As part of its push to become fully electric by 2030, Fiat has given the 500X an injection of battery power; but it doesn’t come with a plug: this model is a hybrid, said The Sunday Times. Under the bonnet is the latest version of Fiat’s FireFly turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, plus a small 0.8kWh battery that powers a 15kW motor integrated into a new dual-clutch seven-speed automatic gearbox.
A stylish electrified SUV should be a sure success, but this is not the most comfortable in its class nor the most frugal, with fuel consumption of 46.8mpg compared to 49.6mpg in the mild-hybrid Ford Puma, said Auto Express. 0-62mph takes 9.4 secs, but it’s not responsive enough when you need acceleration, and steering is fairly numb. It’s happiest at lower speeds, and if you go slow enough it will run solely on electric power.
The interior is pretty much unchanged, with the same elevated driving position offering good visibility, What Car? said. There’s lots of head- and legroom up front, but it’s a bit of a squash in the back for three adults; and if you choose the Dolcevita model, headroom is cut in the back by the full-length sunroof. The 7in touchscreen infotainment is intuitive, and manual knobs for air conditioning are refreshingly easy to use. UK price: from £27,585.
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