Fiat 500L Buying Guide

Car and Driver describes the 2020 500L with a 160-hp turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder and a six-speed automatic driving the front wheels, with no all-wheel drive offered. Confirm the offered Fiat 500L matches its paperwork, then book an inspection that covers its construction and fitted equipment.

I used Car and Driver 500L review when preparing this November 7, 2026 guide. Those sources describe the model, its known weak spots and its engineering, not the history of any single car for sale. So, the checks below turn that background into questions for a seller and a workshop; they do not assign a failure rate or current market value.

Know what the turbo and automatic feel like when healthy

Car and Driver describes the 2020 500L with a 160-hp turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder and a six-speed automatic driving the front wheels, with no all-wheel drive offered. The review complains of turbo lag and slow downshifts in traffic, so some hesitation is normal for the model. Learn that baseline, then look for anything worse: a flare between gears, a thump into drive or a warning light. Ask when the transmission fluid was last changed and get the invoice rather than a verbal answer.

Look closely at build quality and trim

The review says cheap materials are the main letdown inside and notes poor build quality in its test cars. On a used example, that makes the cabin a fair place to judge care. Check door cards, console panels and seat fabric for broken clips, loose trim and rattles on a rough road. Test every window, lock and the climate controls. Small faults are not a reason to walk away, but several together point to a car that needs money soon and belong in the negotiation.

Check the infotainment and the trim level

All 2020 cars had a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and Car and Driver lists Beats audio on all but the base Pop trim and navigation on Trekking, Urbana and Lounge. Confirm the trim on the paperwork, then pair a phone, play audio through every speaker and try the navigation if it should be there. A dead screen or crackling speaker can mean a costly repair, so price it before you sign rather than after the drive home.

Weigh the crash rating and missing safety aids

Car and Driver notes the IIHS gave the 500L a Poor rating in the small-overlap front test and that modern aids such as automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise were not offered. That is a design fact, not a fault in one car, but it matters if the car will carry a family. Read the IIHS record yourself, then decide whether the large cargo area, 22 cubic feet behind the rear seats per the review, outweighs that gap for your use.

Plan parts and dealer support

Car and Driver says 2020 was the final model year for the 500L in the U.S. Ask a local Fiat or Stellantis service department whether it still stocks common parts and can read the car with its scan tools. Body panels and trim specific to a low-volume model can take time to arrive.

Put the VIN and title file beside the inspection

The physical chassis identifier must agree with the sale documents before a report is ordered. Use our VIN identity checks to organise that comparison and our imported-car report guide to understand why foreign history may be thin. Ask for the title, registration and service invoices, plus import papers if the car came from another country. NMVTIS offers a U.S. title-history route with defined coverage; it does not confirm mechanical condition or replace dealer service records. A fake PDF can disguise an ownership gap, so verify evidence through the issuing source rather than accepting a seller screenshot.

Agree the specialist work before leaving a deposit

Tell the shop which version and components it will see, then agree lift access, a controlled road test and a written description of limitations. Our pre-purchase inspection checklist helps frame the appointment, while NYC used-car guidance recommends an independent mechanic. Ask the specialist to separate immediate safety work from cosmetic preferences and optional upgrades. Look, a repair estimate is useful only if a supplier will actually provide the required part. Have the shop obtain a response for any known missing item.

Keep the offer conditional on the findings you care about. Put any seller repair promise in the purchase agreement. If the workshop cannot establish structural condition or a route to a needed safety part, defer the deal rather than inventing a discount. The final decision should reflect the documented car and your intended use, not a figure copied from a launch story.

We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Wholesale reports cost a few dollars; confirm current coverage and the total at checkout. A quiet report can miss unreported repairs. Keep the independent inspection even if the seller sends an impressive PDF.

Sources

• Car and Driver 500L review
• U.S. DOJ NMVTIS
• NYC used-car buying guidance