The supersized Fiat 500X Cross Plus is practically priced and comfortable for short drives. Christopher Pike / The National
The supersized Fiat 500X Cross Plus is practically priced and comfortable for short drives. Christopher Pike / The National

Road test: The 2015 Fiat 500X Cross Plus is worth its salt



It bears as much resemblance to its descendant as the Wright Brothers' 1903 Flyer does to the Space Shuttle. This was my first thought as I came across a well-worn 1960s "cinquecento" barely five minutes after handing back the 500X – Fiat's new supersized variation on its retro-laced small car that launched in 2007.

The newcomer was conceived to enable Fiat to grab a slice of the booming compact-crossover pie, which has been the fastest-growing market segment across the globe over the past decade. And with a keen entry price point of Dh69,900 – spanning to Dh105,000 for the range-topping Cross Plus tested here – Fiat’s debutant seems set to steal a few sales from the likes of the Nissan Juke, as well as some of the more conventional-­looking compact SUVs.

Although the 500X bears some resemblance to the Mini Countryman – as both are derived from modern-day versions of yesteryear-inspired cars – it’s worth noting that the British-German offering is significantly more expensive, and therefore not a direct rival.

The 500X is offered in three broad trim levels with suitably funky names – Popstar, Lounge and Cross Plus – and it’s the last of these that we sampled. Where the first two (which are front-wheel drive) are pitched as urban runabouts, the all-wheel-drive Cross Plus is touted as a more rugged proposition that’s capable of light-duty off-roading.

With ground clearance of 179mm (versus 162mm for its lesser siblings), chunkier bumpers and protective skid plates, it’s fit for attacking small dunes and rutted gravel tracks, but you shouldn’t have any delusions of scaling Big Red in the diminutive Italian.

The Cross Plus packs a 2.4-­litre Tigershark MultiAir II engine, whereas the lesser models make do with a 1.4-litre turbo unit, yet it feels strangely toothless – quite ironic given its “Tigershark” moniker. Its outputs of 180bhp and 237Nm appear respectable enough on paper, yet out in the real world it feels distinctly sluggardly.

You’d think the nine-speed automatic transmission – a first for this market segment – would help extract the best from the motor, but that’s not the case, ­either. Although a thoroughly new-age design, the nine-­speeder seems distinctly dim-witted at times, and is slow to kick down when you want a burst of acceleration.

There are three driving modes – Sport, Auto and All-Weather – but twirling the rotary “Drive Mood Selector” knob doesn’t do a whole lot, other than altering the information displayed on the dial in the three-pod instrument cluster. The transmission is marginally more proactive in Sport mode, but even then performance is hardly electrifying.

It’s a shame the power train is a bit lacklustre because the rest of the car is actually pretty good. For starters, the chassis is surprisingly taut and grippy, and I found myself cracking a small grin on discovering how vigorously the 500X can be pitched into corners. Its tallboy stance doesn’t seem to hinder it in the slightest.

The 500X also rides with agreeable compliancy, and noise levels aren’t by any means intrusive at highway-cruising speeds. What is intrusive, however, is the annoying speed chime (set to 120kph in this case) that refuses to shut up if you exceed the set velocity. Even subsequently slowing down to 115kph doesn’t do the trick, as the chime seems intent on teaching you a lesson for impudently going past the preset limit.

Speed-chime apart, there’s not much to fault from behind the wheel. The cabin is attractively laid out, the leather-clad front seats are comfortable and the switchgear is, on the whole, sensibly positioned. I would rather the analogue speedometer was placed at the centre of the instrument cluster (rather than off to the left), but that’s my only major beef.

Rear-seat occupants are reasonably well catered to as there’s enough head and knee room, but the backrest is awkwardly upright, so it may not be the best place to be on long journeys. If there are no occupants in the back, the split/fold seats can be tucked out of sight, enabling the 350-litre luggage compartment to be extended sufficiently to stash a mountain bike or a trio of golf bags.

The safety arsenal is pretty ­decent, too. Apart from the ­usual raft of six airbags and driver aids, the 500X Cross Plus is also offered with ERM (electronic rollover mitigation), Hill Start Assist, Lane Assist (lane departure warning system), Blind Spot Assist (lane change assistance system), ParkView reversing camera and Rear Cross Path (reversing blind spot warning system).

To be honest, I don’t like the styling of the 500X. Where the standard 500 looks cute and well proportioned, the new cross­over appears fat and bloated – as though it’s scoffed down too many helpings of pasta and pizzas with all the trimmings.

Although it’s clearly lost the visual charm of its smaller sibling, there’s no denying the 500X Cross Plus represents strong value for money – it’s comfortable, practical and well built, while the kit levels and interior trim quality are a sizeable cut above the rest in its segment.

motoring@thenational.ae

German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

THE LIGHT

Director: Tom Tykwer

Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger

Rating: 3/5

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
THE BIO

Favourite author - Paulo Coelho 

Favourite holiday destination - Cuba 

New York Times or Jordan Times? NYT is a school and JT was my practice field

Role model - My Grandfather 

Dream interviewee - Che Guevara

From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

Traces%20of%20Enayat
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Iman%20Mersal%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20And%20Other%20Stories%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPages%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20240%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Vidaamuyarchi

Director: Magizh Thirumeni

Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra

Rating: 4/5

 

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Results

Stage 7:

1. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal - 3:18:29

2. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - same time

3. Phil Bauhaus (GER) Bahrain Victorious

4. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep

5. Cees Bol (NED) Team DSM

General Classification:

1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 24:00:28

2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:35

3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:02

4. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:42

5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETerra%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hussam%20Zammar%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mobility%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Pre-seed%20funding%20of%20%241%20million%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Did you know?

Brunch has been around, is some form or another, for more than a century. The word was first mentioned in print in an 1895 edition of Hunter’s Weekly, after making the rounds among university students in Britain. The article, entitled Brunch: A Plea, argued the case for a later, more sociable weekend meal. “By eliminating the need to get up early on Sunday, brunch would make life brighter for Saturday night carousers. It would promote human happiness in other ways as well,” the piece read. “It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” More than 100 years later, author Guy Beringer’s words still ring true, especially in the UAE, where brunches are often used to mark special, sociable occasions.

UAE squad

Ali Kashief, Salem Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Ali Mabkhout, Omar Abdelrahman, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Mohmmed Al Shamsi, Hamdan Al Kamali, Mohammad Barghash, Khalil Al Hammadi (Al Wahda), Khalid Eisa, Mohammed Shakir, Ahmed Barman, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Adel Al Hosani, Al Hassan Saleh, Majid Suroor (Sharjah), Waleed Abbas, Ismail Al Hammadi, Ahmed Khalil (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai) Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Hassan Al Mahrami (Baniyas)