Summary
The Fiat 500L was a small MPV/estate car that was on sale in the UK from 2013 until 2021.
Despite the ‘500’ in its name and styling cues borrowed from the smaller Fiat 500, the 500L was actually based on the old Fiat Punto and shares very few components with the 500 – a bit like how the Mini Countryman is an entirely different car to the Mini hatch.
During its production life, the 500L was facelifted in 2017, with engine and trim changes. Diesel engines were dropped along the way as Fiat phased diesel motors out of all its models, with only petrol power available in its later years.
Like most of its rivals in the small MPV market (Ford B-Max, Vauxhall Meriva, etc.), the 500L lost popularity in favour of baby SUVs until eventually being discontinued.
The Fiat 500L received generally average to poor reviews from the UK media over the course of its life. It was rated highly for being distinctively different from anything else remotely close to its price tag, although the styling was quite divisive. It certainly lacked the cuteness of the smaller 500, although it traded that cuteness for much more interior space and practicality.
The Fiat 500L ended production in 2021, and now has a Used Car Expert Rating of C, with a score of 64%. It scores top marks for its low running costs, while it also gets good grades for its reliability record. But its CO2 emissions are only average, which is disappointing for a small car, while its safety rating is long expired and its media review scores were poor.
Key specifications
Body style: Small MPV
Engines: petrol
Price when new: From £18,045 on-road
Launched: Winter 2012/13
Last updated: Autumn 2018
Removed from sale: Autumn 2021
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The Fiat 500L is a decent attempt at providing practical family transport for buyers who don’t need a large MPV, but have outgrown a conventional supermini. The tall body shape means there’s good head and legroom all-round, plus a sizeable boot.”
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Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The Fiat 500L is one of the cheapest compact MPVs you can buy, although it doesn’t have much in the way of direct competition. Get a good deal on the list price and it gives you a fair amount of versatility for the money, if not the last word in tech or street cred.”
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Business Car
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel manual Urban
Score: 6 / 10
“Overall, the 500L’s refresh was needed and has resulted in the car looking and feeling more like a competitor in its own segment. However, with such stiff competition and less-than-impressive residual values, leading to high whole-life costs, the Fiat 500L still has a battle on its hands.”
Read review
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel manual Cross
Score: 7 / 10
“Fans will agree that the Fiat 500L aims to combine all the style and excitement of the Fiat 500 with the spaciousness and functionality of an MPV. Some of the excitement was always going to be lost with the upsizing, especially with it offering so little in terms of improvements and changes.”
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Car
Model reviewed: 1.4-litre petrol manual 500L Urban
Score: 6 / 10
“The Fiat 500L Urban is an oddly-styled yet ultimately competent crossover which fits in seamlessly with the current crop of bite-sized family SUVs.”
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Car Keys
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 5 / 10
“If you’re looking for a quirky-looking MPV that is very practical, the Fiat 500L makes sense, particularly when you consider how cramped some similarly priced crossovers are.”
Read review
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel manual trekking Beats Edition
Score: 7 / 10
“For us, there is more to dislike than love about the Fiat 500L. On the positive side, it is practical and the diesel engines are impressive in terms of efficiency. However, that design is a step too far, losing some of the 500 charm on which it is based.”
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Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“If you’re after a spacious and characterful family car that stands out from the crowd, look no further than the Fiat 500L.”
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Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 4 / 10
“As you might have gathered from the name and its appearance, the Fiat 500L is a Fiat 500, but larger.”
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Company Car Today
Model reviewed: 1.3-litre petrol manual Urban Lounge
“The FIat 500L is a well-equipped supermini-MPV with efficient engines, good standard kit and a decent-sized boot.”
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Daily Mail
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel manual Trekking
Score: 8 / 10
“The Fiat 500L is the 500’s fatter, uglier sibling, but none of this matters. It’s all about what’s going on inside.” (Chris Evans)
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Daily Mirror
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel manual Trekking
“Buy a Fiat 500L Trekking instead of a normal 500 and you’re swapping cute looks for practicality. Personally, I’d still rather make my friends leave their luggage behind and squeeze into the back of the cute but cramped standard 500.”
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Eurekar
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel manual Cross
“The big advantage of the Fiat 500L over its smaller 500 sibling is that it’s a very practical and versatile family car. The cabin is huge, offering an abundance of head and leg room for all five occupants, with great visibility all round. There are even fold-down picnic tables in the rear.”
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Model reviewed: 1.4-litre petrol manual Cross
“The conclusion is the Fiat 500L is ideal for families who have outgrown the supermini sector but don’t want the full monty SUV experience.”
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Model reviewed: 1.4-litre petrol manual Cros
“The Fiat 500L offers excellent all-round visibility, thanks to the narrow twin windscreen pillars rather than one thick one and the elevated seat position, thanks to the high roof. On the road, it feels solid and well planted – even on tight bends – and the cabin is pleasantly quiet.”
Read review
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel manual Cross
“My own average fuel return of 52.4mpg, completed over mixed urban, rural and major roads, was impressive in the circumstances. That was in a car that’s enjoyable to drive with good all-round visibility and a comfortable ride – and certainly stands out from the crowd.”
