In-depth reviews

Fiat 500X owner reviews

"The Fiat 500X is a stylish and affordable compact SUV which is also great fun from behind the wheel"

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18 May 2022

.polaris__post-meta--date { display: none; } .polaris__post-meta--date.no-script { display: block; padding-left: 45px } 18 May 2022

Carbuyer Rating

2.9 out of 5

Owners Rating

3.6 out of 5

Price

£29,955 - £32,605

SPECIFICATIONS

Reviews

Owner Reviews

5 out of 5
4 out of 5
3 out of 5
2 out of 5
1 out of 5

60%of people would recommend this car to a friend

Common Problems

Electrics (4 cases)
Suspension, Other (2 cases)
Electrics, Other (1 case)
Electrics, Engine, Other (1 case)
Brakes, Electrics, Suspension, Other (1 case)
Other (1 case)

Review 1 of 25

Tell us what you think about your car?

It's a lovely looking car, but the engine is very underpowered for the body size. It has a small boot, too. Poor fuel economy, too. I also find that the car rolls back when I take my foot of the brake pedal at a standstill when start/stop mode is engaged.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

I've been very impressed with this Fiat. I admit I did have drawbacks as it was the base model but I couldn't argue with price as it was excellent. As a family we was looking for a higher seating position, mainly for the ease getting the kids in and out of car seats. We compared other small SUVs but some didn't have the feel of a taller car, and instead felt like any other hatchback. The Fiat soaks up bumps up in the road while having good steering into bends. As for creature comforts the seat are really comfortable, all I require or use in a car is air conditioning, cruise control, electric windows/mirrors and an mp3 player, which this has. The engine was the biggest deciding factor along with the boot which is adequate in size and a good shape. I wanted a petrol engine as never really like the sound of a diesel, although the economy would have been better. I tried the 1.4 but felt it was rather loud, though it had good acceleration. However, when I tried the 1.6 I felt more like I could live with it day-to-day. Although the acceleration isn't as good but sufficient as most of my driving is city/town based. I also felt that the 1.6 could be more reliable as it doesn't have a turbocharger. As for reliability, no faults yet, again I'm surprised but I think its pot luck with cars sometimes. But that might just be me. I'm averaging good mpg too 38~40ish not bad considering size of car and engine etc. I would totally recommend if your looking for a small SUV.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Despite its cute looks it's probably the worst car on the road today. The driving position is frankly quite awful and reminiscent of a van. Your feet are about 30 degrees below you and to be congruent with the wheel you need to have the seat bolt upright. This makes the vehicle uncomfortable on longer journeys over 30 miles. The steering is way too light you want to wiggle the steering wheel to be sure that you're still connected to the wheels. The whole thing feels awkward and ungainly. Brakes are grabby, the power is not very uniform and often find myself jumping around when trying to manoeuvre. The wind noise is quite obtrusive and at speed the engine clatter is very noticeable. The in car entertainment/ nav system is awful and unintuitive, not compatible with Android auto or apple drive. Fiat chrysler has its own system called uconnect and my phone says that the car is not enabled despite enabling it several times. TomTom seems like a really old version and is not voice activated so you need to stop and type your address manually. There is a thick ridge around the very small screen which makes it extremely difficult to hit the buttons at the bottom. Seriously you might as well buy a tablet and mount it in the car. There are much better cars on the road for this kind of money. Awful

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

We bought our 2016 500x lounge 1.6 diesel from new. The car is very well specced and has great features (the 6.5 inch media/nav system with live traffic is superb). The reviews say to avoid the 18 inch alloys as they make the ride harsh, to an extent this is true but living in rural east anglia we have more than our fair share of bad roads and overall the 500x copes supremely well. On motorway runs its very hushed and composed.on B roads its agile and responsive.The engine has great torque making overtaking easy, it handles well and its quiet. Economy is around 49mpg but to be honest im heavy footed and could easily get mid 50s if i wanted. Inside, the 500x is very well screwed together and finished in good quality plastics and fabrics. The seats are very comfortable and visibility all round is good with a high set driving position and lots of adjustment. Both front and back seats have plenty of room and the climate control keeps everyone comfortable and the speakers on the stereo are good The boot is ok but not the biggest but at least the car has a spacesaver spare as most rivals we looked at just provide an inflation kit. Overall its a great car it looks good, is comfortable and when you turn the dial between the seats to sport mode is quicker than you might expect.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

This is just about the worst driving experience I have ever encountered. This is a non-hybrid 1.5 petrol auto, it does not deliver power smoothly. I have to turn off the engine stop-start when I get in the car because the delay on start is so bad. You have to press the accelerator about a second before you want to move and that has scared me more than once. I usually have to use Sport mode just to have it not jump around like I'm using Kangaroo petrol. I have never driven a car before that ignores the speed limit you have set if you accelerate hard, and talking of acceleration, it loves to hold gear if you accelerate hard-it red lines all the time. Try to drive gently and throttle control feels very inconsistent: you get no power at all so you accelerate a little harder..still nothing..then suddenly it arrives. Maybe I have just been too cossetted in my other cars..but can honestly say that my 1990s Renault Clio - which was about as basic as it comes - was a nicer, more confidence inspiring drive.

