2014 Fiat 500L Trekking Review: A Geography Lesson

Fiat 500L Trekking

The Fiat 500L is an interesting vehicle on many levels. First, it’s a much larger version of the Fiat 500. Like the Mini getting larger, Fiat made the 500 bigger in order to accommodate more people and stuff. Also, like the Mini, it doesn’t look as big as it is until it’s parked next to something to compare it to. In a world where most European vehicles are built in the United States or Mexico for sale in North America, the Fiat 500L comes from a unique place; Kragujevac, Serbia. It’s an interesting fact to go along with such an interesting car. But is it something you should consider for your next family car purchase? Read on.

STATS Starting Retail Price As Tested Price HP / Lb-Ft
2014 Fiat 500L Trekking $21,395 $25,445 160 hp / 184 lb-ft
EPA Rating As Tested MPG
Rating: LEASE IT! 24 mpg city / 33 mpg highway 31.8 mpg

The 500L, especially in the Trekking trim with the white roof and mirror caps really does draw a lot of attention. It’s a big car, but looks small unless you’re next to another vehicle for reference. In bright yellow paint, I assure you this car is impossible to miss. What I like about the exterior is that it looks like a regular Fiat 500 in many ways, and that car’s design makes it very attractive. I like how the 500L looks on the outside.

Fiat 500L Trekking

The 500L, especially in the Trekking trim with the white roof and mirror caps really does draw a lot of attention. It’s a big car, but looks small unless you’re next to another vehicle for reference. In bright yellow paint, I assure you this car is impossible to miss. What I like about the exterior is that it looks like a regular Fiat 500 in many ways, and that car’s design makes it very attractive. I like how the 500L looks on the outside.

Inside, my review unit had brown seats. While brown seats are definitely part of the Italian charm, I’m not sure if I’d get them myself. There’s nothing wrong with, it’s just not my cup of tea. The seats are fabric and a bit stiff. I prefer them this way because they feel like they’d hold up from abuse for a long time. There is ample room for four people to ride comfortably. As with many small-ish cars, the middle seat in the back would be cramped for a lot of people.

The 500L is powered by a 1.4L turbocharged engine (pretty much lifted straight from the 500 Abarth), making 160 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. This power was sent to the front wheels through a 6-speed, dual-clutch, automated manual transmission. The automatic in this car really spoils an otherwise good driving experience. It’s slow to shift, it’s a bit cumbersome at low speeds, and it’s just not smooth. A manual transmission or a traditional automatic transmission would be much better for this vehicle. If there was a traditional automatic (like in regular 500s) it’d get a Buy It recommendation instead of a Lease It.

Fiat 500L Trekking

The 500L Trekking is a 5-door hatchback with loads of interior space and cargo room. The rear seats fold down as well to provide even more room. Some things are very well thought out too. All the windows have express up and down functionality. There is a little spotter mirror below the rear-view mirror inside the car to keep an eye on second row passengers without having to adjust the main rearview mirror. I always like the hatchback design on smaller cars, because you never know when you’ll need to haul something big.

The Mini Paceman and Countryman would be some of this car’s competition. Where the Fiat 500L Trekking really shines is the price; it’s $25,445 as tested and includes navigation, dual zone climate control, and Beats Audio. The Countryman starts at $22,750 before any options are added.

The EPA rates the Fiat 500L Trekking at 24 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, or 27 mpg combined. During testing, I observed 31.8 mpg. That was combined city and highway driving.

The Fiat 500L Trekking starts at a very reasonable $21,395. My test vehicle had the Customer Preferred Package 22G that included Beats Audio with satellite radio, dual zone climate control, and more. Fiat also included the Premier Package (a $1,745 option) for free. That added the rearview camera, parking sensors, and a 6.5″ Uconnect screen.

Overall, I did enjoy driving this Serbia-Italian people mover. It has a quirky charm that other vehicles just don’t have. On the back roads, it also drives pretty well. I just wish it had a traditional automatic (or a manual) instead of the dual-clutch setup. That’s why I’m recommending you lease one if you’re in the market. There’s always a chance that transmission options will change in the future.

Chad Kirchner

Chad Kirchner is a freelance automotive journalist that can be reached at Google+Twitter, and his website.