Just like the Jeep Renegade earlier this year, the Fiat 500X has reached the point of a mid-cycle refresh, headlined by subtle styling tweaks, new engines, and updated tech in Europe.
On the outside, the most obvious changes regard the light units, with the facelifted 500X gaining new standard LED DRLs and LED taillights, as well as optional full-LED headlights developed in partnership with Magneti Marelli. Fiat says those units shine 20 percent brighter than the Xenon technology of the previous model.
A new city-oriented Urban trim level joins the Cross and City Cross, bringing all-new front and rear bumper designs. The Cross and City Cross have been refreshed as well with new-look protective skid plates.
Inside, the main update is the restyled cockpit that adds a new instrument cluster with easier to read graphics. It maintains the three circular elements and combines two analog dials with a configurable 3.5-inch TFT display in the middle.
Also new is the steering wheel wrapped in Techno leather upholstery and complete with radio controls. The automaker claims the new wheels allows for better positioning of the driver’s hands and improves grip. In total, the facelifted Fiat 500X offers seven combinations of fabric, leather, finishes, and colors.
Infotainment is provided by a standard Uconnect 7’’ HD Live interface with Apple CarPlay integration and Android Auto compatibility. It features a 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, audio streaming, text reader, voice recognition, Aux and USB ports, as well as steering wheel controls.
The most important updates take place under the hood, however, where the 500X replaces the naturally aspirated gasoline engines with all-new Firefly turbocharged three- and four-cylinder units shared with the 2019 Jeep Renegade.
Those include a three-cylinder 1.0-liter unit that delivers 120 PS and 190 Nm of torque, as well as a four-cylinder 1.3-liter unit rated at 150 PS and 270 Nm of torque. The smaller engine is paired with a six-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive, while the larger one is linked to a six-speed DCT dual-clutch automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.
In addition to these new power plants, the Fiat 500X can also be hand with a 110-PS 1.6 E-Torq unit combined with manual transmission and front-wheel drive. All engines meet the Euro 6/D-TEMP pollution reduction standard, and the turbo units also feature Gasoline Particle Filters (GPF).
Diesel fans need not worry: the MultiJet II turbo diesel engines carry on and have also been upgraded to meet the Euro 6/D-TEMP standard, gaining SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction). The refreshed 500X offers three diesel choices: a 1.3-liter engine rated at 95 PS and 200 Nm of torque at 1,500 rpm (manual transmission and FWD), a 1.6-liter unit with 120 PS and 320 Nm of torque at 1,750 rpm (six-speed manual/DCT and FWD), and a 2.0-liter engine that makes 150 PS and 350 Nm of torque at 1,500 rpm (nine-speed automatic and 4WD).
On the tech front, all 2019 Fiat 500X models offer two new driving assist systems as standard: Traffic Sign Recognition and Speed Advisor. Lane Assist continues to be standard, while optional systems include Blind Spot Alert, Safety Distance Manager (ACC), and Autonomous Emergency Brake.
No information has been released on the US-spec model yet.