Refreshed 2018 Fiat 500L is Still Pretty Ugly
The Fiat 500L has been refreshed and the Italian automaker says 40 percent of its components are new.
As the largest and roomiest model in Fiat’s lineup, the 500L hasn’t been a great seller in the U.S. In 2014, it managed to move 12,413 units but that figure has decreased since, with only 3,118 units sold last year. The company is hoping the facelifted model will help boost sales, although there’s no confirmation it will make its way to the U.S. As for Europe however, the 2018 Fiat 500L will be offered in three variants: Cross, Wagon and Urban.
The 2018 Fiat 500L Cross is a five-passenger model, while the Wagon offers seating for seven. If the refreshed Fiat 500L does go on sale in the U.S., don’t expect the seven-passenger variant to come. The Cross does feature some off-road-ready bits including a 25mm lift, skid plates, unique front and rear bumpers as well as new wheels and tires.
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The overall design of the Fiat 500L stays intact, but styling has gotten more aggressive for the 2018 model year. Up front, the lower intake and fog light surrounds are wider and contrasted by chrome and black plastic pieces. Lighting has been updated with LED accents, while the rear gets new chrome accents on the bumper, in addition to new reverse and rear fog lights for Europe.
The model will be offered in 10 different colors and a few options for the roof (body color, gloss black or white or matte black). In total, the Italian automaker says there are 37 different color combinations available.
There’s a few changes inside the cabin, with a new steering wheel, updated instrument cluster and infotainment system. It features the latest version of UConnect, which includes standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Look for a confirmation on whether the 2018 Fiat 500L will arrive in the U.S. in the coming weeks – and if so, specifications and variants should be announced then.
Discuss this story on our Fiat Forum
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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So does Fiat have a bar at the dealer in hopes you're motivated to take her home?
I actually like the "unique" styling but there were several deal killers for me: 1. You have to raise the armrest every time you want to use the parking brake, I wanted manual transmission so it's a big deal. 2. The rear seat is raised so high it has compromised head room. 3. The IIHS Small Overlap crash results are horrendous. 4. Most importantly the CR's surveyed reliability came in the worst.