The 2019 Fiat 500X Is Nearly Here, With A New Face And Tiny Turbo Engine [News]

The new Fiat 500X sees a substantial price hike from the old model

2019 Fiat 500X. [Photo: FCA]

The new 2019 Fiat 500X will arrive in the spring of 2019.

After launching in Europe earlier this year, Fiat’s updated 500X crossover will soon head to U.S. showrooms. Before that, it will make an appearance at the 2018 LA Auto Show later this week. It may not look drastically different from the previous model, but there are a few changes from the previous version.

Up front, the 2019 Fiat 500X sports a new front fascia with LED daytime running lights. Full-LED headlights are available as an option, as well. They not only look better than the previous model, they’re 20 percent brighter than the bi-xenon lamps in the 2018 500X. Around the back, Fiat updated also updated the rear fascia to match the new front end. The 2019 Fiat 500X is available in three new colors: Italia Blue, Vibrante Green and Milano Ivory.

2019 Fiat 500X
The 2019 Fiat 500X is only available with a nine-speed automatic transmission. [Photo: FCA]
On the inside, Fiat updated the 500X’s interior with new fabrics and a new instrument cluster. The 3.5-inch TFT display is sharper than before, while a 7.0-inch Uconnect4 infotainment display supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Only an automatic transmission from here on out

Unlike the previous model, don’t strain your eyes too hard looking through the specs for a manual transmission. The headline of the new 2019 Fiat 500X is its 1.3-liter turbocharged engine. While it’s mated to a standard all-wheel drive system and makes 177 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque, it’s only available with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Since the front-wheel drive model is going away, so too is the ability to row your own gears.

The new Fiat 500X is available in Pop, Trekking and Trekking Plus trim levels. Prices start from $25,785 for the 500X Pop, including destination. That is nearly $2,000 more than the 2018 Fiat 500X Pop. If you’re looking at a top-end Trekking Plus, prices start from $30,490, while the mid-range Trekking kicks off at $27,290. The 2019 Fiat 500X will be available in showrooms next spring, after its LA debut.