What's the one thing you like most about your car?

That I wont have to keep it very long

If you could improve one thing, what would it be?

The whole thing needs binning..it's dangerous!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

No issues, it is a lot of fun to drive. Mine is used in many different driving conditions, including city commuting, travelling to ski resorts etc.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I brought my 500X when it was 3 weeks old and had 6 miles on the clock. Had to drive it 447 miles home from Scotland tho. Over the years I have had a lot of nice high end cars and I can honestly say my 500X is ones of the best cars I've ever owned. It's fun to drive when you place it into sport mode but very comfortable when in eco. I went for the 6 speed automatic. It's my first auto car and will never be having a manual again. Only downside in my opinion is I get some creaking from the car and the MPG could be better as I have the 1.4 turbo but I don't care as the 500X is a pleasure to own and most probably the only car I will own for the full 4 years.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

A hidden gem - the post-2018 facelifted 500X is much maligned in the press for some reason. The truth is that this Fiat is solidly built, offers excellent new, perky petrol engines and has the charm and fun factor missing from almost every other, rather bland, rival. No squeaks, no rattles, a sweet-sounding 1.0 engine, plenty of space for four plus luggage - plus look at the safety scores carefully and you'll find a crash structure with very high driver, front and rear passenger scores. The 500X is interesting, good to drive and characterful. Fiat have done an excellent job, and this car deserves not to be overlooked.

What's the one thing you like most about your car?

Character and charm, with excellent build quality.

If you could improve one thing, what would it be?

It could be a little more frugal, but the extra power from the 1.0 litre is worth the very small penalty.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

This car offers good value for drive if you want a lower cost SUV with a reasonable array of gizmos. Over the years I have driven many luxury company cars so when it came to a private purchase my budget was limited. This car offers a higher spec than most others in its class. The 500X drives well and with its 1600cc diesel engine the performance is good. The interior is well finished and the controls are easy to use. The option of a digital speedo, sat nav, radio station display on the dashboard are good and on a country road it can achieve in excess of 50 mpg. I feel this car gets unwarranted bad or limited press reviews and with the vast improvement in Fiat build quality in the past 10 years it deserves better. Having driven over 20k miles in the past two years I enjoy the drive and have found this car to stack up well compared to my last cars (Audi and Lexus) and have had very few teething issues. I have also noticed a big improvement in my Fiat Service Centre (Arnold Clark, Paisley) in the past 12 months. All in all I would recommend this car assuming you negotiate the purchase at a 'good' price.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

First day I had the car had to take it back to the dealer, the engine management warning light came on. The dealer said it was due to it being new and a filter becoming clogged. Fair enough. A week later tire pressure light comes on while I'm driving, so I stop and check all the tyres, pressures were ok. A few days later the same warning came on again – this time there was an electronic parking brake fault. I stopped the car, engaged and disengaged the parking brake, it was working fine. The same thing happened a few days later. I don't like the electronic parking brake anyway! Now the front right suspension strut needs attention after becoming noisy. As previously reported by people the fuel consumption is rubbish. It has rattled from the first day, and I have no had enough so I'm selling it.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

