1 Dec 2015
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Australia followed up the launch of the quirky and capable Jeep Renegade with the quirky and slightly less off-road-capable Fiat 500X in late 2015.
The only relationship the 500X had to its namesake – the diminutive 500 hatch – was its name and some exterior and exterior design elements.
While its price at launch was much higher than opening gambits from other compact-SUV competitors, the 500X offered loads of interior space and flexibility and an unmatched road presence.
Fiat also packed the car with standard goodies from the base Pop variant up, including a 5.0-inch touchscreen housing the Uconnect multimedia hub with Bluetooth and voice command, six-speaker audio, USB port and auxiliary jack, daytime running lights, power windows, a space-saver spare tyre and 16-inch alloy wheels. The company said at the time it was fitted with 60safety and security features.
The Pop used a 103kW/230Nm version of the 1.4-litre MultiAir turbo-petrol engine paired with a six-speed manual gearbox – a six-speed dual-clutch was optional.
The Pop Star used the same engine but was only offered in auto, while the Lounge and the range-topping Cross Plus upped the power of the same engine to 125kW/250Nm and added standard all-wheel drive and loads more kit.
