Overview & Reviews

For an automaker to sell a lot of cars in the United States, it typically needs to offer a vehicle with four doors. So the Italian automaker Fiat made sure its four-door 500L was ready for prime time as soon as Americans began to take a shine to its tiny 500 hatchback. The idea behind the Fiat 500L is simple. It's a tall hatchback/wagon that's far more suitable for family use than the regular 500, while retaining the smaller car's shapeliness and Italian charm. Of course, Fiat offers the 500L in a wide variety of flavors and color combinations, so it's easy to personalize to your liking.

No matter how much the 500L may make sense on paper, however, in practice it has disappointed our editors with its unresponsive transmission, busy ride, unrefined suspension tuning, subpar interior quality and a lack of versatility that can't be detected simply by looking at a spec sheet.

Current Fiat 500L
The Fiat 500L is a small wagon/tall hatchback that debuted for the 2014 model year. All Fiat 500L models are front-wheel drive and have a turbocharged, 1.4-liter four–cylinder engine rated at 160 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. You can choose either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automated manual transmission that basically functions like an automatic transmission. All-wheel drive currently isn't available for the Fiat 500L.

The 500L is offered in four trim levels: Pop, Easy, Trekking and Lounge. Standard features on the Pop include keyless entry, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity and a six-speaker CD stereo. The Easy trim adds features like alloy wheels, upgraded seat fabric and an upgraded stereo. The Trekking gets unique front and rear body panels, two-tone interior trim and premium cloth upholstery, while the top-of-the-line Lounge gets amenities like leather upholstery, heated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control. The automated manual transmission is standard on the top-of-the-line Lounge, while the other trims are available with either transmission.

In reviews, we found the 500L to be softer and less nimble than the standard 500 on the road. Ride quality can get a bit busy on uneven road surfaces and its upright stance and large side mirrors combine to create lots of wind noise within the cabin. With the automated manual transmission, the car can be slow to respond when accelerating from a traffic light or merging onto a freeway. On the plus side, steering is precise and the 500L navigates turns with confidence.

Designed to be more family-friendly than the regular 500 two-door coupe and convertible, the L is 27 inches longer and 6 inches wider and taller than its sibling. This opens up considerably more headroom for taller drivers, while the extra hip- and shoulder room in the backseat makes it a more viable option if you've got kids. It's still a bit too compact to seat three adults in back. The 500L's maximum cargo capacity of 68 cubic feet rivals that of larger compact crossovers, and its 21.3 cubic feet with the seats raised is similarly segment-leading. However, real-world utility is hampered by a high cargo lift-over height and rear-seat backrests that don't fold totally flat.

There's plenty of style inside the Fiat 500L. It looks distinct from the regular 500 thanks to its revised dash, instrumentation and steering wheel. This wagon features the latest version of Chrysler's Uconnect technology, which provides enhanced functionality for smartphones via the car's Bluetooth connection. You can wirelessly stream music from your mobile device, and the system offers text-to-speech capability for SMS messages sent to MAP-enabled phones. A six-speaker Beats by Dr. Dre sound system is also available, as is a dual-pane sunroof (though it significantly reduces headroom). There's a large assortment of interior and exterior color combinations, too, and you can opt for cloth or leather upholstery.

User Reviews:

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  Best Decision I Ever Made - 2014 Fiat 500L
  By basso1 - February 4 - 8:48 pm

  I absolutely love this car. The interior space is incredible for a car this size! Its fun to drive, fine on the highway and very well equipped. I went from a Volvo XC90 to this seeking better gas mileage and got it, averaging about 28 mpg combined city/hwy. I read up on the dual auto clutch from the information Fiat provided and have no complaints. A well equipped car that is reliable and performs. I also purchased the lifetime extended warranty for $2,500 although I read you could get it as low as $2,295.

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  Worst mistake of my life - 2014 Fiat 500L
  By darthmoll21 - January 12 - 9:52 pm

  I traded in a reliable Rav4 for this piece of crap. For the first few months, the car worked well, aside from a few recall issues. After Id had it for 6 months, the problems really started to surface. The check engine light kept coming on and I was taking the car to the shop nearly every other week. The transmission completely locked up at one point and I had to turn the car on and off several times before it unlocked. The transmission also began to jerk much more (yes its quirky but this is NOT a feature) while accelerating and decelerating, making stop and go traffic particularly dangerous. Im currently pursuing lemon law on this car so I can get rid of it!

