2018 FIAT 500X

Interior space is sparse in subcompact SUVs, and the 2018 Fiat 500X is no different. Its back seat is small, and there isn't much room under the hatch. This won't matter if you mostly occupy the front seats, where you'll find a decent amount of room and a well-equipped infotainment system. The cabin design is stylish and materials are price appropriate – a mix of hard and soft panels throughout.

• "Unlike its rugged Jeep cousin, the 500X's interior feels as if its designers spent some time among the couture shops of Milan. The layout is stylish and possesses some flair, with body-color panels and whimsical -- though cheap-feeling -- buttons, knobs, and switches." -- Consumer Reports
• "The 500X is a high-water mark for Fiat interiors. The overall look is attractive, and the materials are higher in quality than those found in not only other Fiat cabins but several larger, pricier SUVs as well. Soft-touch surfaces are found on the dash and armrests, and Fiat makes a center console standard in a class where they can be optional. There are still some hard plastics on the dash face and door tops, but that seems appropriate for the price point." -- Edmunds (2017)
• "One of the best attributes of the 2017 500X is its interior: stylish and surprisingly refined, with soft-touch points, and high-quality controls all sensibly arranged." -- Kelley Blue Book (2017)

Seating

Cloth upholstery and six-way manually adjustable front seats are standard in the five-seat 500X. Seating upgrades include leather upholstery, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel.

LATCH hardware for child safety seats consists of two sets of lower anchors and three tether anchors. None of the hardware is easy to use, though. We recommend that caregivers install a car seat during their test drive to make sure this isn't a deal breaker.

For a vehicle of this price and size, the seating inside the 500X is pretty good. A few shortcomings are present, though, including some tight dimensions in the back seat. With few seat adjustments and thick roof pillars, some drivers may have a tough time finding an ideal driving position, make note of this during your test drive.

• "The interior feels roomy, at least for occupants up front. Like many subcompact SUVs, the amount of rear legroom is highly dependent on the positioning of the front seats." -- Edmunds
• "Yes, this is a small vehicle -- no getting past that. The rear seat isn't accommodating, and cargo space is modest, even compared with its subcompact SUV peers." -- Consumer Reports
• "As for interior room, we suspect you'll find it to be generous for the class. The front seat offers a lot of room (though we're a little disappointed with how flat the seats are), while backseat passengers will appreciate more room than you might expect from a subcompact SUV." -- Autotrader (2017)

Interior Features

The 500X's base Uconnect infotainment system consists of a 7-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, two USB ports, and six speakers. A rearview camera, air conditioning, power windows and door locks, remote keyless entry, and heated, power-adjustable side mirrors are also included.

Uplevel trims and packages build on this with options such as a dual-pane sunroof, a navigation system, dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient lighting, a Beats premium audio system with eight speakers, satellite radio, proximity keyless entry, a remote vehicle starter, automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, full-speed forward collision warning with active braking, rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and lane departure warning with lane keep assist.

The Uconnect infotainment system is easier to use than most. Note that while this isn't the same straightforward system you'll find in many other FCA vehicles (such as Jeep and Dodge), the 500X's menu layout is still easy to learn. Its enhanced smartphone integration, a new standard feature for 2018, is a welcome addition.

See 2018 Fiat 500X specs »

• "Although they carry the 'Uconnect,' name, the Fiat systems have a different interface than the benchmark-setting Uconnect 8.4 system found in other Chrysler and Jeep products. While easy enough to use, they don't quite match that larger system's simplicity or intuitiveness." -- Consumer Reports
• "Uconnect is easy to understand and operate and is among the best infotainment systems on the market." -- Edmunds (2017)
• "The 500X's switches and controls all have a good feel and a sensible layout -- we especially liked the user-configurable digital display between the gauges -- and the soft elbow rests on the doors and center console bin all help add to the refined feel." -- Kelley Blue Book (2016)

Cargo

With 12.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat – and 39.8 cubic feet overall – the 500X has one of the smallest cargo areas in the subcompact SUV class. Both the front-passenger seat and the back seat (which has a 60/40 split) can be folded when you want to haul oversized items. All but the base trim have a split-level cargo floor, offering extra storage under the floor panel.

• "The 500X's tiny cargo volume is typical for the segment. Four small but useful bins reside up front with usable cupholders. The sloped roofline requires folding the 60/40-split rear seats to carry bulky items, but the movable floor cover can be lowered for more space." -- Edmunds
• "Cargo space expands quickly thanks to fold-down rear seats, and the flip-forward passenger seat helps this little SUV handle items like a surfboard." -- Kelley Blue Book (2017)
• "In back, cargo room is merely average for the segment, meaning quite small." -- Autotrader