Overview

The Fiat 500L name is remarkably simplistic since the L stands for ‘Large’ and that’s what this car is – a large Fiat 500. Since While it may be an extension of the 500 model range it’s more a replacement for the old and rather wacky six-seat Fiat Multipla.

Being an MPV or simple people carrier, the 500L is actually something of a dying breed. It’s occupying a space in the market increasingly dominated by SUV-style crossovers, but because it was designed to carry people and their luggage, it’s still way more practical than most of the upstarts.

Rivals, therefore, include the Ford C-Max in the MPV sector as well as crossovers such as the Vauxhall Crossland X, Renault Kadjar and MINI Countryman. But they’re either more expensive, less practical than the Fiat, or both…

What do I need to know about the Fiat 500L?

For the record, the 500L is 59cm longer, 15cm wider and 17cm taller than the standard model and it’s likely to go up against the likes of the Ford B-Max and Vauxhall Meriva. The idea is to offer MPV-like passenger space but in the guise of a small car.

Thanks to the popularity of the 500 hatchback, Fiat is hoping that slapping the same number on a bigger model will be enough to tempt buyers to this compact people carrier. While that ploy may work for the likes of MINI it could prove a lot more difficult for Fiat, especially as the 500L’s similarities with the standard 500 are small at best.

Fiat 500L engines and interior details

The 500L is available with a number of engines shared with the Fiat range. The diesel engine choice comes in the forms of the 1.3-litre and 1.6-litre MultiJet II. While this is a good match for the 500L, in this car petrol is likely to be king. Fortunately there’s the choice of the 1.4-litre petrol engine or the economical and low-emitting 0.9-litre TwinAir engine.

In March 2014 two additional engines joined the range, a 1.6 MultiJet II turbodiesel and a 1.4 T-Jet petrol engine. Both are turbocharged with 118bhp available and come with some impressive fuel economy figures and low CO2 emissions. All are affordable to run and are good at helping to keep running costs down, including insurance premiums too.

Priority number one for the Fiat 500L is practicality and it has this in abundance. There are 22 stowage compartments dotted around the cabin, while space for rear passengers is very good. Even better is the three-level boot space to allow items to be separated neatly.

Want to get the SUV vibe? Get a Trekking!

There’s also a pumped-up Trekking version of the 500L which features a higher ride height, mud and snow tyres and Traction+, which allows the car to tackle mild off-roading as well. It uses the same set of engines as the regular 500L. It also features a first for a Fiat – City Brake Control will automatically brake the car at speeds of up to 19mph if it senses an impending collision.