Fiat 500L 1.4 Lounge 5dr Car Review - January 2013

The 1.4 litre petrol produces 95bhp and 94lb-ft of torque which enables it to get up to a speed of 111mph and accelerate from 0 – 62mph in a rather sluggish 12.8 seconds. Considering this is the largest petrol in the range it is rather disappointing, particularly because of the lack of torque lower down the rev range. There isn’t as much pull as in the smaller 0.9 litre petrol engine.

Handling is decent in and around the city. The high driving position provides good all round visibility while the light steering makes low-speed manoeuvres easy to complete. Unfortunately however there is too much body roll through corners and the ride is a firm one. Refinement is ok but a fair amount of wind noise can be heard as the vehicle approaches motorway speeds.

The Fiat 500L is an attractively styled MPV which looks sophisticated while keeping the charm of the original 500. There are many customisable options and it comes with alloy wheels and a body-coloured dashboard.

A high level of equipment is provided as standard including a 5-inch touch screen, Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control, parking sensors, electric windows, panoramic sunroof and automatic lights and wipers.

Options available as cost extras include a “Beats by Dre” stereo system and a Lavazza coffee maker.

The 500L is a practical vehicle and front passengers have plenty of headroom and ample legroom even with the seats slid to their forward most point. Occupants in the rear have a decent amount of space too and three people can sit in relative comfort. Moreover, the boot is well-sized for the class and can hold a fair amount of luggage; it can also be expanded to a larger loading space by folding the rear seats flat.

The model was awarded the full 5 stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests and comes with front and window airbags. Stability control and an automatic braking system are included as well. Reliability is strong and durability is good.

The Fiat 500L 1.4 Lounge 5dr is priced at £16,390, which is a little more expensive than several rivals although buyers will know that they are paying for the distinctive styling of the 500L and there is a decent amount of equipment included as standard.

Average fuel economy is 45.6mpg, which isn’t too bad but some of the diesels perform better in this area. CO2 emissions of 145g/km means that road tax will be relatively low.

The 500L 1.4 Lounge offers style, sophistication and some good equipment and ultimately a buyer will need to decide whether these are worth paying a little more for than rivals.