The Fiat 500L Living is the most compact 7-seater on the market. Additionally, this car is cheap to maintain, comfortable, spacious, and practical. But is the Fiat 500L Living a good car?
Yes, the Fiat 500L Living is a perfect car for people looking for a compact station wagon. It is also easy to maintain, spacious, comfortable, practical, and affordable. But if you’re looking for a more advanced, safe, fun-to-drive, luxurious, and high-performance station wagon, look elsewhere.
History of the Fiat 500L Living
The Fiat 500 Living is similar to the Fiat 500L. But unlike the Fiat 500L, the Fiat 500L Living debuted in 2013 after Fiat decided to create a 500L model with two extra seats. Initially, the 500L was only available in a 2-row, 5-seat configuration, but it was increased to a 3-row, 7-seat configuration.
Note that the Fiat 500L Living was only produced for the European market, unlike the Fiat 500L that was sold both in North America and Europe. What’s more, unlike the Fiat 500L which is a Mini MPV, the Fiat 500L Living is a compact station wagon.
Features of the Fiat 500L Living
Appearance
The Fiat 500L Living is one of the least appealing cars in its class. Even though it is slightly more appealing than the Fiat 500L, the difference is very minimal. Some of the exceptional features that the Fiat 500L Living offers include 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, and a ParkView rear camera with the Loft pack.
The interior is spacious and can easily fit up to five people. However, the materials used are of low quality. However, it also boasts several wonderful features like dual-zone climate control, rain sensor, and chamois eco leather dashboard.
The Fiat 500L Living has a wheelbase of 102.8-inches, a length of 171.3-inches, a width of 68.1-inches, and a height of 65.7-inches.
Performance
The Fiat 500L Living comes with two variants, including the Pop Star and Lounge variants. Furthermore, it has several engine options, including the 1.4-liter Fire engine that delivers up to 95 hp, the TwinAir turbo engine that produces a maximum of 105 hp, and a Fiat diesel engine that produces up to 105 hp.
This car also performs considerably well as it takes 10.1 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph and it has a top speed of 119 mph.
Comfort and cargo space
If you’ve got a big family, the Fiat 500L Living is the ideal car for you. Despite offering a third-row, the Fiat 500L Living is still compact and easily maneuvers around the city. It is also comfortable with ample cabin space, but people who are 6-ft or taller won’t be very comfortable. Besides, the third-row seating is only suited for kids and not adults.
When it comes to cargo space, the 500L Living has a total of 22.5 cubic feet of space. Nonetheless, this can be increased to over 60 cubic feet of space by folding the rear seats.
Safety
Like the Fiat 500L, the Fiat 500L Living doesn’t come with a lot of safety features. Things like automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring are not offered. So, if safety is a priority to you, this is not the best car for your needs.
Fuel-efficiency
Even though the Fiat 500L Living is fuel-efficient, it is not as efficient as most of its rivals. It comes with a rating of 41.3 mpg in the city, 54.7 mpg on the highway, and a combined 49 mpg US.
Price
While the Fiat 500L Living is pretty affordable, it is not the cheapest car in its class. Actually, it is costlier than the Fiat 500L Living.
FAQ
Is it worth buying the Fiat 500L Living?
Yes, the Fiat 500L Living is worth buying if you’re searching for a compact station wagon with outstanding fuel efficiency, great comfort, spaciousness, and practicality. On the other hand, it is not an ideal car if you’re looking for reliability, performance, luxury, and a quality ride.
What are the common problems with Fiat 500L Living?
If you want to invest in a quality used Fiat 500L Living, it is crucial to know some of the common problems that you will face along the way. Some of the common problems are engine problems, steering issues, oil warning lights, clogged particulate filters, faulty power windows, and a multifunctioning infotainment system.
How fast is the Fiat 500L Living?
The Fiat 500L Living or station wagon has a top speed of 119 mph. Furthermore, it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 10.1 seconds. This is pretty fast compared to most of its competitors, but it is not the best speed. Besides, this car performs poorly when it comes to handling.
What is the high mileage for Fiat 500L Living?
If you’re looking to buy a quality used Fiat 500L Living model, it is vital to consider one with less than 150k miles. This is because Fiat 500L Living models with more than 150k miles are likely to record more serious problems. But if you get a well-maintained car, the better.
What is the difference between the Fiat 500L and 500L Living?
The Fiat 500L is a five-seater, four-door crossover, while the Fiat 500L living is a seven-seater, meaning it comes with two extra seats. Besides, the 500L Living is larger at 8-inches. What’s more, these two cars have a similar design, with the main difference being more sheet metal and glass behind doors for the Fiat 500L Living.
Additionally, the Fiat 500L Living is slightly costlier than the 500L as it’s much bigger with more seating capacity.
Final thoughts
The Fiat 500L Living is one of the best compact station wagons on the market. It is comfortable, affordable, spacious, efficient, and practical. Nevertheless, it also has a few issues to deal with, including engine, braking, and steering. Besides, the car lacks an appealing look and the materials used are of low quality.
Generally, the Fiat 500L Living is still a wonderful car for big families as it can accommodate up to 7 passengers. It is also easy to maintain and doesn’t have a lot of problems.
