2021 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 2021 Fiat 500X adds a new Sport Value Package that includes navigation, sunroof, heated seats, parking sensors, upgraded sound system, fog lights, and 19-inch wheels. 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 standard all-wheel drive and a raised ride height. The sole powertrain is a 177-horsepower turbocharged 1.3-liter engine paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. 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, Trekking, Sport, 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, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot alert, rear cross traffic alert, lane-departure warning, front- and 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.