"A Fiat is a good car" is what I have heard for years yet never really believed until I bought a new Fiat Panda diesel followed by another and then in September 2014 a 500L 1.6 multijet.
I can truthfully say they have been the best of the many cars I have owned over the years.

It's change time again and I'm looking at a 500X City look 1.6 multijet lounge.
I have had a sit in one but the one thing that is concerning me is the lack of rear visibility compared with the 500L which is good.
Parking sensors are fitted, of course, but these are only meant to be an aid.

Have any of you changed from a 500L to a 500X and can you relate your experiences of the differences, advantages or disadvantages between the two cars, please?

Thank you

I've not changed from a 500L to a 500X. I went from Croma 2005 to 500X.

In the 500X I have no issues with the rear visibility but I do have issues with the front visibility and find it difficult to determine front clearance. This is due to the bulbous bonnet that then rapidly drops away out of view and then the bumper clearance.

With the 500X the rear parking sensors are pretty good and give you a decent 9 to 12 inches of solid tome warning.

Hi I went from the 500L 1.6 diesel to the 500X 2L diesel.
I don't have an issue with rear view. Or the forward view as the 500L is similar up front.
I do miss the versatile layout of the 500L in the rear. As the rear seats were moveable back and forth. Also much more leg room in the back. As well as boot space.
However the 500X is far more stable, doesn't foll as much in corners or roundabouts. The seats in the 500X are far more supportive also.
With regards fuel consumption my 500L was manual the 500X i have now is automatic and they both give the same mpg.
Hope this helps a little.
Ed

Thank you for your replies gentlemen.
The more the better.

The 500L Easy 1.6 diesel I bought in September 2014 was one of the hundreds then for sale as pre registered at a big saving on list. It also had some optional extras - 17" alloy wheels, front fog lamps, genuine Fiat rubber floor mats and metallic Opera Red paint.

Now, in October/November 2016 there are similarly hundreds of pre registered or tiny mileage 500Xs around but they are in the most part Cross or Cross Plus and I prefer the "City" look version of which there are very few for sale in "Lounge" specification.

There are virtually no 500L 1.6 diesel "Lounge" versions for sale anywhere.
Most nearly new 500Ls are 1.3 multijets, many dual logic automatics or Twin Air in "Pop Star" specification which I don't want.
I would buy another 500L 1.6 diesel Lounge tomorrow if I could find one which has NOT been an ex rental or short term lease car.

This is why I am considering a 500X as an alternative.

I have just bought a 3000 mile old Fiat 500X 1.6 diesel Cross in place of the 500L so I can post an answer to my own question.
I'm not sure if I've made the right move to be honest.

The pluses are more positive steering, better cornering, more power - 105bhp to 120bhp and really that's it.

The minuses are a harder ride, less visibility, less interior space, smaller boot,
over complex electronics, the horrid electronic handbrake and add insult to injury I whacked my head heavily against the roof on a hurried entrance into the vehicle two days after buying it.
I have yet to see an average 52 mpg which I what I regularly achieved in the 500L. 46 - 48 mpg appears the norm in the "X".

The Fiat 500X has many admirers.

I'm going back to a Fiat 500L as soon as I can find a 1.6 diesel Lounge with less than 3k on the odometer.
I may have to wait a while.

Hi EliG sorry to hear about your head, I haven't done that yet (I'm sure I will) Not sure what you were expecting based on the comments and other posts though?. Harsher ride = better cornering, the visibility isn't great but easy to adjust to and it was always going to have less space and a smaller boot (annoys me a bit as well as I cant get the push chair in it, solution, change push chair shortly). The electrics are fine once you get used to them (when I find them all) as I came from a 1992 Rover to this lol. The handbrake can be set to auto on and off which makes a huge difference and this turns out to be quite a good thing once you realise how it works. MPG of 52 in this is unlikely if you drive like I do, that's what the sport button is for lol. If you have any questions I can help with to make the driving experience better let me know

Hi EliG we had a realy good look into buying a 500x and had a test drive in a lovely blue 500x cross plus and came to the same conclusions as you.We ended up buying a 500l lounge mpw it was pre reg , there are still a few on autotrader.We did not need a mpw but they are less scarce and tend to have to 120 diesel engine opening sunroof as well.I still eye a 500x when I see one but for us function has to come before style any how our cars style has grown on us!.

Numptey said:

If you have any questions I can help with to make the driving experience better let me know

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I don't adhere to the "if all else fails read the handbook" dictum.

I may well take you up on your kind offer.

Please do ask, the more I drive it the more I realise what a good car it is. I haven't read the handbook either, that's what my teenage child is for. He just knows stuff lol

Well, ladies and gentlemen, I can tell you that I did manage to find a suitable Fiat 500L the week before Christmas.

It's a 1.6 (120) Multijet2 diesel, Lounge spec with some nice extras - Sat Nav, Rear Reverse Camera in Heavy Metal Grey.
2016 - 16 registered with 1300 miles and the Fiat dealer even delivered it. In fact the dealer gladly took the 500X in part exchange and admitted that it would be easier to sell than the 500L and better suited their "stock profile".

It's nice to be back in a 500L although it drives differently to the "X" and different even to the previous 500L.

Nice handbrakes, manual ones.

Make sure UConnectLIVE works. If it does not, do not buy it. It was probably created as a rental fleet car and that cannot be fixed ... according to Fiat. Also, who knows what else is missing? We have no faith in Fiat Customer Service. The 500X is fine as a car, much better fuel mileage than our 1986 Renault Espace petrol engined car, but the 500X is less enjoyable to own and drive compared to a car that is the more than thirty year older, our first series Espace ... with which it shares nearly identical exterior dimensions and performance. The Espace holds up to 7 people with a normal size boot but with 5 people, like the 500X's maximum, the Espace has an enormous boot while the 500Xs is small. The thirty one year old Espace performs as well, top speed and acceleration, as our 500X 1.6 Mjet Diesel, is less choppy and better riding overall despite having an identical wheelbase and has, inexplicably, a larger turning radius than the 500X. Remember there are 30 years separating these cars. The Espace also offers far better visability in all directions especially to the rear quarter view. You need the cameras and sensors on the 500X. Make sure those a working.