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  On our 2nd 500L and my 5th FIAT total - 2014 Fiat 500L
  By roiscuba - October 19 - 9:03 pm

  This has got to be one of the most underrated cars on the market today. When you strip away the funky exterior (to American tastes) its a great car, especially in a market segment that has essentially been abandoned. We bought our 1st 500L (Trekking w/manual trans) back in February. Loved the car. Only had minor annoyances (armrest and hand brake operation) that we would have found in any car. Loved it for day to day driving, loved it on the freeway. Used it to haul our 2 Great Danes around with us. When my wife wrecked the car and the insurance company totaled it, we immediately went to another 500L (fully loaded Lounge) without hesitation, because my wife was not hurt at all.

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  sorry that some people are having use or dealer problems - 2014 Fiat 500L
  By marbitman - October 2 - 12:15 am

  I bought a 500L Easy with automated manual transmission from Fiat of Austin in October, 2013. When my wife wanted to purchase the Blue Chiaro color, and the dealer did not have it in stock, or on order, Lisa C., the manager, immediately got on the case, searched the orders coming into the US, and swapped inventory with a regional dealer, getting the color that we wanted. Delivery was smooth, and we (the car and I) got acquainted. This car is beautifully styled, in and out, is well built, and behaves normally in most unextreme conditions. It is not perfect....I find the brakes to be a bit "touchy", but they perform well. I find the transmission quirky, but it performs well.

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  Surprised at how much I like this car - 2014 Fiat 500L
  By clj1959 - August 31 - 10:19 am

  I downsized to a 500L Easy with a sunroof and automatic from a VW Tiguan. At first I thought "what have I done?" but after a couple of months, and now that Im accustomed to the quirky transmission, I totally love this car. Its very peppy and incredibly easy to maneuver. I have a 25 mile freeway commute and the 500L handles it with aplomb, and the excellent visibility is a big plus when changing lanes. Another big plus is how unique it is. Im very happy.

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  Owned lots of cars- this is one of the best - 2014 Fiat 500L
  By randall118 - July 21 - 7:31 pm

  Ive owned about 20 cars and trucks in my life and the 500L Trekking is one of the nicest vehicles I have owned. Nice design. comfortable, smooth ride. Fantastic pick up with the 6 spd. Trekking trim is really great. plenty of storage. The front side windshield windows make for great visibility. The only cons are the armrest is in the way of the hand brake. But it does fold up out of the way. And the driver side wiper does not lift up for easy window cleaning and snow clearing. You have to get the wipers in the "up" position and turn off the car so the wiper stays "up". Then you can lift it up off the window. Thats an oddity.

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  Great car with Trekking collection 5 - 2014 Fiat 500L
  By kuk1 - June 28 - 5:14 pm

  Have been driving it for a week now Pros: Excellent visibility 360° Great engine with turbo Awesome seats and tech features. Cons: None yet Wish: The headlights turned on when doors unlock

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  Its been a Great Car! - 2014 Fiat 500L
  By steelg - April 18 - 2:16 pm

  I ve had the car since November of 2013. Its a Trekking with the 6 speed auto. I love the trans as it reacts like a manual without the fuss. Ive had the computer flash done, but other than that no issues. I love the car. Ive read all the complaints that other customers have been having and they have not arrived with my purchase.

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  11k miles and counting - 2014 Fiat 500L
  By fazzster - April 2 - 10:27 am

  Our L family hauler just turned 11k miles. The dual clutch transmission has performed flawlessly despite the recall for the reflash. The winter here in New England has been extremely cold yet we have none of the cold start issues some owners have reported. Warmer spring weather has brought 32-37mpg around town driving. The roads around here are very beat up yet the L remains solid and rattle free. Our family of 5 fits great and any extra luggage goes on the roof. The L is a great buy. Dont let the negative reviews turn you off. Though many are certainly legit, just keep in mind many people abuse their machines and are often the ones who cry the loudest.

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  Glad I Waited for Six Months to Review - 2014 Fiat 500L
  By scrappy60 - March 28 - 8:33 pm

  I bought a Fiat 500L Trekking in September 2013. To be honest, it took me quite awhile to get used to its rather quirky transmission -- and I have a manual!! The issue was the six gears and the need for a quick shift between first and second. But now that I have gotten used to how and when to shift, I am very happy with my purchase. This vehicle has all the features of the pricier Honda CRV at about 5K less -- and it looks better and handles better on the road. Last month I took it on a 800 miles road trip and it was so enjoyable to drive. The gas mileage is also far better than I expected -- I am getting over 29 miles per gallon (combined highway/city).