Fiat 500L (2013-2023) Review
Quick overview
Pros
- Spacious and practical interior
- Cheap to buy and run
- Five star Euro NCAP safety rating
Cons
- Cabin feels cheap in places
- Lacks refinement
- Not the best looker around...
Overall verdict on the Fiat 500L
"In this 2022 Fiat 500L review we'll be taking a look at the mini-MPV spun off Fiat's super-successful 500. Turning its cute city car into something more practical meant throwing away almost everything apart from the engines and some of the styling cues, and there's no doubt a lot of the charm and appeal went with it. But what you're left with is a small car that offers good space and is cheap to buy."

Fiat is good at small cars. Very good in fact. It's been doing it for years and built up a reputation for making them with flair. The Punto was Fiat's long-running success story in recent history, while in the past few years it's been the Panda and 500 which have been flying out of the showrooms.
But when it comes to comes to those that are a bigger, it doesn't matter how good or bad they are, they just don't capture buyers' imaginations. See the Fiat Croma for details...
So it came up with a brilliant wheeze – why not make everything a small car? Or, at least sound like it is. The first of these is was this, the Fiat 500L. It takes styling cues from the dinky 500 hatch, but underneath is a fundamentally different car and built in a different factory.
Fiat want you to think of it as a filled-out five-door family version of the 500, which it does an admirable job of. But you have to wonder what part marketing has played – would it be as eagerly-awaited if it was differently styled and called something else?
But it's not and the result is a charming family-size car that's more distinctive than many of the me-too mini MPVs out there. Size-wise it's a bit of an inbetweener. At almost 4.2 metres long the Fiat 500L is significantly larger than the 500, but not as long as the Punto. It seats five in some comfort and feels very roomy – especially so when there's a panoramic glass roof fitted, though this is a £500 option on Pop Star and Easy.
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Is the Fiat 500L right for you?
What’s the best Fiat 500L model/engine to choose?
What other cars are similar to the Fiat 500L?
Comfort and design: Fiat 500L interior
"The driving position in the Fiat 500L is good, the seat highly adjustable and all that glass means excellent all-round visibility."

Even standard Fiat 500L's have a large glazed areas and a split windscreen pillar that help to contribute to a light and airy feeling. The rotary controls on the dash that control the heating are easy to use on the move and the large touch-screen sat nav/infotainment system is clear and well placed – there's no need to take your eyes off the road to view it.
Infotainment: Touchscreen, USB, nav and stereo in the Fiat 500L
Quality and finish
Space and practicality: Fiat 500L boot space
Handling and ride quality: What is the Fiat 500L like to drive?
"The Fiat 500L can't match the diminutive Fiat 500 in the handling stakes, but it does a good job for an MPV and is very comfortable, making it ideal as a long distance family car."

Out on the road, the Fiat 500L handles rather tidily for a car of this size. The ride is well controlled (better in fact than the standard 500) and it does an admirable job of soaking up lumps and bumps, while still retaining composure when pushed through corners. The steering is light which, although welcome when parking, can feel rather artificial at higher speeds.
Refinement and noise levels
What engines and gearboxes are available in the Fiat 500L?
Safety equipment: How safe is the Fiat 500L?
MPG and fuel costs: What does a Fiat 500L cost to run?
"The Fiat 500L is a car designed to be cheap to run, which is reflected in its frugal engines, especially the economical 1.3-litre diesel."

While it may promise close to 70mpg, in reality you can expect to see a genuine 55mpg from the 1.3 Multijet, which is still a very strong figure and means plenty of miles between fill ups. The more powerful 1.6-litre diesel should still be good for 50mpg.
If it's petrol you want, the Fiat 500L 0.9 Twinair should see around 40mpg in real world driving while the 1.4-litre is good for 35mpg+.
How reliable is the Fiat 500L?
Insurance groups and costs
VED car tax: What is the annual road tax on a Fiat 500L?
How much should you be paying for a Fiat 500L?
"Prices for used Fiat 500L models start at around £4000, although these tend to be diesels with above average mileages."

If you're after a petrol, we recommend the 1.4-litre, a budget of £5000 to £5500 should give you plenty of choice, although bear in mind that the Fiat 500L was not a big a seller as the Fiat 500 or 500X, so you may have to be patient if you're after a specific trim or colour.
Trim levels and standard equipment
Ask the heycar experts: common questions
Is the Fiat 500L a reliable car?
Is the Fiat 500L discontinued?
Is the Fiat 500L bigger than the 500?
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