2020 Fiat 500L Road Test and Review

2017 Fiat 500L Driving Front Three Quarter ・ Photo by FIAT

Fiat’s return to the American market hit another bump in the road recently when the car its executives thought would be the brand’s mainstay model ran afoul of Americans’ fascination with crossovers. The latest iteration of the Fiat 500, the spiritual successor to the original and much-beloved “Cinquecento” small car, got off to a reasonably robust start, but today’s market isn’t kind to small, fuel-efficient two-doors. So executives took what some might term the draconian step of eliminating the 500 hatchback and convertible from the Fiat lineup here in the United States.

After that change, the current Fiat portfolio consists of the 124 Spider two-seat sports car,  the 500X all-wheel drive subcompact crossover, and the subject of this review: the 500L subcompact four-door hatchback. The fact is the only vehicle that is roughly equivalent to the 500L is the Kia Soul, another boxy, four-door hatch. Both of these vehicles are extremely versatile, offer good interior space, and are economically priced. And their funky looks can be attractive to the right buyer. Mainstream the 500L is not. It brings a European aesthetic to the party.

Exterior

If you have a European sense of style, we think you’ll like the look of the 2020 FIAT 500L. Its exterior design isn’t for everyone, but it exudes a sophistication derived from its Italian origins. Of course, its inspiration is classic Fiat Cinquecento design, which has then been enlarged and modified for this contemporary four-door hatchback.

The Cinquecento resemblance is most noticeable in the vehicle’s front end, which delivers an attractive rendition of the FIAT 500’s classic face. The 2020 500L sports 16- or 17-inch wheel designs and attractive taillights. The 500L’s dual-pane sunroof is the largest in the class. The power-sliding panoramic roof has glass side panels that match the body-side sheet metal to lend a more spacious effect. The 2020 FIAT 500L’s Trekking trim level picks up some crossover suv attributes. The rugged looks are keyed by unique front and rear fascia designs, flared wheel arches, and unique 17-inch wheels. The 500L isn’t everyone’s idea of a good-looking car, but that is precisely the point. It will appeal to those who like to be noticed.

Photo by FIAT

Interior

While the 500L’s exterior evokes memories of the Cinquecento’s past, its interior is utterly contemporary. A trio of round displays populates the instrument nacelle, and they are easily visible behind the steering wheel emblazoned with the Fiat logo. The center of the dash features an info display screen flanked by two vertically oriented vents. Immediately below are round knobs for adjusting the climate control. Between the seats is a conventional shift lever to actuate the automatic transmission.

In the base Pop trim level, the front bucket seats are cloth-covered, while they are leather-clad in the Trekking and Lounge trims. Driver’s and front passenger seats both have standard manual height adjusters. The Lounge trim also has two-way lumbar adjusters for both driver and passenger, power for the driver and manual for the passenger. Heated front seats are standard on Trekking and Lounge trims. The rear seat is a split-folding 60/40 bench with tilt, tumble, and slide functions. Despite the 500L’s compact overall dimensions, the vehicle is accommodating for four adults and will transport five in a pinch.

Photo by FIAT

Infotainment

The 2020 FIAT 500L infotainment system is exceptionally easy to understand and operate. We appreciate the fact that two familiar round knobs control important aspects of the audio system. As is the case with so many vehicles from FCA, Uconnect 4 is the infotainment’s “operating system.”

A 7-inch touchscreen display is the gateway for radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth hands-free calling, voice command and streaming audio, and SiriusXM radio. All of that is standard on all three trim levels. Dedicated navigation is standard on the two top-level trims, while it is available in the Pop. A Beats audio system is the vehicle’s premium sound system offering. It includes six speakers, a trunk-mounted subwoofer, and an eight-channel amplifier. All trims offer a remote USB port.

Photo by FIAT

Powertrain

The FIAT 500L is equipped with a single engine/transmission combination. The 1.4-liter MultiAir direct-injection turbocharged engine delivers 160 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of peak torque. The single overhead cam engine features 16 valves and is fitted with the FCA-exclusive MultiAir valve-actuation technology.

The only transmission choice is a six-speed automatic, so if you thought you might prefer a manual transmission to get the most out of the small engine, you’re out of luck. The 500L comes only with front-wheel drive platform, while the similar 500X crossover SUV is now sold only with all-wheel drive. The 500X, though, benefits from a more powerful engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Photo by FIAT

Driving Impressions

While the 500L’s 160-horsepower engine gets the job done, we have to admit that we wish the vehicle offered the higher-torque engine that is now the single powerplant in the 500X crossover SUV. The 500L’s acceleration is reasonably okay with a driver aboard, but if you add a couple of passengers and some gear it could be described as tepid.

