Fiat adds another name to its line of S-Design models, this time the family-friendly 500L. Based on the crossover-inspired 500L Cross, the aim of the S-Design version is to inject some extra style into the package, like it’s already done with the Tipo, 500X and 124 Spider.

2018 Fiat 500L S-Design

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2018 Fiat 500L S-Design
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

What Makes the 2019 Fiat 500L S-Design Special?

Most noticeable update is the matte bronze paint finish that Fiat encourages you to buy it in, although you can go for a different shade of bronze, as well as a limited selection of more conventional colors (including a powerful orange). The roof on all 500L S-Design cars is exclusively finished in gloss black regardless of which color you go for.

But the black treatment extends further, namely to the 17-inch rims, the grille, door mirror covers, as well as part of the exterior door trim and front bumper. Dark semi-matte grey (which Fiat calls “Myron finish”) is used on the door handles, front and rear light cluster bezels, and some bumper trim pieces.

Inside, Fiat has chosen to give the 500L S-Design a matte black textured dashboard complete with copper-colored “500” logo which again appears stitched on the two front seats with black techno leather inserts.

That’s about it for visual distinctions, but Fiat is also trying to push the S-Design special edition as a high trim level model with good spec. To that end it offers the 7-inch Uconnect infotainment as standard. The system comes with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, as well as audio streaming and voice control.

Fiat says the 500L S-Design offers “sporty style,” and that’s accurate as the only power plant you can have it with is a 1.4-liter with 95 horsepower, hooked up to a six-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive. U.K. pricing for the special edition has been announced, £18,610 or about $24,500, which makes it exactly £100 ($131) cheaper than the Cross model on which it’s based.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2018 Fiat 500L.

Read our full review on the 2017 Fiat 500L City Cross Edition.