92: Fiat 500X – Little-loved Italian deserves a bit more family love

One senior Fiat manager has previously confided to us that the 500X might just be the best-kept secret in the Irish car market. Selling strongly across Europe, the crossover Fiat has made barely a dent on the consciousness of Irish car buyers.

We just seem to have built up a resistance to the Fiat brand in our heads, afloat on a tide of long-held tales of rust and unreliability that don’t really stand up to scrutiny anymore.

Certainly, the 500X deserves a little more attention. It suffers from the usual small SUV issues of a too-small boot for the price tag, but it’s enjoyable to drive, has some peppy engine options, and has a very pleasant and well-made cabin. Pick a few choice options and you’d even describe it as classy. It’s very well-priced too.

Best model: Cross 1.4 MultiAir