Driving Torque

It's All About The Motors.

Driving Torque

This is the YouTube page for Driving Torque - Articles, reviews and opinions about cars and all things automotive.
Go to www.drivingtorque.com

Driving Torque
Review by Ben Harrington from Driving Torque of the Suzuki Jimny SZ5
Suzuki Jimny Review
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_tBEwl0WmNRw
Watch as a Model X performs its Celebration Mode Easter egg in the snow
Tesla Model X Celebration Mode
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_Z04UK1MRXjE
This is what the exhaust tail pipe of a Ford Focus RS sounds and looks like when you accelerate quickly.
2017 Ford Focus RS Exhaust
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_QkKOE0J4baE
Another gratuitous exhaust video for you. This time it's the behemoth that is the Mercedes GL63 AMG.
Mercedes-Benz GL63 AMG exhaust sounding immense
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_S7TdJrBe8aw
This is a Porsche Cayman in Sport Plus mode with a Sports exhaust, showing the exhaust revving and moving as the car is put through its paces. Great footage of over-run and even the heat haze from the hot engine.
Porsche Cayman PDK Sport Plus
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_8l_WTgJB0sk
Subscribe
  • Home
  • About
  • Ben’s Car CV
  • DTQ Partners
  • Contact

Fiat 500X Multiair Cross Review

January 26, 2016 by benharrington Leave a Comment

Fiat 500x off road purple

Fiat 500X

Right, let’s get one thing straight. If you’re thinking that this latest addition to the Fiat 500 family bears very little semblance to the cutesy 500 from which it was spawned, you’d be quite right. There are a few similar lines and a grille ‘moustache’ to prove the 500X‘s parentage, but that’s about it. Much in the same way that MINI’s Countryman struggles to carry the family name, and that’s direct competition for the Fiat 500X, so let’s get over it and move on. Okay?

Fiat 500x off road rear purple

Two very different images

The Fiat 500X is actually two cars in one; you either opt for the ‘City Look’ or the ‘Off-Road Look’, with the latter sporting SUV-style bumpers and roof bars, and either a 4×4 drivetrain or 4×2 with Fiat‘s clever Traction+ system that mimics the effect of a locking differential. The Off-Road Look 500X, like our test-car carries a £4000 premium over the City Look, with prices starting from £18,595.

Fiat 500x off road interior

Interior’s more functional than showy

Inside the Fiat 500X it’s all a rather grown-up affair; the design steers away from retro-chic, moving towards functional usability and quality in terms of materials and build feels to a standard capable of taking a fair amount of abuse. There’s two decent-sized glove-boxes and plenty of cupholders, just waiting to be filled with apple cores, sticky sweet wrappers etc. Although switchgear isn’t quite Audi standards, it’s not flimsy either and the dashboard is covered in a lovely, squidgy plastic with the texture of black liquorice.

Fiat 500x rear seats

It’s roomy, too; the 500X easily passes the ‘6ft rear passenger behind 6ft driver‘ test, although the rear door apertures aren’t the easiest for adults to negotiate. In a similar vein, the boot is capable of swallowing 245 litres, which isn’t that small, but you’d struggle to get larger items in with the rear seats in place, purely due to the slope of the 500X’s rear end.

Fiat 500x off road boot

A powertrain for every occasion

The Fiat 500X is available with a wide range of power and drivetrain combinations, dependent on whether you opt for City or Off-Road look. Our test car was the front wheel drive, 1.4l Multiair petrol unit mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The engine utilises clever variable valve timing technology and in this variation achieves 47mpg combined and a 0-62mph time of 9.8s. £1500 more gets you the same engine but a dual clutch system that brings emissions down to 133g/km from 139 and takes mpg up to 49.6.

Fiat 500x rear badge

9.8 seconds to 62mph might not worry anything with a performance bent but it keeps the 500X interesting, especially with the Traction+ Sport mode engaged; be warned, though – boot the accelerator and there’s plenty of torque steer from the front wheels as they try to cope. On the subject of the 500X’s Traction+ system, we were lucky(?) enough to experience a smidgen of ground frost and ice to test out icy conditions; it may only be quite simplistic and I’d possibly opt for a genuine 4×4 system if off-roading or high altitude’s your thing, but it did feel reassuringly grippy, even on all-season tyres.

Peak torque (230Nm) comes in fairly early at 1750rpm so progress is rapid enough, without having to ring the Multiair engine’s neck. Torque-steer isn’t a huge issue in ‘Normal’ mode and there isn’t much body roll despite the raised ride height which is lifted a not-inconsiderable 12cm over the standard 500.

Fiat 500x grille

Traction+ system to keep everything in check

The Traction+ system does a good job of keeping understeer in check, applying some brakes to avoid contact with the kerb and/or tree. The brake pedal does lack something in the way of feel and slowing can be dramatic if you don’t exercise caution when pressing it.

