2019 Fiat 500X The X Factor

Fiats given the 500X a tech-filled makeover, bringing the city crossover into the modern age. We head to Turin to give it a go.

- Tom Wiltshire

Whichever Fiat board member suggested expanding the 500 range beyond the cute city car is a genius. Though the iconic 500’s two larger siblings — the 500L and 500X — aren’t really bestsellers, they make the Italian brand a tidy packet. But the 500X has always been slightly old-fashioned, trading on its retro appeal rather than its modernity, so Fiat has seen fit to give it a substantial mid-life facelift.

On the outside, the fundamentals are virtually identical, but reprofiled bumpers front and rear give a neater aesthetic. Of more appeal are the new lights — standard LED daytime running lights and taillights, with optional full LED headlights. They bring the car well up to date, and look rather slick — especially the 500-aping ring-shaped taillights.

Of the three engines on offer, two are all new: A 1.0-litre three cylinder and a 1.3-litre four-cylinder. They join a new suite of safety tech as well as an interior that’s been updated with smartphone connectivity and a new, more legible instrument panel.