It’s hard to find significant flaws in most of today’s cars from large, experienced global automakers.
So what should we make of the few cars sold, at least in the US, that don’t quite live up to expectations? One example is Fiat. This storied Italian marque, which relaunched in the US in 2011 after a 27-year absence, is now facing declining sales.
As a lover of most things Italian, especially their cars, I am sad to see this happen.
The first car I bought on arriving in Michigan from the UK nearly three decades ago was a used 1982 Fiat 124 Spider, an alluring green convertible with a tan interior. The folding top didn’t fit very well but its enthusiastic twin-cam engine, five-speed manual box and rear-wheel drive chassis was considerably more fun to drive than most other small cars on the road at the time.
Foolishly I sold the 124 and even though I replaced it with a delectable Jaguar E-Type coupe, to this day I still miss the engaging little Fiat.
One problem for Fiat in the US today is its limited product line, essentially two sub-compact models and a two-seat convertible, the new generation 124 Spider.
The Spider is selling reasonably well, though in a tiny market segment. As for the diminutive Fiat 500, it may be cute but it is simply too small and too slow for most Americans. A few years ago I drove the relatively sporty Abarth version and thought it was entertaining but essentially a rather expensive toy.
Which brings us to the 500L, the larger, four-door version of the 500. On paper, it has had the potential to capitalize on American consumers blooming love affair with small crossovers.
But unfortunately, the 500L is saddled with the same underpowered motor as the basic 500, which means it just can’t compete with class rivals.
My exposure to the 500L came on a recent vacation in southern Italy, where the vehicle was my transport for a trip from coast to coast and points between.
Knowing that I had four adults and their luggage to haul on this expedition, I was initially leery of the 500L. But in the event, the tall-roofed Fiat proved surprisingly spacious and swallowed our party and cargo easily.
Surprise number two was the torquey drivetrain, a 1.6-liter, 118hp diesel, which, unfortunately, is not offered in the US.
Coupled with a five-speed stick shift, the motor was strong enough to propel us at respectable speeds on the autostradas and pull us up and over mountain passes south of Naples.
There’s no way you could call the 500L handling sporty; the vehicle rolls too much and the steering is vague. But once you adapt to its road manners, the 500L’s other virtues shine through.
The Fiat’s roomy and airy cabin makes for a comfortable place in which to cover the miles and watch the scenery pass by. This observation is especially relevant to the 500L’s rear passengers, who benefit from an unusually high seating position, a panoramic sunroof and generous outward visibility, when compared to most other crossovers.
And when it came to negotiating the nerve-wracking traffic and tight streets of Italian towns and villages, not to mention miniscule parking spaces, the 500L’s compact size was a godsend.
The bottom line is that the 500L has considerable merits, some of which are more evident in its native land. But in the US market, its drawbacks are more problematic. If Fiat were to improve the vehicle’s powertrain and handling dynamics, the 500L could perhaps find a bigger slice of America’s much-vaunted crossover market.
