2015 Fiat 500L – All-You-Can-Eat Italian Flavour

The 500L expands the appeal of Fiat’s icon by offering 42 percent more interior space with comfortable seating for five.

Retaining its contemporary Italian design, the 500L also brings good fuel economy along with its whimsical attitude. New for 2015, the Fiat 500L is available with a six-speed automatic transmission.

“The Fiat 500L offers customers the Italian style of the Fiat 500 with more space and functionality to suit their lifestyle. The addition of a new six-speed transmission, which compliments our current powertrain offerings, will continue to fuel the success of the 500L in the American market,” said Jason Stoicevich, Head of FIAT Brand North America – Chrysler Group LLC.

Honouring the original Cinquecento, the modern 500 pairs tight European handling and quick steering with a fuel-efficient turbocharged engine. The 1.4-litre MultiAir Turbo produces 160 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque while returning an estimated EPA fuel economy of 25 mpg combined with the new six-speed automatic transmission.

While not as thrilling a drive as its rival, the MINI Countryman, the 500L’s softer setup smoothes road imperfections and provides a quiet highway ride.

Compared to the base 500, the cabin of the 500L feels massive. Where the 500 has two miniscule rear seats, the 500L has a three-person bench that can accommodate two adults. Legroom is good for this class of car and the seats can recline, slide, flip and fold forward to increase cargo capacity.

The heart of the 500L’s interior is a standard 5.0-inch touchscreen running Chrysler’s Uconnect infotainment system. This system is one of the best in the industry and enables hands-free calling as well as voice control of the stereo and navigation. A 6.5-inch touchscreen is available and a rearview camera is an option for both systems.

The 500L range is designed to accommodate more of life’s experiences. Available in four trim levels, the 500L Trekking differentiates itself as the adventurous option.

Built with the active North American customer in mind, the 500L Trekking has a more rugged look. Flared wheel arches housing larger 17-inch wheels compliment unique front and rear fascias.

What do you think about the 2015 Fiat 500L? Is the extra interior space combined with its traditional Italian style appealing to you?