2022 Fiat 500X

The 2022 Fiat 500X is available in three trim levels as opposed to four in the previous year. This is one of the biggest changes for the current model year as the Trekking Plus trim level is now reduced to an optional package known as the Trekking Value Plus Package. Changes for the 2022 model year only include other slight tweaks to the feature list. The car is based on the Jeep Renegade platform itself and hence is quite capable on its own. The starting price level is also quite accessible and it comes with a wide variety of features such as 17-inch wheels, keyless entry, remote start, cloth upholstery, 7-inch touchscreen display, six-speaker sound system, and so on.

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There is a lot of choices offered in terms of trims alone because there are three trims on offer. Out of these, however, we would pick the Sport trim that retails at $27,795. It is not very expensive over the base trim and in turn, comes with a lot of nice features like 18-inch wheels, a unique front fascia, and sport seats. It also has automatic headlights, fog lights, and a satellite radio. If we were to pick the optional packages, we would add the panoramic sunroof, the Beats stereo system, LED headlamps, and front and rear parking sensors. Overall, it is a very well-equipped car and has a lot of features that feel very upmarket.

2022 Fiat 500X Release date

In terms of the release date, there has not been much information from the brand. We are expecting that the 2022 model of the Fiat 500X will reach showrooms by Fall this year. However, deliveries are expected to start a bit later than that. Unprecedented delays due to the pandemic and the general economic slowdown have affected car manufacturers are not and hence we would excuse Fiat for doing this. We are also expecting a fully electric model to debut this year.

The 2022 Fiat 500X comes with a very peppy 1.3 L turbocharged in-line four-cylinder engine that produces 177 hp & 210 lb-ft of torque. The power figures are excellent and make sure that the car is capable due to its lightweight and agile nature. The transmission offered is a nine-speed automatic that does its duties very well and makes sure the car is fun to drive. The powertrain is also all-wheel-drive and hence offers all the capabilities that one would expect from an SUV.

 Speaking about outright acceleration, the SUV does really well, stomp on the pedal and it goes from 0 to 60 in just 8.5 seconds and goes on to complete the quarter-mile in 16.6 seconds. Overall we have felt that the powertrain is generally impressive. It is also excellent in terms of handling and feels nimble which is very much in contrast to its competition. Fiat has managed to deliver a car that feels confident under braking and is very eager in terms of handling as well.

Considering all its rivals, the Fiat has an excellent amount of power and is only second to its stablemate, the Jeep Renegade. However, one thing that is surprising is that the Honda HR-V has the best acceleration figures despite being the least powerful car out of the lot. In terms of practicality, the Fiat 500X is the least practical and most un-SUV-like. But it has managed to price the car in a way that it is not too much more expensive than its rivals. But none of the rivals have the sort of retro appeal that comes with the Fiat.

Since it comes with a very small turbocharged engine, the Fiat 500 X can be expected to be adequately fuel-efficient. However, due to being equipped with a very small fuel tank of just 12.7 gallons, it suffers a bit in terms of range but the fuel efficiency makes up for it. Even the city fuel efficiency is decent compared to the competition at 24 MPG. However one of the issues is that it has to use premium unleaded fuel which some of its competitors can do without. However, for the power and pep that it offers, we feel that this car is adequately fuel-efficient.

The Honda and Subaru manage to better the fuel efficiency ratings of the Fiat by a very fair amount. However, its stable-mate, the Jeep Renegade offers lesser fuel efficiency and also comes with a similarly sized fuel tank. For these reasons, it suffers the most in terms of range. The largest fuel tank comes in the Subaru and hence it has the highest range due to the greater fuel efficiency ratings as well. The Fiat does not match its competitors in terms of real-world range but is quite adequate in terms of fuel efficiency it offers in the city and highway.

The interior of the 2022 Fiat 500 is quite a sight to look at because of the retro design. There is a common theme of round shapes all throughout the cabin and this has been integrated seamlessly. Most of the body panels are covered in genuine leather, along with cloth and other materials. The design is very elegant and has a certain restraint to it while still allowing the next the existence of modern as well as retroelements. The subtle accent lines and badging make it one of the best-looking cabins that one can find. 

The switchgear is easy to access and the buttons are large and the labels are very clear. The contours on the seats are well thought out and support the body nicely. The visibility outside the cabin is also very nice while the seats are also extremely well-engineered and provide a lot of support and stay comfortable for long journeys. The ergonomics of the cabin are also excellent and make sure that none of the passengers are claustrophobic in a car this small. 

