The compact Fiat 500X in the crossover version has been equipped with two new, more economical engines via a facelift. The Fiat looks like an urban micro-SUV, accentuated and upgraded with a new front section with optional full-LED headlights. In the interior, new materials and colors provide more shine in the compact class. A plug-in hybrid and a purely electric version are also planned for the future. We take a look at the current 1-liter version in the test.
Our test car is the Fiat 500X 1.0 GSE with 88 kW / 120 PS in the version E6D-TEMP City Cross. Fiat offers three equipment variants: Urban, City Cross and Cross. There are currently 6 engines available for this. The basic Urban version technically includes a compact 3,5-inch display, a Bluetooth radio with USB connection, electric windows, cruise control, air conditioning and a start-stop system. An automatic air conditioning is only integrated in the cross version, otherwise another 500 euros surcharge has to be paid. Some assistance systems are already included in the basic version, including the lane assistant and traffic sign recognition.
GSE engines for the new emission standards
The new engine family at FCA is called GSE - short for Global Small Engine Family, i.e. group-wide small engine family, better known by the nickname: "Firefly". The goals of the new engines were, among other things, a design with a compact combustion chamber for short flame paths and good turbulence. Further features are direct injection with a fuel pressure of 200 bar, four valves per cylinder, variable valve control ("MultiAir II") and an exhaust manifold integrated into the cylinder head. In this way, the warm-up phase of the engines is shortened. Particularly small bearings on the crankshaft reduce friction. Both measures achieve lower fuel consumption. Engine block and cylinder head are made of aluminum. With three cylinders, the engine weighs 91, with four cylinders it weighs 110 kilograms.
In the preliminary configuration, the engines meet the new emission standards according to the WLTP. In the realistic RDE cycle, however, load ranges are required in which particle emissions increase - a general problem with direct injection engines. That is why at Fiat the petrol engines are equipped with petrol particulate filters and the diesels are equipped with SCR catalytic converters.
The more comfortable equipment packages for the 500X
If you want to order more security, you can book this separately in the package. Fiat's Uconnect system with a lush 7-inch touchscreen is standard from the City Cross equipment variant.
Comforts such as blind spot assistant, collision warning, distance cruise control, glass roof, reversing camera and LED headlights are available for an extra charge, some of them even for the cheapest equipment. In the middle version, the 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system is mainly added to the standard scope, to which smartphones can be connected via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
With the compact three-cylinder with turbocharger, the 1.400 kg car is sufficiently motorized for its original use in an urban environment. With the 6-speed gearbox, hard shifting is the order of the day, acceleration from zero to 100 km / h is accomplished in 11 seconds and the top speed is 188 km / h. The standard consumption is 6 liters of super, in our tests in winter we were between 6 and 7 liters in the temperature range between 0 and 10 degrees at daytime temperatures.
Due to the short wheelbase and the somewhat harder suspension, slight compromises have to be made in the suspension system on uneven track profiles. The steering responds very directly and is smooth. The space is surprisingly generous for the very compact SUV. Whether on the front or rear seats, you can travel comfortably thanks to the good headroom. There is 350 liters of storage space in the trunk, which is definitely enough space for hand luggage. If you fold down the foldable rear seat, you can use up to 1000 liters of storage space, which is more than enough for a relaxing holiday for two.
The distinctive 500X silhouette is always clearly visible.
Urban charm for the future
The Fiat 500 family has its own charm as a city car. The three main variants are the compact Fiat 500, the "L" version as a minivan for young families and the 500X as a crossover SUV with its own cult character. Because of this broad distribution, Fiat 500s have a steady fan base. In addition to the conventional motors mentioned above, a plug-in hybrid and a purely electric version are also being planned for the future.
Addendum
Practical test December 2018
Images copyright Fiat and green car magazine
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