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Performance: | 6.4 |
The 2018 Fiat 500L leaves much room for improvement in the performance department. It features a small four-cylinder engine with turbo lag issues, and it doesn’t handle all that well. The ride is stiff and a bit bumpy, and fuel economy is subpar.
The 500L features a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 160 horsepower. That engine is mated to a responsive six-speed automatic transmission. There’s a bit of turbo lag, which contributes to the generally apathetic feeling you get from the engine when driving the 500L. Once the turbo kicks in, however, power output is adequate for all driving situations.
Gas mileage is not a strong suit for the 500L. It gets an EPA-estimated 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. Nearly every class rival gets better fuel economy estimates.
The Fiat 500L, like the Mini Cooper, is somewhat small and kind of cute, but this wagon doesn’t handle anywhere near as well as a Mini. The 500L is fairly stable around turns, but it’s far from athletic, and you’ll feel it roll if you take corners too fast. The ride could be better as well, as this Fiat gets jostled around over bumpy roads. The brakes have good stopping power.
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