Fiat Panda 1.0 Mild Hybrid Touchscreen 5 Seat 5dr

Ten Second Review

Fiat offers buyers in the small SUV segment an improved version of its characterful 500X Crossover model. It's bigger than it looks and there's a frugal 48V Hybrid four cylinder petrol engine on offer. Plus improved connectivity and a whole stack of personalisation options. You can even get a 'Dolcevita' open-topped version. If you're looking for a surefire conversation starter, you can't do a lot better.

Background

It's easy to forget that Fiat actually has a history of small SUV-style cars. The Panda 4x4 first appeared over thirty years ago and has spawned many imitators. A decade or so back, Fiat also fleshed their all-wheel drive selection out with the Sedici, essentially a rebodied Suzuki SX4, that made modest but useful sales. In 2015 though, the company decided to get really serious about the SUV 'B'-segment and launch this 500X, here usefully improved. It's based on the same running gear as Jeep's cute but capable Renegade, but is available only in front-wheel drive guise and comes in standard or open-topped 'Dolcevita' forms.

Driving Experience

Though the 500X continues to be based around Jeep Renegade underpinnings, quite a lot has changed with this car from an engineering perspective. These days, the range is based around a four cylinder 1.5 mild Hybrid engine, which only comes as a DCT auto. This unit puts out 130hp and 240Nm of torque (rest to 62mph in 9.4s) and is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch auto transmission. The propulsion system includes a built-in 48 volt 15kW (20hp) electric motor delivering 55Nm of torque, which can propel the wheels even when the internal combustion engine is turned off. Once underway, you'll find that not much has changed about the way this 500X goes down the road. The ride's still slightly on the firm side, but that means well managed standard of body roll through the bends, which in turn ought to give you the confidence to explore the decent reserves of traction and agility on offer. Inevitably, anything other than very light off road antics are beyond this 500X model's remit, despite its adventurous styling. 4WD is no longer offered as an option and there's just 162mm of ground clearance. But of course, none of this will bother likely buyers. For them, it'll matter only that this is a faithful interpretation of 500 model line values to a larger family-class car.

Design and Build

There aren't too many small Crossovers with styling that gets an almost universal vote of confidence, but we really haven't chanced upon anyone who doesn't like the 500X. Designed in-house by Fiat's Centro Stile studio, this model not only has clear links to its siblings in the current 500 family but also to the iconic 1957 original, most notably when it comes to the large circular headlamps, the brightwork on the nose and the distinctive clamshell bonnet. Changes made to this revised model are relatively minor, including restyled daytime running lights and a tail lamp design that references that of the little 500 citycar. There's also a smarter '500' logo at the front and new FIAT lettering at the rear. 'Cross' models get 'SUV'-style protective skid plates. Choose the alternative 'Dolcevita' open-topped model and you get a full-length canvas folding roof which can open in 15 seconds at speeds of up to 62mph. Inside with all variants, the cabin has been lightly updated in revent times, with a body-coloured dash fascia panel. As before, there's wrap-around bolstering and arm rests placed in the centre console and on the door trims to aid relaxed cruising. If you haven't checked out a 500X since its original launch, the key change you'll probably notice is the incorporation on all model's of Fiat's latest generation 7-inch centre-dash infotainment screen. This includes the brand's 'Uconnect LIVE' features - things like music streaming with Deezer and TuneIn, news from Reuters, connected navigation from Tom Tom LIVE and the option to keep in touch with friends via Facebook Check-in and Twitter. The back seat remains pretty snug but you get a decent 350-litre luggage compartment which can be extended using the Fold&Tumble rear seats and the fold-flat front passenger seat.

Market and Model

Now that Fiat only offers this car with its most up to date 1.5-litre Hybrid petrol engine, prices have risen, starting at just over £30,000. For a premium of around £3,000, Fiat also offers an alternative 'Dolcevita' body style, which gives you a full-length electrically folding fabric roof. Across both models in the line-up, equipment is pretty comprehensive. Standard 'Sport' trim gives you special exterior and interior finishing, 18-inch alloy wheels, a 'Techno' leather steering wheel, a 7-inch Uconnect centre-dash infotainment screen with Apple Car Play and Android Auto smartphone-mirroring, manual air conditioning, cruise Control, Traffic Sign Recognition and a Lane Assist system. The 500X also comes with dark tinted rear windows, fog lights, LED DRLs, parking sensors and dusk and rain sensors. The Uconnect centre-dash infoptainment set-up fitted across the range offers real time traffic information and lane guidance, plus Google Play Music, among other music services. Furthermore, customers can stay in touch with Uconnect LIVE services. Users who download the free Uconnect LIVE app from the App Store or Google Play Store to their smartphone can fully exploit the benefits of Uconnect LIVE, including music streaming with Deezer and TuneIn, news from Reuters, plus connected navigation with TomTom LIVE. In addition, they can stay in touch with friends via Facebook check-in and Twitter.

Cost of Ownership

The market for boutique small Crossovers such as the 500X isn't anything like as price sensitive as those of other small cars and cost of ownership figures consequently come a bit further down the priorities scale. Nevertheless, the 500X utilises engines from other Fiat Group models where buyers are putting the budget under a bit more scrutiny. The 1.5-litre Hybrid unit manages up to 49.5mpg on the combined cycle with emissions of up to 129g/km. This is the first Fiat Hybrid that uses the electric motor by completely disconnecting the petrol engine, which can remain idle for up to 47 per cent of the time according to the total WLTP cycle. In the urban cycle alone, the percentage rises to 62 per cent. The benefits of this 48-volt 1.5 'T4'-series Hybrid engine easily out-strip those of the previous 1.3-litre conventional unit: in Hybrid, CO2 emissions are up to 11 per cent lower. But performance is never sacrificed, and the car is very comfortable to drive, courtesy of the practically imperceptible shifts between the electric motor and the combustion engine. Whatever kind of 500X you choose, you can do your bit on the frugality side, thanks to the clever 'eco:Drive LIVE' system that's built into the centre-dash infotainment screen. Fiat says it's a bit like having a personal trainer on board. This electronic coach isn't looking to fight the flab, but instead is looking to trim your figures rather than your figure; specifically those for fuel and CO2 efficiency. Earlier versions of the 'eco:Drive' system did this by monitoring your driving style, then producing a report you had to download onto a USB stick, then view on your home PC - which was all a bit nerdish. Here, it's all done with live assistance, analysing your driving in real time and making suggestions instantly displayed on the dash-mounted UConnect infotainment screen. Every model in the range is covered by a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty and there's 36 months of breakdown cover included as well. Should you have a problem on a journey, you can use the 'Uconnect' infotainment system to contact roadside assistance and the same set-up can also be used to book routine services.

Summary

The 500X hasn't sold as well as it should have for Fiat, but there's still time for the Italian brand to turn that around. The package of changes visited upon this revised model should help. The slow-selling diesel and 4WD models have been dropped and beneath the bonnet, buyers are now at last treated to a properly efficient petrol unit. We're a little disappointed that prices are no longer quite as affordable as they once were, but what you're now getting is a far more class-competitive product that has more than a dash of Italian flair. Indeed, we continue to think that this car sets a template for how a retro-style citycar shape can be expanded into something more family-sized. In short, this car deserves a place on your small SUV shortlist.