New Fiat 500L: fatter Fiat 500 sibling gets nip/tuck

Published: 22 May 2017

► New Fiat 500L revealed
► Urban, Cross and Wagon versions
► Small facelift and updates

It’s facelift o’clock for Fiat’s crossover! The new 2017 Fiat 500L has been revealed and those who like a good game of Spot the Difference will be in luck.

Fiat claims that 40% of the 500L’s components are new and three different versions will go on sale later this year: Urban, Cross and Wagon.

The 500L still looks like a 500 that’s eaten one too many pies and features the city car’s halo-ring daytime running lights and ‘moustache-with-grille’ face.

What’s the difference between the 500L’s versions?

The Urban ‘epitomises stylish metropolitan motoring’, apparently, and looks the most like what we consider to be a regular 500L. There’s the usual chunky body styling, big alloy wheels and lots of chrome. 

Fiat 500L Urban 2017 front tracking

Cross variants are the rough-and-ready 500L models, so there’s chunkier body cladding on the bumpers and a face reminiscent of a boxer with a mouth guard in. There’s a slightly raised ride height and the Cross model comes with diamond-cut 17-inch alloy wheels.

Then there’s the Wagon, which has more junk in its trunk than Beyonce dancing to Single Ladies. It’s available as a five- or seven-seat car and is 100mm longer than the Cross version to account for the extra space. 

Fiat 500L engines

  • 0.9-litre TwinAir 104bhp petrol
  • 1.4-litre 94bhp petrol
  • 1.4-litre T-Jet 118bhp petrol
  • 1.3-litre MultiJet 94bhp diesel
  • 1.6-litre MultiJet 118bhp diesel

Fiat 500L Wagon 2017 rear tracking

What’s new about the Fiat 500L?

Fiat’s Uconnect infotainment system has had a thorough going over and is now available with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and you can upgrade the infotainment to include Beats Audio speakers.

Fiat 500L 2017 Apple CarPlay

There’s a whole host of customisation packs which alter the style of your 500L, plus a huge swathe of Mopar accessories including bike raks, surf board racks and protective bumpers.

Check out all of our Fiat reviews

By Jake Groves

CAR's deputy news editor, gamer, serial Lego-ist, lover of hot hatches

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