The Fiat 500X Returns To North America With A Few New Tricks Up It’s Sleeve!

The Fiat 500X returns to the American and Canadian markets, as the sole brand product for the 2022 model year. While the FIAT brand has struggled to gain any traction in either market for the past decade, Stellantis North America hasn’t counted the Italian brand out yet.

Enter the 2022 Fiat 500X. While the compact crossover might look identical to last year’s model, there is a new option that might intrigue a lot of customers who might not have considered the brand before. 

You might remember several months ago, we discussed a trio of new soft-top options for the 500X that made their debut in Europe. We discussed how we thought that if FIAT could bring the soft-top model here to North America, it might be enough to differentiate the 500X from the rest of the compact crossovers in the market. Now, it seems that has happened for 2022.

The new Al-Fresco soft-top option features a retractable, folding fabric roof for a true open-air experience. No pull-off panels that you have to stow, just a simple push of the button and the top retracts for a convertible-like experience. The Al-Fresco soft-top will be offered as an additional option on all 500X models and will be available in four colors (Black, Red, Grey, and Blue – exclusive to the new Yacht Club Capri model).

For those who want an open-air experience but don’t want the soft-top option, a dual-pane sunroof is available on all models. The dual-pane sunroof offers a power-sliding panoramic roof with side glass panels, which match with the body-side sheet metal for an open and spacious effect. Allowing the 500X to offer more than one way to enjoy those beautiful warm weather drives.

The 500X leverages the iconic 500 (Cinquecento) DNA to deliver that classic Italian style but adds additional space and utility to feature comfortable seating for 5-passengers. Fiat 500X customers can choose from four trim levels (Pop, Trekking, Sport, and Trekking Plus), each giving the 500X its own personality. There are two models geared for more of an urban (street) appeal, while the two Trekking models offer a more rugged adventurous look to the compact crossover.

Known as the 500X Yachting in Europe, the North American model will be called the 500X Yacht Club Capri and is dedicated to the “Yacht Club Capri” in Italy. It’s sailing motif offers a similar open-air experience as a sailboat. The special edition model will come in an exclusive “Blu Venezia” exterior color with a blue soft-top. Other features include…

• Exclusive 18-Inch Sport Wheels with Sea Blue Accents
• Exclusive Ivory White Leather Seats with Blue Piping Accents
• Exclusive Woodgrain Dash Insert with Satin-Finished Gear Shifter
• Yacht Club Capri Exterior Badge on B-pillar
• Satin-Finished Mirror Caps and Door Handles

Also returning for 2022 is the sporty and budget-friendly 500X Pop Sport Appearance Package. The package adds some of the elements from the Sport trim, to the entry-level Pop model. This includes the following equipment…

• Sport Trim Front & Rear Fascias
• Front Fog Lamps
• 18-Inch Sport Aluminum Wheels
• Dual-Bright Exhaust Tips
• Dary Gray Accent Exterior Trim

For the North American market, there is only one engine choice available. The standard turbocharged 1.3-liter FireFly inline-four-cylinder engine (from the Stellantis Global Small Engine family) with engine stop-start (ESS) technology produces 177 horsepower and an impressive 210 lb.-ft. of torque. All North American 500X models are equipped with a 9-speed automatic transmission sourced from ZF and all-wheel-drive (AWD). 

The standard AWD system features an automatic disconnecting rear axle that helps improve fuel economy. So while it may look like the 500X is a simple urban-based crossover, but it is able to tackle anything Mother Nature throws at it while still getting 30 mpg highway.

Although the Fiat 500X still retains the Uconnect 4 infotainment system, the system still offers an easy-to-use user experience featuring fast responding actions, crisp graphics, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto capability in a clever 7-inch screen layout.

The 2022 Fiat 500X can be equipped with up to 75 available advanced safety and security features, including ParkSense front and rear park assist and adaptive cruise control, Forward Collision Warning-Plus, LaneSense Lane Departure Warning-Plus, rain-sensing windshield wipers, Blind-Spot Monitoring, and Rear Cross Path detection.

There is a total of 9 exterior colors available for the Fiat 500X in 2022. Those colors include Bianco Gelato (White Clear Coat), Italia Blue, Blu Venezia (Blue Metallic), Vibrante Green Metallic, Grigio Moda (Graphite Gray), Nero Cinema (Black Clear Coat), Amore Red, Rosso Passione (Red Clear Coat), and Rovente Red.

The Fiat 500X has to be the most underrated compact crossover in the segment. While offering a great all-around package, standard turbocharged power, and AWD capability, the thing that plays against it in the marketplace is the fact that it’s a FIAT. If the 500X was badged as a Chrysler product, there is no doubt it would multiple times the units it sold in 2019 (2,569 units total for the U.S. and Canada pre-pandemic).

If we were Stellantis, we would consider rebranding the Fiat 500X into the Chrysler brand to do just that.

What do you think? Do you think the Fiat 500X will gain any sales from the new soft-top option? Let us know down below.

2022 Fiat 500X Pop with Sport Appearance Package Image Gallery:

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