(Newburgh, NY) – New York, New York. City of all abuse, all activities. Buzzing city, always active. As Sinatra put it so well: the city that never sleeps. But it is sometimes enough to get out of town, just a few kilometers, to discover small treasures well hidden.
That’s exactly what I did when I left New York to the north, along the Hudson River, driving the Fiat 500x 2019 and its new engine. A small hike of less than 250 kilometers that still showed me unknown wealth.
The car
Give honour where honour is due. My getaway was at the wheel of the Fiat 500x, featuring a new 1.3-liter Multiair 4-cylinder engine. A more powerful engine (177 horsepower), more nervous (210 lb-ft of torque), more economical (about 55 kilometers per full tank) and above all, much better balanced.
In fact, fans of Fiat 500 will remember that the 9-speed transmission, paired with the old engine, had caused some failures. Now, we have the impression that engine and gearbox are identical twins, and that the two get married without a hitch. A clear improvement!
To drive that on the road, Continental tires 17 inches (215 of width) which proved a little noisy on the urban roads of Big apple. In fact, the asphalt having suffered more in the city zone, we felt the ambient noise. But we are force to admit that temperature was (really) high, heating the rubber more than decency allows.
On the country roads, we felt some hesitation in lateral grip when driving a little harder, but no more. In fact, the tires are at the height of the car: not exceptional, but without worries.
Step 1 – the departure
The Shop Studio, an art gallery of the Garnment District, was the starting point for this hike. Surrounded by works of contemporary art, the Fiat 500x was in its place, which is characterized by a refined design and a strong personality.
And it was at the foot of the Vessel, a gigantic new monument erected in the Hudson Court, that we were able to test the sudden acceleration of the Fiat 500x. How can you do otherwise when dozens of cabs and buses (we were just outside the terminus) honk and honk again to sound their impatience.
In order to save a little traffic, no way to cross Time Square. Head north instead on 9A to the George Washington Bridge, crossed without a hitch.
Step 2 – the highway
If you’ve been to the New York area by car, you know the Palisade Highway, a delightful, tree-lined highway that runs through New Jersey. The road is well maintained, and the decor is pleasant. Ideal for testing the cruising speed of our Fiat 500x that never let out an intensive grunt.
Small detail, the Fiat 500x tends to play in high gear to save fuel, when driving at highway speeds. But it retrogrades accurately (with a little delay), when it comes time to slow down a bit.
Step 3 – the campaign
The road is winding, the view of the Hudson impregnable, it is essential to make a few stops along the road north of New York. Among the must-sees is Stony Point, a historic site and site of a deadly battle between George Washington’s troops and the British Army.
Peekskill, where were held past racial riots, is also home to some small architectural jewels, and gives access to the Bear Mountain State Park, which offers breathtaking views of the river.
Then there was our final destination, Newburgh, a city shared between two personalities: it offers on one hand a little romantically New England side and is home to an antique shop that is worth seeing. But a part of the city also has a much more military look, probably courtesy of the West Point military base, a few miles away. A stop at the Blu Point restaurant and a taste of it’s risotto are well worth the stop.
Conclusion – the return
More freeway, the return was made without a any problem, the small Fiat 500x playing its role without difficulties. I admit that I would have savored a little more power, and improved soundproofing to enjoy more the audio system, but the car finally has few real and big flaws.
In fact, its price, much higher than its competitors, and its reliability rating, well below its rivals, make it less attractive. Hopefully, this new engine will make up for the damage done in the past to the reputation of the car.
