Fiat's 500X compact SUV combines practicality with its trademark cuteness

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Fiat has now been back in the U.S. for about four years, starting with the basic 500 model.

They then added a Cabrio version, the sporty Abarth model, and the electric plug-in 500e. Fiat also brought out the somewhat clumsy-looking, 4-door 500L for those who needed more room inside.

Now, the company has released a new model that offers the style of the basic 500 with the attributes of a small SUV: the Fiat 500X.

"When you look at the 500, we have sold over 50,000 in North America for the last three years in a row," said Matt Davis, spokesman for Fiat. "As people's lifestyle changes, this gives them a great vehicle to migrate to with functionality and now all-wheel drive capability."

Still small by SUV standards, but much larger than the regular 500, this new Fiat is entering an automotive segment that's really hot right now.

"Now you've got a smaller vehicle that fills a lot of the wants that I think drew people to SUVs in the first place, you know, the shape, seating position, things like that," said Aaron Gold, auto editor at About.com. "And now you can get that in a smaller package that's less expensive and a lot more fuel-efficient."

The proportions are nicely true to the cuteness of the brand that's made California one of its hottest markets. The cargo area is remarkably large, partly because, like a lot of new vehicles, there's no spare tire, just an inflation kit.

The 500X, with a base price of $20,000, was developed right alongside the new Jeep Renegade. Both brands are part of the same global company, so engineers in Italy and Michigan worked on the pair together.

While the Jeep and the Fiat were developed together, they not only have different looks, but the 500X has a different mission as well.

Like other Fiats, the 500X is meant to be an urban vehicle. City dwellers want a size that's easy to live with, but with maximum utility. The optional all-wheel drive does help with on-road handling, though this still isn't a sports sedan.

Fiat's probably going to have a hit on their hands, given how strong the compact SUV market is right now. So what else is coming from Fiat?

"The 500 has been the staple so far -- we had a 500, a 500L and a 500X. We'll announce something later on this year that will expand the lineup even more," said Davis.

In the meantime, the newest model manages to combine new utility with its trademark cuteness.