10 Things You Need To Know About The 2016 Fiat 500X

The 2016 Fiat 500X is poised to expand the Italian brand's line-up in North America to include a more rugged-looking people mover (alongside the plus-sized 500L four-door hatchback). With a shorter wheelbase than its showroom sibling (yet still measuring in at the same overall size), the Fiat 500X's styling and handling are intended to attract a different type of customer, one that is more fashion conscious but still needs and easy-to-park subcompact hauler. It also brings the option of all wheel drive to the table, expanding the 500X's appeal to those who live in a climate where slippery winter conditions are a yearly nuisance.

Let's take a look at 10 things you need to know about the 2016 Fiat 500X.

1. The 2016 Fiat 500X Is The Brand's First American SUV

When the Fiat 500L initially hit the scene there was some confusion as to whether it was going to marketed as a crossover, a wagon, or simply a four-door hatchback. The 2016 Fiat 500X clears things up, as the new model has been slotted to carry the SUV standard onto the subcompact battlefield for Fiat. The taller ride height, the prominent wheel arches and under-bumper treatment up front, and the swept roofline give the Fiat 500X a more purposeful look (in sharp contrast to the ungainly 500L), and it's clear that Fiat intends to position the 500X against similarly-sized SUVs like the Nissan Juke, the Kia Soul, and the MINI Cooper Countryman.

2. The 2016 Fiat 500X Shares Its Platform With The Jeep Renegade

Corporate partnerships like the one between Chrysler and Fiat are all about 'product synergy,' and the 2016 Fiat 500X is a perfect example of two automotive giants pooling their resources. The Fiat 500X rides on the same platform as the also-new Jeep Renegade subcompact SUV, and it's no coincidence that the latter just happens to be assembled in Italy. This also accounts for the difference in wheelbase between the 500L and the 500X, because while they both ride on a chassis largely borrowed from the Fiat Punto, the smaller 500X footprint is better suited for the off-roading that Renegade owners expect. As you can see, modern vehicle design is a complex web of inter-global connections.

3. The 2016 Fiat 500X Offers A Pair Of Engine Choices

A further point of similarity between the 2016 Fiat 500X and the Jeep Renegade can be found in the engine bay, where it features the same pair of four-cylinder options listed on the Jeep's order sheet. This means that entry-level buyers will enjoy a 1.4-liter turbocharged mill that generates 160 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, while those who pay a little bit extra will upgrade to a 2.4-liter unit that's good for 180 horses and 174 lb-ft of twist. As their similar output might indicate, swapping torque for horsepower when moving from the turbo four to the naturally-aspirated motor evens things out quite a bit and makes for very similar performance across the board for the Fiat 500X.

4. The 2016 Fiat 500X Can Be Had With Two Transmissions

While each 2016 Fiat 500X engine's acceleration might be relatively the same - with a slight top-end smoothness advantage going to the 2.4-liter edition - how that performance is tapped into by the driver is actually quite different. That's because the base turbocharged Fiat 500X comes exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission, one that has to be regularly shifted in order to stay in the small engine's optimal powerband. The 2.4-liter 500X, on the other hand, is yoked to a nine-speed automatic transmission, which aims to balance thrift and fun with its ratio overload.

5. The 2016 Fiat 500X Features All-Wheel Drive

A significant difference between the 2016 Fiat 500X and its Jeep Renegade brother-in-arms is how four-wheel drive is doled out at ordering time. Whereas the Renegade can be had with four-wheel drive with either engine, in the Fiat 500X that particular option is restricted to those who cough up more for the 2.4-liter motor. The four-wheel drive system in the Renegade is designed to completely decouple the rear axles from the transmission when it's not needed (thus conserving fuel), with the system automatically re-engaging the extra set of wheels in milliseconds should traction suddenly be at a premium.

6. The 2016 Fiat 500X Comes In Five Trim Levels

The 2016 Fiat 500X starts out in Pop trim, which brings you a USB port, a basic stereo (in the form of Chrysler's Uconnect 3.0), cruise control, and power windows. Moving up to the 500X Easy installs a larger Uconnect touchscreen (five inches) along with Bluetooth connectivity and satellite radio, while the 500X Trekking adds a splash of chrome to the exterior of the SUV along with a driver information screen in the gauge cluster, 17-inch rims, and nicer cloth upholstery for the vehicle's seats. The Fiat 500X Lounge trim provides power adjustments for the driver's seat, seat heaters for both forward positions, a heated steering wheel, dual automatic climate control, and a navigation system (bundled with a third Uconnect system that features a 6.5-inch screen), and the 500X Trekking Plus includes all of the Trekking's goodies plus 18-inch rims, parking assistance, extra safety gear, and leather trim throughout the cabin.

7. The 2016 Fiat 500X Provides Generous Space For Its Size

An SUV should be practical first and foremost, even one that's plying the subcompact category like the 2016 Fiat 500X. The latest addition to the Fiat portfolio certainly doesn't disappoint in this respect, for in addition to its five passenger seating the 500X provides 18.5 cubic feet of cargo space between the rear seatback and the hatch opening. Fold down that second row of accommodations and you've got just under 51 cubic feet to play with, which helps to keep the Fiat 500X competitive with other subcompact and even compact SUVs (and positively dwarfs the 500 hatchback).

8. The 2016 Fiat 500X Doesn't Target Off-Road Customers

Remember what I said up above about the Jeep Renegade being the right size for off-roading, particularly when it comes to wheelbase? Don't expect the same level of trail prowess from the 2016 Fiat 500X. In fact, even though the Fiat 500X shares its basic four-wheel drive system with the Renegade, it lacks the low-range functionality and extra ride height of the Jeep's Trailhawk model, which means it's better suited to handling snow-covered roads and wet pavement than it is trying to crawl from rock-to-rock. That's perfectly fine, as the 500X's customer base is going to be much more interested in getting up their icy driveway than fording through mud on the weekends.

9. The 2016 Fiat 500X Offers Advanced Safety Gear

Unlike many of its subcompact competitors, the 2016 Fiat 500X actually offers a respectable amount of advanced safety equipment on its options list. If you pony up for the Trekking Plus trim the Fiat 500X comes with a blind spot monitoring system that keeps drivers advised of any traffic that might have crept up on either side of the SUV. This is in addition to the availability of a forward collision warning system that can automatically brake the Fiat should an impact be deemed imminent, as well as a lane departure warning system that will actually steer the 500X back into its lane if the driver doesn't respond to warnings that the vehicle is drifting.

10. The 2016 Fiat 500X Is Priced To Sell

Although not the least expensive SUV on the market, the 2016 Fiat 500X is more affordable than you might think. Although its base MSRP of $20,00 is roughly $1,000 more than the similarly-sized 500L, the Fiat 500X is still well-priced when compared to less practical rivals like the Nissan Juke (MSRP $20,250). Of course, there's still the question of the Jeep Renegade (base MSRP $17,995) and the Kia Soul (MSRP $15,190), both of which are cheaper than the Fiat. Helping to balance things out, however, is the fact that the 500X's top trim level sees its window sticker capped at $27,100, which keeps it out of the range of high trim compact SUVs from Ford, Toyota, and Honda.