No. 5
Fiat 500X Trekking AWD (200.9 points)
Priced at $38,590, including $7,900 worth of options, this 500X was by far the most expensive of the lot. Granted, we chose to compare AWD models with automatic transmissions, but paying close to $40K for such a small crossover is pretty tough to swallow, wouldn’t you agree?
There’s more to the little Fiat’s last-place finish than just pricing, mind you. To be fair, we liked its Italian styling and curvaceous body. Panel spacing could be tighter in some areas, but overall, the 500X is fairly well put together. One of our test drivers claimed that the 18” alloys resembled wheel covers, but we’ll let you be the judge of that.
In typical Fiat tradition, the dashboard has a quirky yet attractive look, complete with soft-touch materials. Unfortunately, there are a number of flaws inside. For starters, the steering wheel is too fat and unpleasant to grab. Also, some of the controls are out of the driver’s reach, and the very firm seat cushions don’t bode well for long trips.
Then there’s the drive. Our tester came with Fiat Chrysler’s 2.4L 4-cylinder engine, which produces 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, making it the second-most powerful of the bunch. Compared to the JUKE (188 hp), however, the 500X is 46kg heavier. It doesn’t help that the 9-speed autobox feels jerky and hesitant at times; clearly this unit still has lots of room for improvement.
A few members of the test crew said they hated the sound of the engine; others not so much. With a bit more noise insulation, we can assume no one would complain, especially if gear shifts happened sooner, and at lower revs.
In the end, as the least-fun-to-drive crossover, the Fiat 500X wound up in fifth and final place in our rankings.