2016 Fiat 500X Lounge FWD

The 2016 Fiat 500X Lounge FWD is one of GAYOT's Top 10 Value Cars

Following the successful path of the Mini brand, Fiat has thrown its hat into the small crossover market with the 500X. Based off a global Fiat-Chrysler platform that also underpins the Jeep Renegade, the Italian brand's latest offering is compact but relatively spacious.

The Fiat 500X works well as a practical yet stylish form of basic transportation. It lacks the awkwardness of the 500L, a bloated version of the company's subcompact 500 model. However, there's still a lot of room for further development. For instance, despite advertisements showing the 500X coming as a result of a regular Fiat 500 taking Viagra, there isn't much "performance enhancement" in the crossover's 2.4-liter inline-4 and 9-speed automatic transmission. Acceleration is mid-pack for the small crossover class, and cornering isn't as agile as we hoped. Maybe a forthcoming "Abarth" version of the Fiat 500X will set matters right.

Our pearl white (almost pink) tester with black interior delivered good fun in a city environment. There are three driving settings to choose from on a knob next to the gear lever — we found sport mode to be the most enjoyable. You may opt for the all-wheel-drive version for $1,900 more, or customize your car with a suite of premium Mopar accessories.