Compare the2024 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 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Crosstrek Limited/Wilderness 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’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The 500X doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Crosstrek’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the 500X and is only available on 500X Sport.

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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

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 81 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 74 points higher than the 500X.

The Crosstrek Sport/Limited/Wilderness’ 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 has a standard 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.

For better stopping power the Crosstrek’s brake rotors are larger than those on the 500X:

The Crosstrek’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the 500X are solid, not vented.

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 3.9 inches longer than on the 500X (105.1 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 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the 500X (28.2 seconds @ .58 average G’s vs. 28.7 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Crosstrek Wilderness’ turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the 500X’s (34.8 feet vs. 36.3 feet). 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. The Crosstrek Wilderness’ minimum ground clearance is 1.4 inches higher than on the 500X (9.3 vs. 7.9 inches).

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 front grille of the Crosstrek uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The 500X doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Crosstrek has 8.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 500X (100.5 vs. 91.7).

The Crosstrek has .7 inches more front headroom, 1.5 inches more front legroom, 1.8 inches more front hip room, 2.5 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 1.7 inches more rear legroom, 3 inches more rear hip room and 2.5 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 (19.9 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 (54.7 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.

Maximum trailer towing in the Fiat 500X is limited to 2000 pounds. The Crosstrek offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

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.

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 headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the 500X’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

The Crosstrek has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The 500X only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

The 500X Sport’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Crosstrek’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 Premium/Sport/Limited/Wilderness 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.

The Crosstrek has a 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. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the 500X Sport.

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.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Subaru Crosstrek offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The 500X doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Consumer Reports® chose the Subaru Crosstrek as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Fiat 500X isn't recommended.

The Subaru Crosstrek outsold the Fiat 500X by over 287 to one during 2023.