Still, the 500L offers more horsepower and torque than the base-model Kia Soul, so in direct comparison, it is certainly the equal of the competition. But the Soul offers more powerful optional powerplants, while the 500L has just one engine choice. At the same time, the Fiat’s handling is more than acceptable with hints of European sophistication, and ride quality is good. The Fiat engineers obviously emphasized ride quality and cargo capacity over sharp, leading-edge handling.

Photo by FIAT

Safety/Driver Aids

The 2020 FIAT 500L offers a total of nearly 40 standard and optional advanced safety and security features. Standard features include a variety of airbags — advanced multistage front airbags, driver’s-side knee bolster airbags, supplemental front-seat-mounted airbags, and supplemental front and rear side-curtain airbags.

Other standard safety features include LATCH child seat anchors, electronic stability control, hill-start assist, electronic roll mitigation, and a rearview camera. Rear parking sensors are part of the Popular Equipment Package and Premium Group on the up-level trims. If you are seeking leading-edge electronic driver’s aids like adaptive cruise control, you won’t find them on the Fiat 500L, although they are available on the 500X small crossover.

Photo by FIAT

Interior and Cargo Space

The Fiat 500L offers a style all its own and a wonderful simulation of a European driving experience. It is also roomy in an international sense, but not in the American idiom. While Europeans might describe the 500L as a mid-size car, we Americans find it small.

For example, this Fiat is the same overall length as the Kia Soul and actually 6 inches longer than the 2019 Honda Fit. In terms of interior room, that extra length translates into slightly more space — the Fit offers 96 cubic feet of passenger space while the 500L offers 99. The Fit’s maximum cargo area is 52.7 cubic feet, while the 500L’s cargo area is 68.0 cubic feet. The 500L offers 22.4 cubic feet of cargo room behind the three-passenger rear seat, about the same as the Kia Soul; the Fit offers 16.6 cubic feet. In the front seats, the difference in interior space is not really an issue, but in the rear the Fit offers more legroom.

Photo by FIAT

Fuel Economy and Towing

The Fiat 500L offers good fuel economy, but it doesn't rise to the level of the top vehicles in the class. Other vehicles in the class offer fuel-saving continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), although they can offer drivability drawbacks.

Fuel economy for the turbocharged 1.4-liter direct-injection turbocharged engine with MultiAir valve-actuation technology is 22 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25 mpg combined. That is lower than the competing Mazda CX-3 with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine; it's EPA-rated at 27 mpg city/32 mpg highway/29 mpg combined. The CVT-equipped Honda Fit has EPA ratings of 33 mpg city/40 mpg highway/31 mpg combined, and the base Kia Soul with an automatic transmission has EPA ratings of 27 mpg city/33 mpg highway/30 mpg combined. Fiat doesn't recommend towing a trailer with the 500L.

Photo by FIAT

Trim Levels

The 2019 FIAT 500L crossover is offered in three trim levels: Pop, Trekking, and Lounge. The Pop trim includes the Uconnect 4 infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen display, integrated voice command with Bluetooth and AM/FM radio. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility are standard.

The Trekking trim includes some off-road-inspired crossover SUV attributes. It includes unique front and rear fascia designs, flared wheel arches, and special 17-inch alloy wheels. The Lounge version is the all-in version of the 500L, but in the case of this model, all-in doesn’t include items that are available on competitive models because they simply aren’t offered. The Trekking and Lounge trims offer many of the same items, but the Trekking trim is a faux SUV.

Photo by FIAT

Pricing and Value

The Fiat 500L blazes its own trail in the styling department, and a lot of people will like its Euro take on a very versatile vehicle type — the four-door hatchback. If you can get past its slight lack of power, the Fiat 500L is a fun-to-drive, five-passenger subcompact hatchback that is reasonably roomy inside.

Built in Europe, the 500L is pricier than many of its competitors, one of the reasons that its buyers are the most affluent in the category. The least expensive 500L Pop has an MSRP of $22,250 plus a rather stiff $1,495 destination charge. A Trekking version with all-wheel drive looks but without all-wheel drive has a suggested retail price of $23,575. The top-of-the-line 500L Lounge has a base price of $24,395 plus destination. The Fiat 500L is built in Kragujevac, Serbia, the city where Yugos were once manufactured.

Photo by FIAT