Used Fiat 500L review and buying guide (2013 to 2023): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Fiat 500L should you buy?

A 500L with the 1.6 diesel is the one to buy, because it's the engine that copes best when the car's full of people and luggage. Whichever engine you pick, the car should come with proof that the 2017 recall for chafing supplementary heater wiring was carried out, since a short there can, at worst, start a fire.

The one known fault on the 500L sits on the 1.3 MultiJet diesel, whose particulate filter can struggle to regenerate on short journeys and town driving, anywhere from 14,000 to 100,000 miles, so that's the engine to be wariest of. Beyond it, the owners' reports cover a handful of cars rather than a pattern. It sold from 2013 to 2023, but almost everything on record concerns the early cars, so don't assume a later one is better or worse.

If you're after a car with a third row, bear in mind the rearmost seats only really suit small children, so a 500L won't carry a family of teenagers. The engines are a bit gruff too, which is worth hearing for yourself on a longer test drive rather than a quick lap of the block.

Which 500L engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

The 1.6 diesel is the pick, as it's the strongest performer in the range and doesn't feel out of its depth with a full load. The 1.4 petrol and 1.3 diesel both struggle once every seat and the boot are in use, and the 1.3 MultiJet carries a High severity known fault: on short trips its particulate filter regeneration can go wrong, pushing the oil above the maximum mark and, at worst, leaving the engine revving out of control.

The TwinAir petrol needs the exact oil Fiat specifies. One owner warned that the wrong oil can wreck its MultiAir system, so ask to see invoices showing the correct oil at every service, and don't take one with a vague or missing oil record. That's one owner's account rather than a known fault, but it's an easy thing to confirm.

Nothing on record points either way on the gearboxes, so treat them as unknown rather than proven. Drive the car long enough to feel every gear engage cleanly, and ask for the service history so you can see what's been replaced and when.

What should you check when viewing a used 500L?

Ask for paperwork showing the supplementary heater wiring recall from 2017 was done; the fix is a protective sheath over wiring that could otherwise rub through, short out and, in the worst case, catch fire. On a TwinAir, look for invoices naming the right oil at each service, not just a stamp in the book. On a 1.3 MultiJet, check the dipstick before it's started: oil above the maximum mark, or an 'oil exhausted' warning on the dash, points to the particulate filter problem.

On the test drive, turn the wheel both ways and check it sits straight when the car is going straight. One owner's 2013 car had a failed steering angle sensor that left the wheel 45 degrees off centre and grinding on left turns. Watch the dashboard too: another owner had an airbag warning light that kept coming back after being reset.

Lift the mats and feel the carpet for damp, since one owner found water getting into a footwell. On a Trekking, look closely at the alloy wheels, as corrosion creeping under the lacquer has been reported on one car. And if the airbag light's on, don't accept a reset as the repair; get the fault diagnosed properly first.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What does a used Fiat 500L cost to run?

What do 500L owners like about them?

The view out the front is clear, because the pillars either side of the windscreen are split with glass panels rather than being solid posts. The middle row has proper room for adults, not just children, so it isn't a car where grown-ups end up squeezed in behind the front seats.

The load area's a useful, adaptable space that earns its keep. The seats slide back and forth and the floor can sit at any of three heights, so you can shuffle things round to suit whatever you're carrying that day rather than fighting a fixed shape.

• The car achieved a Five Star Euro NCAP rating, with strong scores for adult and child protection.
• The vehicle offers excellent forward visibility due to its deep, windowed A-pillars.
• The Fiat 500L offers a highly practical and versatile load area, making it suitable for various transport needs.
• A space saver spare wheel is included, with sufficient room for a full-sized spare.
• A clearer digital speed display can be activated on the car's instrument panel through the settings menu.