There’s a massive selection of small crossovers to choose from now, and it’s difficult to stand out from the crowd. The 500X trumps much of the competition in terms of character, especially in Off-Road Look guise, it feels well-built and durable, too. Due to the two distinctive flavours the Fiat 500X comes in, the price range is varied: the Juke and Kadjar are the 500X’s obvious rivals and it’s priced to compete with them. Fiat will feel the Off-Road Look’s slightly more of a premium vehicle than these two, though, and will want comparisons drawn more readily with MINI’s Countryman, over which it offers decent savings.

Fiat 500x headlight

By Ben Harrington

Specifications; Fiat 500X Off-Road Look Cross, Engine – 1.4l 140bhp Multiair petrol, Transmission – 6 speed manual, Layout – Front engine, FWD, Power – 140bhp, Torque – 230Nm, Emissions – 139g/km CO2, Economy – 47.1 mpg combined, Maximum Speed – 118mph, Acceleration – 9.8s 0-62mph, Price – £18,595 OTR, £21,295 as tested.

The Fiat 500X is available now. For more details go to; www.fiat.co.uk

Filed Under: Crossover, Driven, Review, Road Test Tagged With: 500x, compact crossover, countryman, crossover, Fiat, Fiat 500, fiat 500x, juke, kadjar, Mini, small crossover

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Driving Torque

I'm Ben Harrington and I'm a car lover, freelance motoring journalist and family-man (I'll let you decide the order!) I started Driving Torque in 2010 to share my love of all things motoring with the wider world. Since then, … continue reading

Driving Torque’s Instagram Posts

driving_torque

Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the las Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the last Honda HR-V. This goes back today, though, and I think I’ll miss it. #honda #hondahrv #carsofinstagram
Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the las Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the last Honda HR-V. This goes back today, though, and I think I’ll miss it. #honda #hondahrv #carsofinstagram
Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the las Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the last Honda HR-V. This goes back today, though, and I think I’ll miss it. #honda #hondahrv #carsofinstagram
Another highlight from this week’s SMMT Test Day Another highlight from this week’s SMMT Test Day was this; the unashamedly macho Ford Mustang Mach 1. A full review will follow later this year, hopefully. #ford #fordmustang #forduk #carsofinstagram
What do you do when you own two VW vans? Why, you What do you do when you own two VW vans? Why, you go and drive the latest VW Multivan, of course! The Multivan is not, I repeat, is not based on a van, though. Got it? Good. #vw #volkswagen #notavan #carsofinstagram
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Driving Torque’s Twitter Feed

Ben Harrington Follow

Freelance motoring writer and Editor of Driving Torque. @NGMWcars member. Classic VW owner. Husband and father to a wonderful wife and two amazing young ladies.

DrivingTorque
drivingtorque Ben Harrington @drivingtorque ·
23 Jun

https://buff.ly/3ObO4Z5 #honda #hrv #review #hybrid

Reply on Twitter 1540033698485133313 Retweet on Twitter 1540033698485133313 1 Like on Twitter 1540033698485133313 Twitter 1540033698485133313
drivingtorque Ben Harrington @drivingtorque ·
22 Jun

https://buff.ly/3ObO4Z5 #honda #hrv #review #roadtest

Reply on Twitter 1539671061008191492 Retweet on Twitter 1539671061008191492 1 Like on Twitter 1539671061008191492 1 Twitter 1539671061008191492
drivingtorque Ben Harrington @drivingtorque ·
22 Jun

https://buff.ly/3ObO4Z5 #honda #hrv #review

Reply on Twitter 1539565356506816514 Retweet on Twitter 1539565356506816514 Like on Twitter 1539565356506816514 Twitter 1539565356506816514
drivingtorque Ben Harrington @drivingtorque ·
16 Jun

Anyone struggling on @TicketmasterUK for Taylor Hawkins tribute concert - try following the link from the email they sent you. That just worked for me after over an hour of being thrown out of the site 😃

Reply on Twitter 1537366165013643264 Retweet on Twitter 1537366165013643264 Like on Twitter 1537366165013643264 Twitter 1537366165013643264
Retweet on Twitter Ben Harrington Retweeted
yorkshiremsf Yorkshire Motorsport Festival @yorkshiremsf ·
15 Jun

We’re excited - a little over a week to go until the Yorkshire Motorsport Festival

Tickets still available if you follow the link below👇🏽

https://www.ymsf.net/buy-tickets

#Motorsport #Festival

Reply on Twitter 1536972026304507906 Retweet on Twitter 1536972026304507906 12 Like on Twitter 1536972026304507906 18 Twitter 1536972026304507906
Load More

© 2022 · DrivingTorque.com · Site designed and built by Kobestarr.com