2014 Fiat 500L Pros and Cons at TrueDelta: 500L Easy by evbruno

	Compared to the Sedona
Exterior styling	Better Worse

I like the styling the car has a distintive look. I like the lines front to back and low to ground access to the rear when the hatch is open.

Interior styling

Better Worse

When inside the car it feels like I am sitting in minivan. Good visibility. The controls are positioned well and there is not an excess of buttons.

Driving position & visibility

Better Worse

The driver seat adjust is good. The adjustability of steering column is very good up/down in/out. This lets get seat where I want it and then the steering column with out having to compromise. I have the fully adjustable passenger seat, which can be adjust up/down as well as forwards/backwards.

Audio & nav systems

Better Worse

I have been running the 500L with the Navigation set to inform us when every we are 2 miles over the posted speed limit. I like the feature especially in city driving. The Nav System takes about 90 seconds t come up after turning on the car.

Handling

Better Worse

The 500L is not a 500, it handles well for the size, height off the ground and width of the vehicle in my opinion. Turning radius is good. No problems parking the vehicle the backup camera works great. Figured out for me that mid-way up the yellow warning line is a good distance from the car behind me when parallel parking.

	Compared to the Sedona
Audio & nav systems	Better Worse

Maps and POI's can only be updated at the dealer.

Controls and instruments

Better Worse

Depending on where you like to sit, the steerwheel can clip part of the dashboard displays.

	Compared to the Sedona
Rear seat room & comfort	Better Worse

The rear seats are firm and the passengers sit up high. I find this very comfortable. One of the most comfortable rear seats in my opinion. The seats can be moved back/forth 3 inches to provide more leg room for passengers or more cargo room. The rear seats are spit 60/40 and move independently

Color choices

Better Worse

Fiat as very good range of exterior colors and interior combinations.

Quietness

Better Worse

I like to be able to "hear" the car. So an extermely "quiet" vehicle is not to my liking. The 500L for me keeps the unwanted road noise out but I can still "hear" the car and emergency vehicles with the windows up.

If you want most of the functionality of a minivan but with a smaller size and better fuel ecomony this is great vehicle. I never tow anything so having the extra horse power to do that is not important to me. The seat height from the road is within an inch of most minivans. You can get a 60 inch long 30 wide box in to vehicle with the rear seats down with a bit of room to spare.

I very much like the Euro Twin Clutch transmission in the vehicle, gives me the manally drive feel with out having to use a clutch petal. This can take a little while to to get use to on hills and stops.

The car is "not" sporty to drive, it drives like the larger vehicle it is. The features set vs price points are good value in my opinion.

Feb 2017
I just returned car at the lease end after 39 months 34K miles, no problems just recalls and standard maintence. Would have bought out the lease but the local studio closed and the drive to next closet one for maintentence was not going to be workable.

Still enjoyed the vehicle as much as when we first got it, perhaps a bit more.