Compare the2023 Fiat 500XVS 2022 Honda HR-V

The Fiat 500X has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The HR-V doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The 500X has standard Reactive Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Reactive Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The HR-V doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the 500X. But it costs extra on the HR-V.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the 500X Sport’s optional rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The HR-V doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The 500X Sport’s optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The HR-V doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

The 500X Sport offers optional Uconnect Access, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The HR-V doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the 500X and the HR-V have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.

The 500X comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes free 24-hour roadside assistance. The HR-V’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the 500X has a standard 500-amp battery. The HR-V’s 410-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

The 500X’s 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 36 more horsepower (177 vs. 141) and 83 lbs.-ft. more torque (210 vs. 127) than the HR-V’s 1.8 SOHC 4-cylinder.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the 500X’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The HR-V doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The 500X has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The HR-V doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Fiat 500X higher (6 out of 10) than the Honda HR-V (5). This means the 500X produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the HR-V every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the 500X’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the HR-V:

The 500X stops much shorter than the HR-V:

The 500X Sport’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the HR-V Sport’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 500X Sport offers optional 19-inch wheels. The HR-V’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

For superior ride and handling, the Fiat 500X has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Honda HR-V has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The 500X has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The HR-V’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The 500X has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the 500X flat and controlled during cornering. The HR-V 4x2 suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For better maneuverability, the 500X’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the HR-V’s (36.3 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The 500X’s turning circle is 2.4 feet tighter than the HR-V Sport’s (36.3 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

The 500X is 3.2 inches shorter than the HR-V, making the 500X easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The 500X has .2 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more front hip room and 4.8 inches more rear hip room than the HR-V.

The 500X has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The HR-V has no towing capacity.

The 500X has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The HR-V doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The power windows standard on both the 500X and the HR-V have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the 500X is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The HR-V prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The 500X’s front and rear power windows all open fully with one touch of the switches and its front windows also automatically close, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The HR-V’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

The 500X’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The HR-V LX/Sport’s standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent. The HR-V EX/EX-L’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The 500X’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the HR-V’s projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the 500X Sport has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The HR-V doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The 500X’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the HR-V EX/EX-L.

The 500X Sport’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The HR-V doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Insurance will cost less for the 500X owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the 500X with a number “5” insurance rate while the HR-V is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the 500X is less expensive to operate than the HR-V because it costs $118 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the 500X than the HR-V, including $75 less for a muffler, $348 less for a starter, $114 less for front struts, $80 less for a timing belt/chain and $86 less for a power steering pump.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its September 2015 issue and they ranked the Fiat 500X higher than the Honda HR-V EX-L AWD.