Fiat 500L - TopCarNews

Fiat 500L (2013 – present) | Expert Rating [hide]

Summary

The Fiat 500L is a small MPV/estate car that has been around early 2013. Despite the ‘500’ in its name and styling cues borrowed from the smaller Fiat 500, the 500L is actually based on the old Fiat Punto and shares very few components with the 500 – a bit like how the Mini Countryman is an entirely different car to the Mini hatch.

Having been around for the more than eight years now, the 500L has been facelifted (back in 2017), had engine changes, trim changes and price changes, and seen most of its rivals in the small MPV market disappear altogether (Ford B-Max, Vauxhall Meriva) or morph into baby SUVs (Peugeot 2008, Citroën C3 Aircross). But the 500L soldiers on for now, although its diesel engines have disappeared along the way due to falling sales.

The Fiat 500L has had mixed reviews from the UK media throughout its life. It has been rated highly for being distinctively different from anything else remotely close to its price tag, although the styling has been quite divisive. It certainly lacks the cuteness of the smaller 500, although it trades that cuteness for much more interior space and practicality.

As of December 2021, the Fiat 500L has an Expert Rating of 46%, based on 34 reviews collected from the UK media.

Key specifications

Body style: Small MPVEngines: petrol
Price: From £18,045 on-road

Launched: Winter 2012/13Last updated: Autumn 2018
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Auto Express

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“The Fiat 500L is a decent attempt at providing practical family transport for buyers who don’t need a large MPV, but have outgrown a conventional supermini. The tall body shape means there’s good head and legroom all-round, plus a sizeable boot.”
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Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“The Fiat 500L is one of the cheapest compact MPVs you can buy, although it doesn’t have much in the way of direct competition. Get a good deal on the list price and it gives you a fair amount of versatility for the money, if not the last word in tech or street cred.”
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Autocar

Model reviewed: Trekking rangeScore: 6 / 10“The Fiat 500L Trekking’s lack of four-wheel drive won’t matter to most, especially with electronic traction trickery and 4×4-grade tyres on its side. There’s no nippy engine available and it’s not the nimblest of drives, but again, these aren’t especially pertinent points for most buyers.”
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Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 7 / 10“Bigger take on 500 recipe forsakes some style for much more practicality, but loses some charm in the process.”
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Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel manual LoungeScore: 7 / 10“The 500L’s facelift hasn’t addressed its dynamic shortcomings, but the interior is a big step forwards and it still has that retro-influenced charm, so if it gets an attractive price this Fiat 500L could make more of an impact in the UK.”
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Business Car

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel manual UrbanScore: 6 / 10“Overall, the 500L’s refresh was needed and has resulted in the car looking and feeling more like a competitor in its own segment. However, with such stiff competition and less-than-impressive residual values, leading to high whole-life costs, the Fiat 500L still has a battle on its hands.”
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Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel manual CrossScore: 7 / 10“Fans will agree that the Fiat 500L aims to combine all the style and excitement of the Fiat 500 with the spaciousness and functionality of an MPV. Some of the excitement was always going to be lost with the upsizing, especially with it offering so little in terms of improvements and changes.”
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Car

Model reviewed: 1.4-litre petrol manual 500L UrbanScore: 6 / 10“The Fiat 500L Urban is an oddly-styled yet ultimately competent crossover which fits in seamlessly with the current crop of bite-sized family SUVs.”
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Car Keys

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 5 / 10“If you’re looking for a quirky-looking MPV that is very practical, the Fiat 500L makes sense, particularly when you consider how cramped some similarly priced crossovers are.”
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Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel manual trekking Beats EditionScore: 7 / 10“For us, there is more to dislike than love about the Fiat 500L. On the positive side, it is practical and the diesel engines are impressive in terms of efficiency. However, that design is a step too far, losing some of the 500 charm on which it is based.”
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Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“If you’re after a spacious and characterful family car that stands out from the crowd, look no further than the Fiat 500L.”
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Carwow

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 4 / 10“As you might have gathered from the name and its appearance, the Fiat 500L is a Fiat 500, but larger.”
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Company Car Today

Model reviewed: 1.3-litre petrol manual Urban Lounge“The FIat 500L is a well-equipped supermini-MPV with efficient engines, good standard kit and a decent-sized boot.”
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Daily Mail

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel manual TrekkingScore: 8 / 10“The Fiat 500L is the 500’s fatter, uglier sibling, but none of this matters. It’s all about what’s going on inside.” (Chris Evans)
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Daily Mirror

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel manual Trekking“Buy a Fiat 500L Trekking instead of a normal 500 and you’re swapping cute looks for practicality. Personally, I’d still rather make my friends leave their luggage behind and squeeze into the back of the cute but cramped standard 500.”
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Eurekar

