Fiat Drops Prices And Raises Standard Features To Combat Consumer Shift To Trucks And SUVs

After a rough 2016 for small cars in the U.S., Italy’s puckish Fiat brand is resetting itself for the 2017 model year with lower prices, more content and simpler packages of features within each offering.

Fiat is cutting prices in the U.S. by 5 percent to 10 percent on many vehicles, based on examples provided by the unit of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV. The mid-range version of the 500L, dubbed Trekking, will cost only about 1 percent less but will come packed with previously expensive extras -- heated leather seats, a premium BeatsAudio sound system and a 6.5-inch touchscreen with navigation.

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Car4life1 - 9/16/2016 3:34:55 PM

+2 Boost

cute but you better add a lift kit, 2 doors, and rear seat entertainment to that soon

MDarringer - 9/16/2016 8:00:29 PM

0 Boost

So they are raising standards on an outdated vehicle? Oh that's right! It's Italian. Design something. Forget about quality. Use customers to drive prototypes. Then fix it once no one wants it anymore.

mini22 - 9/17/2016 12:41:57 AM

+2 Boost

There is one vehicle that sort of makes sense. It is the 500X. For one it is attractive. For another it has some nice features. Finally it is reliable. I was hoping that Fiat would replace the 500L made in Warsaw with a sister car for the upcoming Jeep Compass Liberty replacement. Further why doesn't Fiat replace the little 500 city car with a FWD version of the 500X at regular suspension height and call it a 500S. Then you have a VW Golf competitor. The only 2dr vehicle in Fiats lineup should be the 124 Spider. Everything else should be 4dr along with two AWD models. Get rid of the 500L.

MDarringer - 9/17/2016 8:43:38 AM

0 Boost

The problem with the 500X is that from the rear it looks like a low-rent, Mini rip off. It's styling is too "womany" to be taken seriously. The 500 is also "womany", but ironically enough it sells to old flabby men. Maybe it has something to do with low testosterone.

Fiat's real problem is that it is a niche/boutique brand with ZERO prestige.

mini22 - 9/17/2016 2:57:10 PM

+1 Boost

Actually it is the L model that was accused of ripping off the Mini Countryman Darringer. The 500X does not look anything like a Mini Countryman. In fact it's a weak argument because the Fiat Panda which is sold in Europe was the first to use that rear end design. The Countryman copied the Panda design. However the idea of "Driving a Woman" does have a certain appeal(wink)And that actually has more to do with high testosterone. Fiat's are very fun to drive. The good thing is that they are not ugly(500 L excepted) like the current batch of Mini's and you don't have to spend 40 grand with average options to own one. Further having owned a Cooper S they start to rattle quite a bit after a couple of years ownership because they have an abominable ride for that so called "go cart" agility. It's one thing to spend in the low 20's for a very small car. It's quite another to spend in the low 30's for a very small car.A Mini Countryman Cooper s AWD has an average transaction price near 40 grand. A 500X AWD has an average transaction price of 26 grand. I concede that the Countryman is a better driving car and has a little bit better quality but it aint worth 13 K more than the Fiat. Further it's also smaller.

MDarringer - 9/17/2016 4:05:29 PM

0 Boost

Where did I say ANYTHING about a Mini Countryman?

The tail of the 500X is VERY much a rip off the Mini Cooper.

mini22 - 9/19/2016 12:22:53 PM

+1 Boost

Darringer-I'm trying to visualize what you are saying but I'm frankly not seeing it. Put side by side the current Mini Coopers hatch is almost straight up and down where a 500X is quite sloped. I think if you go back to the original Fiat 500 rear engine aircooled car from the 50's and 60's I think you would see the resemblance of the 500X. I Mini Cooper looks very very different.