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| 2020 Fiat 500X Trekking Plus AWD. |
So let's start with what it is not. It is not a stretched, pulled, taller 500. In fact, the 500X is only styled to look like the 500. Under the skin, this is essentially the same machine as the Jeep Renegade.
Under the hood is the 1.3-liter Turbo MultiAir four-cylinder that comes in the Limited and High Altitude trims of the Renegade, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Zero to 60 won't push you back in your seat, at a shade under nine seconds, but it's respectable for its class, as is the EPA fuel economy estimate of 24 city/30 highway.
The ride is more compliant than you'd expect from a short-wheelbase small crossover. And the thickly-padded Fiat seats, are, as ever, very pleasant chairs in which to travel.
Our tester was the top-of-the-line Trekking Plus AWD model. Base price, $29,495, which includes the following as standard equipment:
- Advanced Multistage Front Air Bags
- Passenger Front Air Bag
- Supplemental Side-Curtain Front and Rear Air Bags
- Supplemental Front Seat Side Air Bags
- Driver Inflatable Knee-Bolster Air Bag
- ParkView® Rear Back-Up Camera
- Parksense® Front Park-Assist System
- ParkSense® Rear Park-Assist System
- LATCH Ready Child Seat Anchor System
- Electronic Stability Control
- Electronic Roll Mitigation
- Touring Suspension
- 4-Wheel Anti-Lock Brakes
- Remote-Start System
- Engine Stop-Start System
- Remote Proximity Keyless Entry
- Tire Pressure Monitoring Display
- Hill Start Assist
- Speed Control
- Security Alarm
- Tire Service Kit
- Uconnect® 4 NAV with 7-Inch Display
- SiriusXM® with 1-Year Radio Subscription
- Apple CarPlay®
- Google Android Auto™
- Integrated Voice Command with Bluetooth®
- Front Dual USB Ports Charge & Data
- 8-Speakers
- Premium Wrapped Steering Wheel
- Leather-Wrapped Shift Knob
- Tilt/Telescope Steering Column
- A/C Auto Temperature Control w/Dual-Zone Control
- Power Frt Window w/Express Up/Down, Rr Express Down
- Heated Front Seats
- 8-Way Power Adjustable Driver Seat
- 4-Way Power Lumbar Adjustable Driver Seat
- Auto-Dimming Rear View Mirror
- 17-Inch x 7.0-Inch Matte Black Machined Alum Whls \
- 215/60R17 All-Season Tires
- Bi-Function LED Projector Headlamps
- Automatic Headlamps
- LED Daytime Running Headlamps
- Front LED Fog Lamps
- Power Mirrors
- Exterior Mirrors with Supplemental Signals
- Exterior Mirrors with Heating Element
- Windshield Wiper De-Icer
Our tester also had some extra-cost options:
- Milano Ivory Tri-Coat Exterior Paint ($1,000)
- Premium Group ($1,695):
- 215/55R18 All-Season Performance Tires
- 18-Inch x 7.0-Inch Matte Anthracite Alum Wheels
- Beats® Premium Audio System \
- Dual-Pane Power Sunroof
- Advanced Driver Assistance Group ($1,395):
- Adaptive Speed Control
- Lane Departure Warning Plus
- Full Speed Forward Collision Warn Plus
- Blind-Spot and Cross-Path Detection
- Automatic High-Beam Headlamp Control
- Rain-Sensitive Windshield Wipers
- Compact Spare Tire ($295)
With $1,495 destination charge, the bottom line on the window sticker is $35,375. That's not cheap but not outrageous. It's a crowded segment, though, with newer, very interesting choices. Our advice is to shop around but to at least give the 2020 Fiat 500X Trekking AWD a test drive. It's not what you think.