I absolutely loved this car, its comfortable, stylish and quick. I was so excited to get this car and fell in love with it the moment I saw it. I picked all the extras to my car, heated seats the lot! I would say the car is reliable to a certain extent. Since having the car since July 2016, I have had the car in on three warranty checks. The first was a wheel issue, but after two weeks, three AA breakdowns later and being told it could be an alloy fault. The fault was found to be just the a microscopic hole in the tyre its self, which after 3 water baths was eventually found. The second warranty check was on climate system, on this car the climate control is digital, I happened to be driving one night and the numbers disappeared on one side, this would normally come and go, they'd be fine upon starting the car, but after driving it around they would disappear, I managed to get this changed under warranty as I had taken photos when it happened and it didn't happen when the car was in the dealerships control. The final time, fairly recently I got in the car one night and none for the interior lights came on, and then all of a sudden I was bombarded with warning lights for my lights, telling me that practically every light on the outside of my car (headlights, reverse light, parking light, cornering light) were not working, however it was dark and I could quite clearly tell they were. This issue is currently still being investigated with the garage, however their typical response is, "If its not happening when you bring it in, then I doubt we can fix it". So maybe if you're looking for a stylish and comfortable car, and willing to spend a lot of time having to go in and out of the dealership, then this car is for you. But for myself, I doubt I will purchase another car like this.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Solidly built and quiet, as well as comfortable and well equipped, with sat nav and DAB. Good handling but artificial steering and grabby brakes, also an unintuitive electronic handbrake. Punchy and smooth engine with mediocre mpg .Retro styling and attractive interior.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I was so looking forward to this vehicle but the last 8 months have been the worst experience I have had in 30 years of car ownership. It looks great, especially with the optional chrome pack, but has yet to work properly and has been back to the dealer every month since I have owned it. Before buying I did all my research. Fiat stated they had built a brand new factory near Naples and emphasized stringent quality control, which was a big factor in my decision to buy (bearing in mind the old "Fix It Again Tony" reputation). How then could the car arrive with a large paint run, over dripped mastic inside the front passenger door and the speakers not fitted correctly to the drivers door, so that there was a rattle? The stop start system fails to work, approx. 95% of the time & has been back to dealers at least three times for this, the USB port has had to be replaced as that did not work correctly, the telephone system initially worked but will now not read out my text messages from my I-Phone (a real issue as I get work related messages about clients all the time), given up trying to get my I-Phone to connect and work correctly with the U-Connect system in the car and now had two further rattles fixed, one in dash & one in passenger door. My biggest complaint however is the awful fuel economy. As I drive over 12,000 miles I was advised to purchase the diesel with its "60+ mpg". When I first got it, per tank it averaged late 40's, now it averages approx 40mpg. I have just got the vehicle back from 9 days with the dealer to try and finally sort out the issues. On the first journey of 12 miles, 8 of which were motorway, I averaged 33.8mpg and the stop/start failed to work! Dealer is good, which bearing in mind I seem to spend so much time there is a blessing. Fiat customer services are much more of a mixed bag. I had one very disinterested employee based in Italy say to me "Whats the problem now?" in a frustrated tone as though it was my fault they had built me a shoddy product. Fiat in England however are friendly and apologise for my experience of this car, but just keep telling me to monitor the situation and keep taking back to the dealer.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

I have just got my new 500X and I am very im very impressed with it. I have the 1.4 pop star and its the best one. I had a Land Rover Freelander (63 plate) and I really like how the 500X looked. If you already own a 500 you will very familiar with the set up. The road tax is £130 and insurance is just about £550 a year with that is very cheap. The only down side with the 500X is that you have to pay for the larger screen in the dashboard but it's well worth it. At night you can get ambient lighting which is standard on the lounge but is a £250 option but it will give the car more of an expensive look. When I was parked up in asda to do my shopping and about 5 people looked at the car and even 1 person came up to me to ask about the car. It's a car that turns heads.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Best one I’ve owned so far

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Well equipped for the money, and well built. A little turbo-lag but quite sprightly when on full boost. Quiet at motorway speeds with acceptable wind and road noise. Infotainment is fiddly to use. Too much on-screen clutter. Need magnifying glass to read it all. Rear seats don't fold flat which is a nuisance but manageable. Odd vibration through the steering column at start-up. Goes after a few miles. Fiat dealer told me this was "perfectly normal". If a wheel fell off they'd probably say the same thing. Now the 2 big problems. 1. The ride is terrible. The rear suspension is too soft and the secondary damping is very poor. Anyone prone to car sickness will need plenty of sick bags! Of all the 30+ cars I've owned this is the only one that makes me queasy. 2. I'm very average height and build but cannot get a comfortable driving position. Get the legs right and the steering wheel is at full stretch. Get the steering wheel just right and my legs are cramped up under the steering column. Typical Italian driving position! There are better compact SUVs out there.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

