Fiat 500X SUV - Interior & comfort

Like most high-riding crossovers, the Fiat 500X is comfortable and spacious inside, and you don’t feel like you're perched on top of it; the well controlled body lean means passengers aren't thrown around when you tackle a corner. Some rivals, such as the Skoda Kamiq and SEAT Arona, ride better, though. Despite the snugger, sportier driving position, you still get a great view all round from the driver's seat, making the 500X easy to drive in town.

Although not abandoning the 500's traditional retro style, the 500X's dashboard is now rather more up-to-date than it used to be. The layout is largely unchanged, but materials are vastly improved, while the dials are clearer and better positioned than in earlier cars.

Fiat 500X dashboard

A large, coloured plastic insert stretches across the 500X's dashboard, which is dominated by a seven-inch colour Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system. It features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and is easy to use. However, it feels pretty dated compared to systems in rival cars; the big black surround that swamps the screen doesn’t help, and the reversing camera (where fitted) is hardly the last word in high-definition clarity.

The overall look and feel is chunky and solid, with soft, textured materials being used on the door pulls and elsewhere inside. Despite the funky retro nature of the dashboard, Fiat hasn't forgotten about usability and all the controls are where you'd expect them to be.

Equipment

Club now takes over from Pop as the most basic entry-level model and is only available with the lower-powered 1.0-litre engine.

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Club includes essentials like air-conditioning, cruise control, 16-inch alloy wheels and the seven-inch Uconnect system with DAB radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

When it was on sale, upgrading to Connect meant that you got 17-inch alloy wheels, upgraded interior materials, LED daytime running lights plus rain and light sensors. We think this paired with the 1.0-litre engine represented the sweet spot of the range, giving you plenty of kit for a reasonable price, so it’s a shame it’s not still available.

Cross comes with dual-zone climate control, sat nav, satin chrome door handles and a rear-view camera. A new special edition is the Fiat 500X RED edition, which gets a range of red detailing; it’s in partnership with the charity RED, which raises money to fight Covid-19 and AIDS.

The range-topping 500X Sport adds black 18-inch alloy wheels, a dual chrome exhaust, puddle lights, ambient lighting, a flat-bottomed Alcantara steering wheel, a dark grey dashboard, half leather imitation upholstery, sportier bumpers, side skirts, and titanium grey scattered on the exterior door handles, front moulding and boot lid.

Options

Options for the 500X model include an upgraded stereo made by Beats Audio, an electric sunroof, rear parking sensors and tinted rear windows.

Each trim level in the 500X can be ordered with a number of packs that bundle together options that Fiat thinks buyers will want. The City Pack, for example, includes front and rear parking sensors and the rear parking camera.

Other packs are called Comfort, Electric Comfort, Winter, Tech-X, City & Safety, City & Safety Plus Pack, Style, LED, and Leather, with prices ranging between £150 and £1,000.