I always get a kick when people ask my opinion when considering purchasing or leasing a new vehicle. I guess they really respect what I do…go figure!
So when my best friend and occasional guest editor was looking for a smaller mode of transportation than her 1995 Jeep Cherokee, she asked about the Fiat 500x. A few days later we were rolling around in the 2016 model. Her concerns were space, gas mileage, aesthetics and then price.
Hovering around 5’9, she was used to the space of her SUV. Sitting behind the wheel my friend was quite comfortable. This subcompact SUV was big on personality and relaxed her raised eyebrow. The inner cabin was appealing to her with simplistic but trendy amenities. The center stack was ergonomically sound to her taste. She liked the space between the driver and the passenger. Her fear was that in a smaller ride, she would always be bumping elbows or fighting for the armrest. The elbow bump wasn’t a factor, if purchased she would have dominion over the sliding center armrest. She was happy…so far.
Legroom was ample for her; it’s never a problem for me. The ‘reach-back’ for items in the back seat was a plus for her. Larger SUVs called for calculated placement. As an avid shopper of everything from gardening tools to vintage rugs, she needed something that was would be as versatile on the fly. While surfboards aren’t on her ‘to-do’ list, she was ok with the trunk space when the rear seat was let down, but she was surprised that she could get a deeper trunk when we removed the cargo cover. She did mention that more would space would be ideal. She wanted to downsize and the reality of that was starting to settle in.
So she could live with cubic feet, but now all the questions about the gas mileage began. The combined 25-MPG (22-city/31-hwy) was cool for her. While her current SUV varied in mileage, she liked what the 500x had to offer. The engine was a 2.4-L Inline4 MultiAir® engine with a 9-Speed Automatic Transmission. Her eyes lit up when she heard it was a 9-Speed. Whipping in and out of traffic would not be an issue with her lead foot. With that heavy foot, she will need the 4-wheel anti-lock brakes and Electronic Stability Control.
She liked the relaxed feel of the leather-wrapped heated steering wheel and shift knob the proximity of the other controls. She thought the Dynamic driving mode selector was cute and was nicely integrated. She liked the feel of the interior with a mix of hard and soft surfaces and ambient lightening. The 8-way power front driver heated front seat would be a step up and the lumbar support was a bonus; especially with her lower back problems. She is a techie, so the Uconnect 6.5 system was p to her standards for the price point. Bluetooth connectivity, Sirius/XM radio, Integrated Voice Command and ParkView™ Rear Back-Up Camera would bring her up to speed.
Always the one to know the inner workings of EVERYTHING first; she now focused on the exterior of the 500x. She liked the quirky European appeal of the 500x with its big Bi-Function Halogen Projector Headlamps, Power Mirrors, Passive Entry and Remote Start System, Chrome Surround Molding and Bright Exhaust Tip.
The MSRP was $26,100, which probably gave her the biggest grin.
Her journey to the subcompact world is still in the works. Who knows when I’ll hear the ‘beep, beep’ in the driveway…but at least she is armed with the information. As she walked I had to leave her with this little gem…’When you see ‘Compact’ on a parking space, it would be a noun and not a verb!
For more info, click here.