You Can't Buy the Best Fiat 500s in the U.S. Anymore
The Fiat 500 is an icon of the automotive industry, but it failed to catch on in the U.S. Now that the little car isn’t available here, what are we missing out on?
500 has been a small car—meaning really small. But bringing the car to the U.S. hasn’t worked out so well.
U.S. sales for the whole brand have failed to cross the 50,000-unit threshold. The automaker has stayed the course, offering many versions of the 500 as well as the 124 Spider sports coupe, but to no avail.
Now it seems Fiat finally learned its lesson. For the 2022 model year, the company is only selling one 500 in the U.S., the 500X, an SUV with only cosmetic trim and package options.
took a quick look at what’s available elsewhere to see what we’re missing out on.
2022 Fiat 500s you can’t get in the U.S.
Fiat banked on nostalgia when it revived the nameplate in 2007. For Europe, the resurgence was a big success. In the U.S., not so much. The company did their best to make a go of it here, but essentially pulled the plug on the little car here for the 2020 model year.
But in Europe, the 500 lives on. Besides the 500X and the classic car model, Fiat offers the 500L which is very similar to the 500X but sits slightly lower and doesn’t come with a turbocharger.
Europeans can also get their hands on models from Fiat’s high-performance badge, Abarth. All the Abarth models take the 500 body and add class, power, and improved suspension and exhaust components.
MORE: Fiat Ranked Last in the Consumer Reports List of Top Brands
The last Fiat left in North America is a subcompact crossover—emphasis on subcompact. Built on its cousin the Jeep Renegade’s structure (Fiat and Jeep are both owned by Stellantis), it comes with a turbocharged 3.1-liter engine that can offer 177 horsepower.
says it lacks the composure and spunk of its rivals like the Hyundai Kona and the Mazda CX-30. Inside, you’ll find tight quarters and cheap materials—even if they look good.
Basically, the Fiat 500X is a classic example of all style and no substance. With other automakers offering more class and power, it’s hard to find a reason to buy one. Even its fuel economy, a mild 24 mpg average, doesn’t impress for a vehicle this size.
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MORE:How to Rent or Lease a Car in Europe
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