I really like the retro design albeit the blown up version of the Fiat 550. I have found it comfortable and on motorway trips there is no great road noise transmitted into the cabin. I have found the three option drive control useful and the sports selection really gives the car a bit of go. This car has stop-start and an electric handbrake with auto-hill start control, I had not had any experience of these systems until now but overtime I have become use to this new technology. The radio and u-connect system needed to be upgraded within a month of taking delivery, which took an hour; I however was still getting use to all of the new systems (to me) and did not know whatever was wrong in the first place. I have read some reviews criticise the back window for being small, but there are two good size wing mirrors and I have not experience any bad blind spots when reversing if all mirrors are set and used correctly. I have an I-phone and have experienced no problems with the hands-free system. The single USB has enabled me to ditch all my CD's in favour of a stick, and if I have any complaint it is the lack of a USB point for the rear passengers. The door auto lock activates once the vehicle is moving and is something I like for piece of mind, for those not wanting this function it can be switched off, as too can the Stop-Start function. There is also the option to switch off the passenger front air bag, which is done by pushing a large round switch on the dash that is continually light when the system is on. I read before choosing the car that the 17 inch wheels give a much better ride then the 18 inch which is the option on the 500x cross, mine being the city model. All in all I am enjoying my new car and would recommend it to a friend if they asked. There are a number of 'toys' which are activated through the radio u-connect system but for now I am content to just drive a really nice looking and practical car.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I wanted to buy my first brand new car but it turned into a nightmare. On the first day I found the dashboard had a scratch and the glovebox was touched up (they said they'll fix it but 5 months passed and nothing happened). On the second day I visited the dealer for a squeaky brake noise and when I took the car to the dealer they said nothing was wrong - it's brand new car - just drive it. But after many visits and five months they've sorted the problem (yes it was a manufacturer fault). Now there's an electrical issue with the radio (different mileage range/poor radio reception/screen has frozen a few times), so I asked for the code a few times but service said there's nothing wrong until it happened when the car was in for a service. The interior trim lost its colour in 3 months, too. The car is actually nice to drive, plus there's good head and legroom, although the boot is a little smaller than others. Visibility and driving position is good, but travelling long distances, the seats are not good and needs more lumbar support. In town or motorway driving it returns really poor mpg - in town 20(ish)mpg and on the motorway 35mpg. I've had a bad experience with this car but it may be my luck. Definitely buy a diesel one for getting better mpg otherwise you will be mates with petrol station.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

A very good car from Fiat. Whilst it may have a boot smaller than that of some of its rivals it is not very far behind. There is plenty head and leg room for passengers, drivers of all shapes and sizes can fit into the front and can find a comfortable driving position. I find the technology (such as the sat-nav and bluetooth paring) easy to use after some practice and the seats are rather comfortable. On the other hand the large alloy rims that my car came equipped with have a tendency to cause jolts and shudders through the car however it doesn't cause too much discomfort. All round visibility is okay but the small rear window means seeing out of the back can be quite difficult. The materials used in the car all feel of high quality and are mostly soft to the touch. The interior is very pleasant place to be, even on long motorway journeys. In my opinion the exterior of the car is very appealing whilst maintaining some of the original 500 styling. The model I bought is in Amore Red and it is worth every penny as it is a wonderful colour. I would recommend this car over its rivals because of its styling, space and comfort.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I'm very happy with the car, I've had very few problems so far, just a couple of minor ones. The electric handbrake stuck just the once but freed up, took back to garage and it had a minor alteration, and had no problems since. Once a warning light came on to say 4x4 system lost, but it appears to have cleared itself. There's no body roll around corners and it's refined on the motorway. Only criticism is the notchy 1st to 2nd gear change but that's a common feature of a lot of manual gearboxes in my experience.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Coming from a Saab 9-3 TTiD, I was expecting something a bit unwieldy on the road and a staid, sensible SUV driving experience. Nope, this is italian and loves to show it :-) The "mood dial" gives the vehicle three very distinct personalities and you get the best from this car by using it well. Sport mode on a B road is a hoot (but awful around town). Auto is generally laid back and OK for pootling around but not so good on twisting roads - too much steering assistance. "Traction" comes in handy very rarely by limiting throttle response and using the brakes to create a "poor man's Limited Slip Differential" to limited effect. Great 6 speed Manual 'box with a light, positive shift. Very comfortable front seats, the rears a little firm. Good room for a family of 4 (5 if one a bit smaller) inside, with good cabin storage. Head unit has great bluetooth and effective (if a bit slow) voice control. Excellent steering wheel with well placed and thought out controls. Well appointed including dual zone climate straight from an Alfa Giulietta, which works very nicely too. It's well built - probably better than you'd expect tbh. I have it serviced independently as I'm not a fan of main dealer servicing. I'll maintain it myself when the warranty expires. So far 34,000 miles covered in 14 months with not one issue other than a failed wing mirror glass heating element. Economy isn't bad if you drive it right. 50-55 commuting and 40-45 in rural "back and forth" driving and I don't use start-stop as I value my battery and clutch. The 1.6 diesel is flexible and tractable but shows its (lack of) size as the revs climb. Hills are no issue at all though, even very steep ones. Everything is wearing very well (ie it ISN'T wearing) too. Downsides: Full Beam is pants (upgraded bulbs help a bit), reversing light on the wrong side and may as well not be there. Boot light is a candle (not literally!) Boot space isn't big but you could add a roof box. No spare wheel in mine so it has a 350l boot. It's only 245l with the wheel and higher floor. Still, 350l managed a holiday in Ireland for 4 of us just fine without needing a box. A couple of minor trim vibrations when it's cold but nothing bad. Wheels are a pain to keep clean (17" Cross spec). I honestly can't think of anything else to pull it up for yet, though! I also think it looks good, though a little bit dumpy seen from the rear. I'd definitely have another one, although I wish there was a 2.0 diesel with 2wd option and manual gearbox. I doubt that will be a future option now, though and the new model's petrol engines don't do enough mpg for my needs. Still, I have another 4 years planned with the one I own so no worries!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Plus points Attractive looks, good fuel consumption as the car runs in 2WD mode most of the time, quite quick once the turbo wakes up (quicker still in sport mode), comfortable seats, not many around (particularly the 4WD versions), 8 speed auto gearbox. Minus points Low profile tyres on this model give a rather uncomfortable ride on all but absolutely smooth surfaces, turbo lag, rather jerky gear changes sometimes if accelerating hard, some soft plastics on the interior trim easily marked, car does not like wet weather (After 20 mile drive in heavy rain - engine fault dashboard light came on, automatic stop/start did not work, dashboard display lost the date & time. All back to normal after about 24 hours when the car had dried out), the Off-road setting limits the car to about 40mph. Conclusion Quite good fun on a sunny day and a smooth road. However it is not a utility vehicle, rather a hatchback with a higher than normal driving position and a bit of extra ground clearance. Quite a good "Q car" in this guise.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I love the retro styling of the 500 albeit a blown up version. I love the styling with the model logos on headlights and seats. It is a comfortable car to drive and travel in. I read the 17" wheels give a better ride than the 18" and my 500X 17" wheels came as standard. I have experienced no rattles, the build being good. I like the light steering when driving in all weather mode; if you like a more positive feel, just select the sports driving mode and the car becomes more responsive. I like the two glove box storage, with cool air directed to the top box if AC is on. Love the car, HATE the electronics. I have had to return the car five times to the main dealer, three times on recall upgrade, each time taking a service time of one hour. I get messages that I have a flat tyre, when not. I have returned the car three times with that problem. I asked for this function to be turned off, the reply being "that would be unlawful". What is the point of a warning system that you ignore because you learn to ignore it? I have had the U-connect system disconnect at least a dozen times, on taking it back to the dealer it corrects itself. I have had the system telling me I am making a phone call, when I am not. My daughter discovered that to overcome this problem, one needs to turn the phone off and on again. I had this problem only last week, on turning my phone off then on, I am greeted with a message that my USB (music) connection is missing, when it wasn't. I love this car but I doubt I will replace it with another 500X in 2018 because of the infotainment problems. So sad really!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

