Sector: Small crossover Price: €20,650–€26,700 Fuel: 4.2–7.0l/100km CO2: 109–163g/km

With the B-SUV segment continuing to grow, European buyers opting en masse into crossover products, and a growing presence in North America, the 500L Trekking couldn’t have come sooner for Fiat’s compact MPV family.

Positioned at the top of the range, the Trekking will allow Fiat to take on the ever-popular Nissan Juke as well as its closest possible competitor, the MINI Countryman.

Crossover styling suits the 500L better than the scaled-up chrome accents used on its MPV sibling. Most of the body panels are shared between the two cars, but the rugged-looking plastic body cladding, raised suspension and snowflake-like alloy wheels wrapped in Mud & Snow tyres give the Trekking a much more purposeful appearance.

But the €500 price increase, which with a single trim puts it above many of this segment’s entry-level models, doesn’t only cover a cosmetic makeover. The Trekking features a similar traction control system to the Peugeot 2008 and 3008, and the Renault Scenic XMOD, which brakes the wheel with the least grip and moves power to the opposite corner on loose surfaces.

With the raised suspension and all-season tyres, Traction+ should allow drivers to cope with most low-grip conditions the car should face, without the weight or fuel economy sacrifice of four-wheel drive. Besides, as the front-wheel drive sales bias in this sector illustrates, it’s crossover styling rather than off-road ability which customers tend to be seeking.

On tarmac, the 500L Trekking drives similarly to the basic 500L. It feels more top-heavy and lacks the agility of the MINI Countryman and Nissan Juke, but feels considerably more spacious inside than either thanks to its high roofline. All of the MPV interior flexibility is carried forward, too, such as the rear bench which slides, folds and tumbles to create a low, flat load area to the tailgate.

Drop the passenger seat and loads up to 2.4 metres in length will fit inside, and the boot floor can be raised or lowered to create a compartment underneath.

The 0.9-litre TwinAir, 1.4 16v and 1.4 T-Jet petrol and 1.3 MultiJet diesel engines are shared with the 500L, and 1.6-litre MultiJet is likely to be the choice for European fleets. It produces 105PS, in line with C-segment and B-SUV norms, and fuel consumption has risen slightly from 4.5l/100km in the 500L to 4.7l/100km in the crossover. It’s not the quietest or liveliest engine at this size, but real-world fuel efficiency settles at around 5.1l/100km and power output is ample.

Most desirable options are included. At the top of the range, the 500L Trekking’s standard specification includes cruise control, air conditioning and Fiat’s smartphone-like Uconnect infotainment system, albeit without satellite navigation.

Perhaps the only trick Fiat has missed here is the lack of a multi-trim model range, which would allow the crossover to come down in price a little. If segment norms are anything to go by, the 500L Trekking’s ability to meet the styling tastes of European buyers could make it a bigger-selling model than the MPV in some countries.

Verdict:

The styling will polarise opinions, but 500L offers the best qualities of a small MPV and a crossover in a fuel-efficient package. An important global model.