When your company name is FCA or VW Group the reality is you have a wide reach in the market with many different brands under your umbrella. In other words there are a lot of tools in the toolbox that can be used to create something amazing if only you find the right combination. The Fiat 500X is an excellent example of what happens when using some of these tools together. Take the underpinnings of a Jeep Renegade and put a Fiat body on it because, let’s face it, the Renegade isn’t all that much to look at. What happens when you do this; you have a stylish new compact SUV that is a lot of fun to drive to sit at the top of the class and certainly at the top of the Fiat lineup in the US.

FCA could have chosen a couple different models to be the inspiration for the 500X and thankfully they choose right with the 500 and not the 500L. The new 500X offers you the Trekking and Trekking Plus modes to make this a great off road compact SUV, but it also has the space and the look for the road that makes it a head turning Italian vehicle which will have people coming to you with compliments and admiration.

On the inside of this SUV you see the changes that were needed above the 500 model. There are soft surfaces for you to enjoy and a smoothness that is just cool. As an upscale from the smaller models this is a vehicle that will be awesome for you to ride in and gives you plenty of space to enjoy in the cargo area that expands when you flip down the seats and even fold the front seat forward.

At the base model you have the Pop trim which comes in with a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a six-speed manual transmission to have a good powertrain for fun if this is the one you choose. Any move up the lineup brings in the 2.4-liter “Tigershark” four-cylinder engine that is attached to a nine-speed automatic transmission for the Easy and Lounge models. Every model except the Pop can be had with AWD to have a great way to handle foul weather and a few lighter trails, but even at the Trekking Plus level this is not a vehicle that is as capable as the Jeep Renegade in off road situations.

What you will enjoy in the 500X is the added size, the impressive technology that includes satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity and USB inputs. You can also come to love the dual-zone climate controls, the eight-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats and the heated steering wheel. Upgrade your 500X to add a rearview camera, a navigation system, a variety of driver assistant technologies, a dual panel sunroof and the leather upholstery that can be part of the overall enjoyment you have while driving this beautiful SUV.

When driving you will notice this is a vehicle that handles extremely well and performs perfectly on nearly any road. This is not your typical SUV that is prone to rollovers, but one that sits low enough for you to challenge it on any road. With the Italian styling, upgraded interior and Jeep Renegade underpinnings this could be the perfect vehicle for you. The 500X is great as a daily driver or as a car you only take out on the weekends; the choice is yours but I’m confident the more you drive it the more you will love this excellent little SUV from Fiat.