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2018 Fiat 500 L Trekking: spaciousness, personality, price

Published 1:30 am Friday, January 11, 2019

2018 Fiat 500 L Trekking: spaciousness, personality, price
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2018 Fiat 500 L Trekking: spaciousness, personality, price
2018 Fiat 500 L Trekking: spaciousness, personality, price
2018 Fiat 500 L Trekking: spaciousness, personality, price

Fiat’s 2018 500 L Trekking is a bestseller in Europe, winning sales with its spaciousness, personality and price.

Here in the U.S. — not so much. In fact, you’re probably still trying to conjure an image of the 500 L in your mind’s eye. It’s really a tall wagon; some would call it a four-door hatchback.

Think MINI Cooper Countryman, only not as nice — but at half the price!

The Italian company, which owns Chrysler, manufactures the 500 L in Serbia.

Fiat offers the 500 L in three trim levels: base Pop, mid-level, rugged-look Trekking, and high-end Lounge. Mine came with a Blue Denim exterior coat of paint, Snow White roof and Carrera Gray interior. Flared wheel wells wrap around 17-inch wheels.

It seats four adults, with a surprising amount of head and legroom, even for rear passengers. Open the rear hatch to reveal a decent amount of cargo space, is more available with the rear seats folded flat. Fiat 500 L also achieves a more than decent 30 miles per gallon down the highway, as rated by the EPA.

The front-wheel drive 500 L is powered by a 1.4-liter, 14 MultiAir turbo engine mated to a six-speed automatic engine. It’s less than powerful (160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque), but delivers enough oomph to get the job done.

Interior features are plentiful — especially at the price. Highlights included navigation, rear-view camera, heated front seats, Apple CarPlay, USB port, Bluetooth, ambient lighting and a premium Beats sound system that delivered 520-watts and belted out the XM Oldies songs in all their glory.

My tester came with two options: Dual-zone climate control, auto-dimming rearview mirror, power two-way lumbar adjust and ParkSense rear park-assist system ($795) and the white roof ($345).

New for this model year are updated wheels, body side moldings, and a digital instrument cluster. Fiat has moved the central console along with revising the gearshift and parking brake levers. The steering wheel is also updated, including auxiliary controls.

The 500 L benefits from a lengthy list of safety features including remote keyless entry, four-wheel anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, cruise control, hill-start assist, advanced, multi-stage airbags, tire-pressure monitoring system, rear window wiper and security alarm.

Mopar offers a collection of 92 accessories created to enhance the versatility of the car, optimize its functional and loading capabilities, which are already at the top of its category, address the need for safety and protection of families with children and provide solutions for customizing the looks and details of the new 500L.

All things considered, the Fiat 500 L provides good value for the money. And you’ll not blend in with the rest of the crowd!

Base Price: $24,570

Price As Driven: $25,710

Base price includes destination charge. Vehicles are provided by the manufacturer. List price may vary at local dealerships.