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel manual Cross“The big advantage of the Fiat 500L over its smaller 500 sibling is that it’s a very practical and versatile family car. The cabin is huge, offering an abundance of head and leg room for all five occupants, with great visibility all round. There are even fold-down picnic tables in the rear.”
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Model reviewed: 1.4-litre petrol manual Cross“The conclusion is the Fiat 500L is ideal for families who have outgrown the supermini sector but don’t want the full monty SUV experience.”
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Model reviewed: 1.4-litre petrol manual Cros“The Fiat 500L offers excellent all-round visibility, thanks to the narrow twin windscreen pillars rather than one thick one and the elevated seat position, thanks to the high roof. On the road, it feels solid and well planted – even on tight bends – and the cabin is pleasantly quiet.”
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Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel manual Cross“My own average fuel return of 52.4mpg, completed over mixed urban, rural and major roads, was impressive in the circumstances. That was in a car that’s enjoyable to drive with good all-round visibility and a comfortable ride – and certainly stands out from the crowd.”
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Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel manual Beats Edition“There’s no argument that the Fiat 500L is a winner in the interior room stakes; with stretching space in the back for a couple of big men (three at a slight pinch) and a huge boot. You can rob some legroom and slide the rear bench forward to make the loadspace larger still.”
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Fleetworld

Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel manual Trekking“It’s pretty hard to argue with this car’s ability to offer the best bits of a small MPV and a B-segment crossover in an economical package. Aside, of course, from the divisive 500L’s basic styling.”
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Model reviewed: Beats Edition range“If you’re not too fussed about your in-car entertainment system, then your money would be better spent opting for the Fiat 500L Trekking with the 118bhp MultiJet engine.”
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Heycar

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 5 / 10“There’s no doubt that the 500L fills a gap in Fiat’s line-up and gives buyers something that they’ve been crying out for: a Fiat 500 that’s fit for family life. If you can live with the looks, then this is a good value family car.”
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Honest John

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“Design flourishes aside, this is fairly standard small MPV stuff – where standard means ‘nothing special’. The cabin comprises mainly hard and cheap-feeling plastics and where rivals have big car ambience, the Fiat 500L tends to feel like a bulked-up cut-price runabout.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview“The 500L fills a gap in Fiat’s line-up and gives buyers something that they’ve been crying out for: a Fiat 500 that’s fit for family life. It may look pricey, but ultimately the 500L offers a kind of cachet. If you’re willing to pay for the Fiat 500 feel-good factor, then this is the car for you.”
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Motors.co.uk

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“Don’t expect the Fiat 500L to handle like a sports car – it’s not particularly a hoot to drive. There’s not much feel from the steering and there’s not much feedback from the front tyres. However, it’s not terrible – especially considering the driving experience isn’t the model’s main focus.”
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Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“Flexible, practical and lacking the charm of its smaller brother.”
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The Sun

Model reviewed: Range overview“There’s nothing wrong with the Fiat 500L as a car and it delivers the space to make it a genuine family-friendly five-seater. It rides and drives OK, but it’s lost the fun factor of the 500 to become a pretty boring family runabout.”
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Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel manual Beats Edition“Admittedly turned up to 11 in the funky styling and block-rocking Beats Audio department, the Fiat 500L still slightly lacks the Mini Countryman’s aesthetic appeal.”
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The Sunday Times

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“Fiat tries to make the family car funky.”
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The Telegraph

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“The Fiat 500L is a spacious family hatchback that’s easy to slot into gaps around town. But if you don’t mind owning something that’s less quirky to look at, there are plenty of alternatives which are just as practical, more enjoyable to drive and better value for money.”
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Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 7 / 10“It’s certainly different. It’s also very practical, with enough charm to appeal.”
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What Car?

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“A decent small MPV let down by a noisy diesel.”
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Which?

Model reviewed: Range overview“The Fiat 500L offers lots of room for passengers and luggage – but not a lot of performance, cornering ability or comfort.”
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Safety rating

No safety rating

The Fiat 500L was crash tested by Euro NCAP way back in 2012 and achieved a five-star rating. However, this rating expired in January 2019 and is no longer valid.

Euro NCAP’s crash testing standards are raised almost every year, and ratings will expire when a vehicle no longer meets the latest standards for that rating. Sometimes a vehicle will be re-tested against the newer standards and awarded a new (usually lower) rating, but this has not happened in the case of the Fiat 500L.

Eco rating

No eco rating

The Fiat 500L has not been lab tested by Green NCAP. This is a new initiative, launched in 2018 as a sister organisation to Euro NCAP, and only a few cars have do far been assessed.

The 500L is now an old car so it is likely that it will never be tested by Green NCAP. If it does ever happen, we’ll update this page with the results.

Similar cars

If you’re looking at the Fiat 500L, you might also be interested in these alternatives

The Fiat 500L doesn’t have many direct rivals, as most small MPV-style vehicles like the Ford B-Max, Vauxhall Meriva and Citroën C3 Picasso have disappeared from the marketplace in recent years. Most of the above are a similar sort of vehicle, although with quite a wide range of prices and specifications.

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