Fiat 500X refreshed with new engines and tech

The Fiat 500X has been given a proper facelift, receiving a mid-life refresh including a revised look, new driver assistance features and new petrol engines under the bonnet. 

The 500X comes in two distinct formats. The Urban model features a new bumpers front and rear, while the more rugged Cross version appears tougher with new aluminium-look skidplates at the front, with its bumpers more off-road inspired than the 500X Urban. The Cross is available as a plush Cross Plus car, too.

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Both feature new daytime running lights and LED taillights with fresh lighting signatures. LED headlights are equipped as standard on the Cross Plus model for the first time.

Like the exterior, design changes inside are pretty limited. The instrument cluster has been subtly redesigned and Fiat claims it’s now easier to read. It sits behind a new steering wheel, while some of the switchgear around the central infotainment display has been redesigned too. 

The biggest changes come under the bonnet, as the 500X is the latest Fiat-Chrysler vehicle to adopt the group’s new family of all-aluminium modular petrol engines. A turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol appears, developing 118bhp and 190Nm of torque, sending drive to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox. Joining it is a new 148bhp 1.3-litre four-cylinder with 270Nm of torque, combined with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. 

Elsewhere, the 500X retains the entry-level 108bhp 1.6-litre E-Torq petrol unit, which has been updated to meet the latest Euro 6D emissions standards.

Tech wise, traffic sign recognition and lane keep assist are now equipped as standard on every 500X model. Blind spot detectors, adaptive cruise control and city brake control can all be specified as optional extras. 

Elsewhere all versions are now equipped with a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. Bluetooth is also integrated, as is compatibility with Fiat’s Uconnect app for TomTom navigation.

The updated car is on sale in Britain now, priced from £16,995 for the entry level Urban model equipped with the 1.6-litre 108bhp E-Torq engine. Alongside all the new standard equipment, it rides on 16-inch alloy wheels and gets a simple cruise control system. 

The 500X City Cross is priced from £18,995 equipped with the new 1.0-litre engine, rising to £21,195 for the more powerful 1.3-litre car. It gets 17-omch alloy wheels, satin chrome inserts and body-coloured door mirrors, a 3.5-inch TFT display embedded in the instrument panel, automatic climate control and rear parking sensor. 

The range topper is the Cross Plus, again available with the 1.0-litre or 1.3-litre engine priced from £20,995 and £23,195 respectively. This version adds LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, roof bars and dark tinted rear windows. Inside, it adds a front armrest, and the infotainment unit is upgraded to feature navigation and a reversing camera system.

Now read our in-depth Fiat 500X review right here...