X

2020 Fiat 500X: Chic and sassy, but not much else

The little crossover looks great, but there are much better choices out there.

img-4356-2
img-4356-2
Emme Hall
I love two-seater, RWD convertibles and own a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata for pavement fun and a lifted 2001 Miata for pre-running. I race air-cooled Volkswagens in desert races like the Mint 400 and the Baja 1000. I have won the Rebelle Rally, seven-day navigational challenge, twice and I am the only driver to compete in an EV, the Rivian R1T.
Emme Hall
2020 Fiat 500X
1 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow

Fiat introduced the 500X in 2016 and ever since, it's been an uphill battle against the likes of the Honda HR-V and the Toyota C-HR.

2020 Fiat 500X
2 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow

Sure, the little sub-compact crossover is cute and somehow tough-looking, but that's about all it's got going for it.

2020 Fiat 500X
3 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow

The turbocharged engine delivers 117 horsepower and a punchy 210 pound-feet of torque. That best-in-class torque number means the 500X feels pretty quick off the line and can easily merge into high-speed traffic.

2020 Fiat 500X
4 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow

However, a lazy nine-speed transmission means it's tough to get all the torque to the ground when you want it.

2020 Fiat 500X
5 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow

You'd think such a tiny little car would be fun to drive, but the 500X delivers sloppy handling.

2020 Fiat 500X
6 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow

The 500X gets an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 24 miles per gallon in the city, 30 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined.

2020 Fiat 500X
7 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow

For 2020, there's a new Sport trim in addition to the usual Pop, Trekking and Trekking Plus models. All-wheel drive is standard across the board.

2020 Fiat 500X
8 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow

The excellent Uconnect infotainment software is used on a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard.

2020 Fiat 500X
9 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow

A base Pop trim starts around $25,000, but the loaded tester you see here is over $35,000.

2020 Fiat 500X
10 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow

Keep scrolling for more photos of this adorable, but ultimately disappointing, little crossover.

2020 Fiat 500X
11 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
12 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
13 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
14 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
15 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
16 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
17 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
18 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
19 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
20 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
21 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
22 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
23 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
24 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
25 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
26 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
27 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
28 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
29 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
30 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
31 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
32 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
33 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
34 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
35 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
36 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
37 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
38 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
39 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
40 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow
2020 Fiat 500X
41 of 41 Emme Hall/Roadshow

More Galleries

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features and Settings on Your iPhone
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features and Settings on Your iPhone

18 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
Go Inside the Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro: See How the New iPhones Look and Work
iphone 15 in different color from an angled view

Go Inside the Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro: See How the New iPhones Look and Work

21 Photos
2023 BMW Z4 Is 100% More Purple
2023 BMW Z4

2023 BMW Z4 Is 100% More Purple

17 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos
Yamaha motorcycle and instrument designers trade jobs (pictures)
yamaha01.jpg

Yamaha motorcycle and instrument designers trade jobs (pictures)

16 Photos
CNET's 'Day of the Dead Devices' altar (pictures)
dia-de-los-muertos-3318-001.jpg

CNET's 'Day of the Dead Devices' altar (pictures)

9 Photos