The cargo capacity of the Fiat is the least and it also offers the smallest amount of space in the interiors. However, it is the Honda and Subaru that have the most cargo capacity in the segment and remain the kings in terms of practicality. We find that the Fiat has the least cargo space in the segment followed by the Jeep. Like we said, the compromises in practicality come along with the 500 but they are not extremely hard to live with due to the quirks of the car. Let’s see some of the interior highlights:

• Proximity key
• Keyfob trunk/hatch/door release
• Front cupholders
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Panoramic sunroof
• Cloth & leather upholstery
• 8-way power driver's seat with 4-way lumbar support
• Tilt & telescopic multi-function steering wheel

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The infotainment systems that have been coming in this segment have been excellent lately. The base infotainment system is a 7.0 touch screen and gets Android Auto as a less Apple CarPlay as standard. The system has graphics that are crisp and vibrant and it is also very intuitive. The optional sound system is excellent and provides very crisp audio. Most of the controls are very straightforward to use and remain a pleasure inside the little cabin. The driver information display is also very nice. Some of the standard features of the infotainment system are:

• 7-inch touchscreen display with Android Auto and Apple Carplay
• 8-speaker Beats premium audio system
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• 3 USB Ports
• AM/FM Radio
• Bluetooth Technology

The 2022 Fiat 500X is a true masterpiece in terms of design. Like the car it is based on, it has also managed to balance modern and retro design elements in excellent fashion. It breaks away from the typical SUV design language of straight lines and incorporates a lot of curves and a lot of other shapes that give it a sense of dynamism. There are incredible design details in this car that make it stand out and give it a sense of playfulness that is entirely missing in its segment. It is a very unique product and its design is one of the key elements that attract some of its buyers.

The Fiat is the heaviest car in the segment but the tiniest in terms of most dimensions. By dimensions, the Jeep is the widest, and the longest vehicle in the group is the Crosstrek. What’s most impressive is that Honda has managed to pack a lot of practicality in a very small package with the HR-V. The HR-V is a lot smaller in terms of sheer size but offers excellent cargo as well as interior space. The Subaru has much better ground clearance than the Jeep. It is surprising to note that the Honda is on the lighter side of the category whereas it offers an excellent amount of equipment. Some of the exterior highlights include:

• 17/18/19-inch Wheels
• Automatic Headlamps
• Bi-function LED Projector Headlamps
• LED DRLs & taillights
• Chrome door handles
• Chrome window trim
• Chrome exhaust tips
• Rear roofline spoiler

The 2022 Fiat 500X is no different from the rest of the brand's portfolio in terms of safety. It has not been fully tested by the IIHS but has scored very well in the few tests that it has participated in. When it comes to the NHTSA, the car has not been tested yet. With its long list of driver assists and features, Fiat has no left no stone unturned in providing safety features to the car. The base trim has very few features but the higher trims are very well equipped when it comes to safety. Some standard safety features include:

• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Front & Rear Parking Sensors
• Lane Departure Warning
• Blind Spot Monitoring
• Forward Collision Warning
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Lane Keep Assist
• Automatic Emergency Braking
• Rearview Camera
• Automatic High-Beam Headlights

2022 Fiat 500X SUV vs 2022 Subaru Crosstrek

The Fiat 500X is a much smaller and nimble car. However it has several compromises in terms of practicality that the Subaru does not have. However, the Subaru feels utilitarian and purposeful while the Fiat feels playful and happy. It has compromises in terms of interior as well as cargo space. Overall, it is not as good a car as the Subaru if you look at the 500X as a family car. However if you want to have the most fun out of it while driving, the Fiat 500X is the car to go for despite its extra cost. 

2022 Fiat 500X SUV vs 2022 Honda HR-V

The Honda HR-V has always been the gold standard in this class and continues to be so. It provides an excellent package that is packed with features and is very practical at the similar price. It is a very mundane choice and does not have the capabilities of an SUV in terms of its powertrain, but is an excellent pick as a family car. It is not the most powerful car on paper but in terms of acceleration figures, it manages to come on top.

2022 Fiat 500X SUV vs 2022 Jeep Renegade

The Jeep Renegade is the most similar car to the Fiat 500X. They are both on the same chassis but come with very different powertrains and are focused at two different crowds. It is also fun to drive while the Fiat also is, so it is not an equal comparison. However, the Jeep has all the functional compromises that the Fiat has without much real strengths when compared to the rest of the Jeep line-up. For this reason, we would pick the Fiat 500X over the Jeep.

The new Fiat 500X is a quirky little car with a lot of strengths and also manages to be one of the cutest cars one can find. It is offered at the cheaper price than rivals but comes with certain functional compromises that owners have to understand before committing to the car. It provides the most exciting performance in this category and also a good amount of features. It is also one of the most well built cars that one can find in the market today but has aged a bit due to being introduced a while ago. Hence we would not be very excited about buying it in 2022.