These days, every mainstream brand needs a small, trendy Crossover. Here's Fiat's take on the Juke-genre, the fashionable 500X.

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 new range of more efficient three and four cylinder petrol engines on offer, plus improved connectivity and a whole stack of personalisation options. 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 4x4 cars. The Panda 4x4 first appeared over thirty years ago and has spawned many imitators. A few years ago, 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 and is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive guises.

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. Diesel engines are no more and you can't now get 4WD either. Instead, the range is primarily based around a latest-generation family of petrol engines - a three cylinder 1.0-litre unit and a four cylinder 1.3. Unfortunately though, the least expensive 'Urban' variant continues with the old-tech four cylinder 110hp 1.6-litre petrol unit from the original 500X model line-up.

The 1.0-litre models will probably suit most customers best, this 120hp powerplant developing a more than sufficient 190Nm of pulling power and being paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox. In this form, this car is impressively refined at motorway speeds. Rest to 62mph in the 1.0-litre models takes 10.9s en route to 117mph. If you go for the four cylinder 1.3-litre unit (which has 270Nm of torque), your car will feature Fiat's 6-speed dual clutch DCT automatic transmission. As before, the ride on the move remains a touch on the firm side, but this does help to restrict body movement through the corners. Steering feel is well-weighted but not especially communicative.

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. 'Cross' models get 'SUV'-style protective skid plates.

Inside, the cabin has been lightly updated 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. The key change is probably 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 Rom 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.

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