Compare the2023 Subaru CrosstrekVS 2023 Fiat 500X

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Crosstrek CVT are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The 500X doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 6 points, IIHS rates the Pre-Collision Braking optional in the Crosstrek as “Superior.” The 500X scores only 4 points and is rated only “Advanced.”

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Crosstrek Limited has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The 500X doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Crosstrek CVT’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The 500X doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Crosstrek the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 176 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 500X last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Crosstrek 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Fiat covers the 500X. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the 500X ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 77 percent more Subaru dealers than there are Fiat dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Crosstrek’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Crosstrek’s reliability 55 points higher than the 500X.

The Crosstrek Sport/Limited’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 5 more horsepower (182 vs. 177) than the 500X’s 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Crosstrek lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The 500X doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the Crosstrek gets better mileage than the 500X:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Crosstrek uses regular unleaded gasoline. The 500X requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Crosstrek has 3.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the 500X (16.6 vs. 12.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Crosstrek has a standard locking fuel door The fuel filler door is not lockable on the 500X. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Subaru Crosstrek higher (7 out of 10) than the Fiat 500X (6). This means the Crosstrek produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 500X every 15,000 miles.

The Crosstrek offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The 500X doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The Crosstrek offers an optional continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The 500X doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Crosstrek stops shorter than the 500X:

For better traction, the Crosstrek has larger tires than the 500X (225/60R17 vs. 215/60R17).

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Crosstrek’s wheelbase is 3.7 inches longer than on the 500X (104.9 inches vs. 101.2 inches).

The Crosstrek Limited handles at .81 G’s, while the 500X pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Crosstrek Premium executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the 500X (27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.7 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Crosstrek’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the 500X’s (35.4 feet vs. 36.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Crosstrek has a greater minimum ground clearance than the 500X (8.7 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Crosstrek to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Crosstrek CVT (except Manual) has a liquid-filled front engine mount. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The 500X uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The Crosstrek has 9.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 500X (100.9 vs. 91.7).

The Crosstrek has .7 inches more front headroom, 1.7 inches more front legroom, 1.8 inches more front hip room, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 1.7 inches more rear legroom, 3 inches more rear hip room and 2.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the 500X.

The front step up height for the Crosstrek is 1.9 inches lower than the 500X (17.5” vs. 19.4”). The Crosstrek’s rear step up height is 1.6 inches lower than the 500X’s (18” vs. 19.6”).

The Crosstrek has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the 500X with its rear seat up (20.8 vs. 14.1 cubic feet). The Crosstrek has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the 500X with its rear seat folded (55.3 vs. 39.8 cubic feet).

The Crosstrek’s cargo area is larger than the 500X’s in every dimension:

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Crosstrek. The 500X doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The engine in the Crosstrek is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the 500X. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Crosstrek’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Crosstrek Base). The 500X doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its extra cost Uconnect Access can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Crosstrek’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the 500X’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

The 500X Sport’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Crosstrek Limited’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The Crosstrek’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The 500X has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Crosstrek Limited has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The 500X doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Crosstrek has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The 500X doesn’t offer rear vents.

Insurance will cost less for the Crosstrek owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Crosstrek will cost $40 to $1080 less than the 500X over a five-year period.

The Crosstrek will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Crosstrek will retain 57.4% to 60.77% of its original price after five years, while the 500X only retains 36.13% to 38.37%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Crosstrek is less expensive to operate than the 500X because typical repairs cost much less on the Crosstrek than the 500X, including $89 less for a water pump, $182 less for fuel injection, $148 less for a fuel pump and $240 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Crosstrek will be $8825 to $10781 less than for the Fiat 500X.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru Crosstrek, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Fiat 500X isn't recommended.

The Subaru Crosstrek outsold the Fiat 500X by over 177 to one during 2022.