This is my first Fiat since the early 90s when I had possibly the worst Panda in the world, but it's safe to say my opinion has totally changed! I like a car with a bit of power behind it, but not too big, not too pricey, and not something that will blend in too easily like my last motor did. This 500X is actually fun to drive! I love how responsive it is - the steering is spot on, the sound system is deafeningly loud and there's way too many buttons and features that will keep me surprised for the next two years. There's a chiller section for my drinks, the cup holders actually have rubber sides to prevent any leakages when driving, the side panel to me has all the window and door controls, a section that holds my cigarettes in and a massive section that would hold a 2-litre bottle of drink with ease. I'm not your typical car buying bloke, I go for the aesthetics and originality of the particular car I choose. The 500X gets a lot of head turns and I couldn't be happier!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I've owned my XCross Plus 1.6 diesel for a month now and I love it. The interior is excellent and very well equipped, with sat nav, hands free etc. Ride height is great and the seats are comfy, although rear view is a little limited. It's fairly roomy, with good leg and head room and the boots not a bad size. Considering it's only a 1.6 diesel it is fairly nippy (I'm used to much more powerful cars) and handles very well in the corners, although needs to be in "sport" mode almost permanently to get the most out of the steering which, in other settings, is a bit woolly. Some reviews complain that the 18" wheels provide a bumpy ride, but I've not noticed this, although most of my driving is on motorways. I actually think the ride is pretty smooth. Looks-wise, it's taken a bit of getting used to, but I've grown to really like it; however, I think the "500" labelling everywhere (seats, lights etc) is over the top, particularly as it's nothing like the Fiat 500! I've not tried it off road (mine's the front wheel drive version), so no idea how it would fare; I'm hoping it's going to be good in snow etc. Overall then, a great car in my opinion and I've never been much of a Fiat fan.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up