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Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel manual Beats Edition
“There’s no argument that the Fiat 500L is a winner in the interior room stakes; with stretching space in the back for a couple of big men (three at a slight pinch) and a huge boot. You can rob some legroom and slide the rear bench forward to make the loadspace larger still.”
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Fleetworld
Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel manual Trekking
“It’s pretty hard to argue with this car’s ability to offer the best bits of a small MPV and a B-segment crossover in an economical package. Aside, of course, from the divisive 500L’s basic styling.”
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Model reviewed: Beats Edition range
“If you’re not too fussed about your in-car entertainment system, then your money would be better spent opting for the Fiat 500L Trekking with the 118bhp MultiJet engine.”
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Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 5 / 10
“There’s no doubt that the 500L fills a gap in Fiat’s line-up and gives buyers something that they’ve been crying out for: a Fiat 500 that’s fit for family life. If you can live with the looks, then this is a good value family car.”
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Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“Design flourishes aside, this is fairly standard small MPV stuff – where standard means ‘nothing special’. The cabin comprises mainly hard and cheap-feeling plastics and where rivals have big car ambience, the Fiat 500L tends to feel like a bulked-up cut-price runabout.”
Read review
Model reviewed: Range overview
“The 500L fills a gap in Fiat’s line-up and gives buyers something that they’ve been crying out for: a Fiat 500 that’s fit for family life. It may look pricey, but ultimately the 500L offers a kind of cachet. If you’re willing to pay for the Fiat 500 feel-good factor, then this is the car for you.”
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Motors
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“Don’t expect the Fiat 500L to handle like a sports car – it’s not particularly a hoot to drive. There’s not much feel from the steering and there’s not much feedback from the front tyres. However, it’s not terrible – especially considering the driving experience isn’t the model’s main focus.”
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Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“Flexible, practical and lacking the charm of its smaller brother.”
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The Sun
Model reviewed: Range overview
“There’s nothing wrong with the Fiat 500L as a car and it delivers the space to make it a genuine family-friendly five-seater. It rides and drives OK, but it’s lost the fun factor of the 500 to become a pretty boring family runabout.”
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Model reviewed: 1.6-litre diesel manual Beats Edition
“Admittedly turned up to 11 in the funky styling and block-rocking Beats Audio department, the Fiat 500L still slightly lacks the Mini Countryman’s aesthetic appeal.”
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The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“Fiat tries to make the family car funky.”
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The Telegraph
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The Fiat 500L is a spacious family hatchback that’s easy to slot into gaps around town. But if you don’t mind owning something that’s less quirky to look at, there are plenty of alternatives which are just as practical, more enjoyable to drive and better value for money.”
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“It’s certainly different. It’s also very practical, with enough charm to appeal.”
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Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: November 2012
Date expired: January 2019
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 94%
Child protection: 78%
Vulnerable road users: 65%
Safety assist: 71%
Notes on safety rating
The Fiat 500L was awarded a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP back when this model was launched in 2012. However, this rating expired in January 2019 as the 500L no longer met the requirements for a five-star car. This is normal practice, as Euro NCAP reviews its ratings on most cars annually with most ratings expiring after about six or seven years.
However, if you are comparing a used Fiat 500L to vehicles of similar age, whose ratings will have probably also expired, its safety rating score is still useful.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
The Fiat 500L was not assessed by Green NCAP during the course of its production life.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
Total claims: 37
Average repair cost: £289.12
Last updated: October 2024
Reliability score
All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims
As of October 2024 (our last data point), the Fiat 500L has a better-than-average reliability score of 79%, according to extended warranty data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our partners at MotorEasy.
The Fiat 500L also appears to be relatively inexpensive to repair when things go wrong, with an average repair cost of less than £300 to date. That’s good news if you already own a 500L or are considering buying a used one.
The most commonly reported problems with the 500L relate to its suspension systems, although the average repair bill is low at little more than £150. However, it’s worth noting that engine repairs are considerably more expensive.
If you’re looking at a used Fiat 500L, make sure any extended warranty cover you purchase covers all of the potential problem areas shown above.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
| Fuel consumption | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| Petrol models | 38 mpg | D | 38 – 39 mpg | D – D |
| CO₂ output | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| Petrol models | 168 g/km | C | 165 – 174 g/km | C – C |
| Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| All models | 11 | A | 9 – 12 | A – A |
The Fiat 500L has a mixed bag of scores, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
Unfortunately, we don’t have any servicing cost data for the 500L due to its age, but most Fiat models are very good on servicing and maintenance costs.
The petrol engine in the 500L wasn’t very good for fuel consumption, especially for a relatively small car. Other alternatives are likely to cost you less in petrol bills each month.
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Fiat 500L, you might also be interested in these alternatives
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer | Citroën C3 Aircross | Fiat 500X | Hyundai Bayon | Mercedes-Benz B-Class | Mini Clubman | Mini Countryman | Peugeot 2008 | Suzuki S-Cross | Volkswagen Touran | Vauxhall Crossland X
The Fiat 500L doesn’t have many direct rivals, as most small MPV-style vehicles like the Ford B-Max, Vauxhall Meriva and Citroën C3 Picasso have disappeared from the marketplace in recent years. Most of the above are a similar sort of vehicle, although with quite a wide range of prices and specifications.
More information
More news, reviews and information about the Fiat 500L at The Car Expert
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