Four-Door Fiat 500s

Fiat's "500" model designation dates back to 1936 and the tiny Topolino (little mouse), as it was called.  The most recent version was launched in 2007 (Wikipedia entry here).  From a styling perspective, it is an attractive small car (wheelbase 78.7 inches, 2000 mm).

But the new 500 obviously had limited carrying capacity, so a few years later a larger (wheelbase 102.8 inches, 2610 mm) model, the 500L, was introduced.  According to this, it was considered to be a minivan.  I did not know that.  Seeing them on the road here in the USA, I assumed they were four-door sedans.  For one thing, they lack the expected minivan sliding side door.  A more apt description is that 500Ls are mini-crossover SUVs.  That's because they have normal hinged doors along with a small third side window and a sort of squared-off rear. It was the third window's design that struck me as being awkward, especially since I assumed them to be sedans (which they virtually were).

This shouldn't have surprised me, however, because the Mini Countryman featured a similar window treatment since 2010.

Shortly after the 500L appeared, Fiat launched the 500X, an actual four-door sedan.  Even though they've been marketed in America for a couple years, I never really noticed them until I was in Italy recently.  Perhaps that was due to low sales volumes here or possibly because the styling is closer to that of the base 500 than the more distinctive 500L's.

Like the 500, the 500X is attractively styled for its size, whereas the 500L is not.

Gallery

A 2008 Fiat 500 (reference photo).

2018 Fiat 500L.  It is slightly longer than the 2012 version due to a facelift.

Side view.  As the link above mentions, the 500L package is slightly more cab-forward than on other 500s.

Rear quarter view.  Its rear cargo zone is larger than those on other 500s, but is not large if rear seats are not folded.  The aft side window transitions awkwardly to the C-pillar and rest of the forward part of the passenger greenhouse.

2015 Fiat 500X, a four-door hatchback sedan.  Slightly shorter than the 500L, it lacks the cab-forward proportion, being about the same frontal design as regular 500s.

Rear quarter view.  Nicer looking than BMW's Mini from this perspective due to its more conventional C-pillars.  Note the roof rack.

Side view comparison of a 2019 500X (here) with a 2013 500L (below).

The 500L's larger cabin area can be seen here.  All things considered, it is a slightly more versatile and practical package than the 500X, but not as attractive.