert, lane-departure warning, rear-obstacle detection, and forward-collision warning. The 500X offers spunky styling, a good selection of rare-for-the-class features, and good fuel economy, all at competitive prices. The 9-speed automatic transmission often feels clunky and sluggish, and some of the interior materials feel a little cut-rate, but the 500X still makes a decent case for itself in the growing subcompact SUV class.